Let’s see… what I like about my diesel…
I’m biased because I think that diesel engines make more sense in a heavy truck like a Cruiser, they get substantially better fuel economy. That’s why they are more common than gas engines in other places in the world where gas is twice the price (which is everywhere else, gas is cheap even now in North America)
- Diesels are subject to much greater compression and more violent combustion forces, tolerances are tighter in compression ignition engines and parts are over engineered, this makes them inherently more reliable (though we know Toyota gas motors are well made too).
- Fuel economy, well we already know this…
- No ignition system, this makes tons of sense in a vehicle that is designed to be used in remote locations, as noted above, water crossings aren’t as much a worry. Flakey points, coils and other non electronic ignition parts aren’t a concern. Alternator just die? Your motor will still start and continue to run long after the alternator gives up the ghost.
- Consistent idle and power characteristics, my diesel never showed the roughness or the finickiness that a carbureted gas engine likes to exhibit (carbs suck, though fuel injected gas engines do just fine with altitude and temperature change etc.) It always idled the same and never stalled. This is a great characteristic when crawling in 4 low.
- Better low end torque, my worn out 2H seemed to have better get up and go, no rev and slip the clutch until the motor overcomes the weight of the truck (ditching the 4 speed if you have one and installing a H55F with a lower 1 st gear ratio would help).
- Less maintenance in terms of tune up schedule.
- Properly tuned diesel engines do not smoke or stink and Toyota diesels are relatively quiet.
Things I didn’t like…
- You go broke doing oil changes, I’m not sure what a 2F takes for oil quantity but my 2H drank approximately 11 litres, or 3 gallons of 15W40 per change. Turbo’d motors require a tight oil schedule because the tiny oil passages through the turbo don’t like dirty oil, not changing your oil regularly in a turbo motor will shorten its life.
- Speaking of dirty oil, have you seen used diesel engine oil? Oil changes are messy and if you like your concrete driveway clean, find a buddy who doesn’t and change your oil at his place!
- They can be hard to start in very cold conditions, compression ignition engines like heat and only really burn efficiently when running at operating temperature and keeping them warm in severe winter conditions can be hard too. You need to block the rad with shutters or a cheap piece of cardboard (this really looks Redneck).
- When they do crater diesel engines are expensive to repair, parts are considerably more expensive.
- Diesel can be hard to find in some locations, it’s not at every service station but if you do run dangerously low on diesel you can always pop into the local Quicky Mart and pick up a few jugs of Safola or siphon some jet fuel out of a plane at the local airport. Try that with your gasser!
- NATO Spec Electrical System only sounds cool - 24V light bulbs starters and alternators are not usually available at your local parts store and the underpaid high school kid behind the counter will look at you like an idiot for asking for them (at least the headlights are 12V). Carry extras.
- Don’t run 12V electrical parts off one battery, it causes an imbalance in the 24V system and the battery you’ve wired off never charges properly. This sucks because everything for the automotive world is 12V. Installing banks of 24-12V converters makes your truck look like a mobile hydro-electric substation and eats up all available space under the hood.
The 2F is a fine motor and really for most situations it’s adequate. Parts are cheap and they are everywhere, just like gas itself, but I’ve driven trucks with the 2H as well, and in my opinion, it made the FJ60, well HJ, a better truck (even my tired and desperately in need of a rebuild 2H).
I’m biased because I think that diesel engines make more sense in a heavy truck like a Cruiser, they get substantially better fuel economy. That’s why they are more common than gas engines in other places in the world where gas is twice the price (which is everywhere else, gas is cheap even now in North America)
- Diesels are subject to much greater compression and more violent combustion forces, tolerances are tighter in compression ignition engines and parts are over engineered, this makes them inherently more reliable (though we know Toyota gas motors are well made too).
- Fuel economy, well we already know this…
- No ignition system, this makes tons of sense in a vehicle that is designed to be used in remote locations, as noted above, water crossings aren’t as much a worry. Flakey points, coils and other non electronic ignition parts aren’t a concern. Alternator just die? Your motor will still start and continue to run long after the alternator gives up the ghost.
- Consistent idle and power characteristics, my diesel never showed the roughness or the finickiness that a carbureted gas engine likes to exhibit (carbs suck, though fuel injected gas engines do just fine with altitude and temperature change etc.) It always idled the same and never stalled. This is a great characteristic when crawling in 4 low.
- Better low end torque, my worn out 2H seemed to have better get up and go, no rev and slip the clutch until the motor overcomes the weight of the truck (ditching the 4 speed if you have one and installing a H55F with a lower 1 st gear ratio would help).
- Less maintenance in terms of tune up schedule.
- Properly tuned diesel engines do not smoke or stink and Toyota diesels are relatively quiet.
Things I didn’t like…
- You go broke doing oil changes, I’m not sure what a 2F takes for oil quantity but my 2H drank approximately 11 litres, or 3 gallons of 15W40 per change. Turbo’d motors require a tight oil schedule because the tiny oil passages through the turbo don’t like dirty oil, not changing your oil regularly in a turbo motor will shorten its life.
- Speaking of dirty oil, have you seen used diesel engine oil? Oil changes are messy and if you like your concrete driveway clean, find a buddy who doesn’t and change your oil at his place!
- They can be hard to start in very cold conditions, compression ignition engines like heat and only really burn efficiently when running at operating temperature and keeping them warm in severe winter conditions can be hard too. You need to block the rad with shutters or a cheap piece of cardboard (this really looks Redneck).
- When they do crater diesel engines are expensive to repair, parts are considerably more expensive.
- Diesel can be hard to find in some locations, it’s not at every service station but if you do run dangerously low on diesel you can always pop into the local Quicky Mart and pick up a few jugs of Safola or siphon some jet fuel out of a plane at the local airport. Try that with your gasser!
- NATO Spec Electrical System only sounds cool - 24V light bulbs starters and alternators are not usually available at your local parts store and the underpaid high school kid behind the counter will look at you like an idiot for asking for them (at least the headlights are 12V). Carry extras.
- Don’t run 12V electrical parts off one battery, it causes an imbalance in the 24V system and the battery you’ve wired off never charges properly. This sucks because everything for the automotive world is 12V. Installing banks of 24-12V converters makes your truck look like a mobile hydro-electric substation and eats up all available space under the hood.
The 2F is a fine motor and really for most situations it’s adequate. Parts are cheap and they are everywhere, just like gas itself, but I’ve driven trucks with the 2H as well, and in my opinion, it made the FJ60, well HJ, a better truck (even my tired and desperately in need of a rebuild 2H).
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