1980 Oldsmobile 98 with a 5.7L oldsmobile diesel

[icwav]

No wonder that people in the US think diesels are loud. When you put a 5.7 (!) Liter diesel engine (you would normally put it into a 18-wheeler in europe) this can't be quiet, clean or efficient!

[Beldar4214]

@icwav These old diesel engines got combined gas mileage in the low 20s, getting upper 20s on the highway. Considering that was before overdrive transmissions, that was alot better than the gas engines. A lot of us think they're loud because they're normally used in super duty trucks. Most modern super duties are actually pretty quiet. Our diesels are clean because we use low sulfur fuel that no other country has; in turn it is also more expensive. That is why diesels are unpopular here; Price

[Beldar4214]

@icwav From what I've heard diesel is cheaper than gas in most countries. In America, it is about as expensive as high octane gas. In example assuming the fuel tanks are the same size, it costs about the same to fill up a 1.8 turbo Jetta as it would a TDI Jetta. I think the TDI VWs are the only diesel cars sold here anymore. 5.7L really is kind of small btw, our 18 wheelers usually have 10+ L engines >_< now THOSE are loud but we like it that way :)

[icwav]

@Beldar4214

In Europe, you will hardly find any V8 engine. You would mostly see Turbodiesels or 4-cylinder petrol cars (which also have turbochargers of course, doing 200+ hp). Most of the Diesels are 2 litre engines with 130 to 180 hp. They need around 5 Litres/ 100 km and those petrol cars need up to 8 Litres/ 100 km. And you should know that petrol and diesel cost around 7.84$/gallon here.

[Beldar4214]

@icwav We have much higher emissions and such that keep us from making more powerful, smaller engines. We are working on it though; the Chevy Cruze has a 1.4L turbo engine that runs on regular 87 octane and gets over 40mpg. They are also working on a diesel version that gets over 50 mpg. Ford is working on 4 cylinder ecoboost(turbo) engines; a 1.6L making 180hp and a 2.0 that makes almost 240hp. Here regular 87 gas costs around $3.50 a gallon, you would pay about $3.90ish for diesel and 93.

[Leafsrule016]

@icwav i think at that price id walk

[Thunderchicken1997]

These engines are a converted gas 350. Their reliability is quixotic. Either you got a really good one, or a P.O.S. My Uncle bought one brand new in 1980 in a Caprice Classic, and it puked before the warranty ran out. GM gave them a HUGE runaround.

FINALLY, they got the dealer to put in a 350 gasser. Shortly after, they dumped it and went back to Fords. GOOD GM diesels, however, were incredible. 30+ miles per with a HUGE luxo-barge with a Barco-lounger front seat. Comfy!!

[Maples01]

We had a 2dr 1980 Cutlass Calais with the 5.7 and 200 Metric overdrive transmission, the mechanic told dad it was the best one he'd ever seen, they hooked it up and took him on a drive, to show the proper way to drive it, the car got 37 miles per gallon. I got it as a teen, flipped it in a terrible crash, had the engine and transmission put into a 1980 4dr delta 88 that had a knocking one in it. We religiously changed the oil, making certain it contained the correct additives!

[gregpona1]

Absolutely love the sound of that engine. That's how all diesels should sound!

[Motorfordtoyota]

Oh I just love these things. I want a 98 regancy 5.7 diesel. If only GM taught thier buyers how to treat the diesels for long life. 2000 mile oil changes are one.

[tremer88]

this guy at work has a 01 montecarlo ss with a beautiful running 3800 series II. and a transmission that is starting to go out at 140k

[andrewps84]

I love the sound of this thing, thanks for posting.

[sixaxis171]

haha i have the same car!! it sounds like a f350 in the outside but on the inside it just purs

[FANADICALCOWHEAD]

@sixaxis171

I'm sorry but I disagree, the only engine on the gm lineup that sounds anything like a powerstroke diesel would be a 6.5 diesel and 6.5's are very distinguishable from the 7.3's

the only other diesel engine that sounds like a 5.7 is a 6.2.

[MrJimmyboy1985]

love that car

[tremer88]

what were some of the problems with the olds diesel?

[acres90]

@tremer88 EVERYTHING U CAN THINK OF....SERIOUSLY

[69gnarkill]

sweet ride. i had a '82 delta 88 with the 5.7 diesel and still have my '80 c10 with the 5.7 diesel.

[RickinFLA07]

delta 98 ? LMAO

[lp1330]

Car is a 98, not a Delta 98. It would look nice with some factory wires and whitewalls-- what's on it now make it look like a taxi cab. Still-- nice car and I'd love to find one like it. Good luck with it

[More350Power]

Sweeeeet!  Love that car!

[VitaminC440]

GM sent these olds diesels to the public without explaining their vast differences, and the gas people treated them the same which they are NOT. Maybe another reason why GM is in the Shit tank today.

[dieselolds350]

The olds engine is a decent one if maintained well.I certainly can't say anything bad about them.I've invested alot of money in our engines but they are standing up very well.I drive a 100 mile commute daily with no problems with a 5.7 diesel.

[tremer88]

@VitaminC440 their in the shit tank today bacuse their stuff in the late 90's and early 2000's were junky as hell. the interior in my 93 altima is WAY better made and roomier then my dads grand am. ive also heard of transmission problems behind their v8's in the mid 2000's

[andrewps84]

@tremer88 Not only that but my father-in-law showed me how crappy the tranny setups were in the Bonneville...I could think of countless other things GM did wrong that has nothing to do with the diesel motors.

[Maples01]

@VitaminC440 The mechanic at the dealer mom ordered it from took them aside and explained how to treat it, it went well past 100,000 before I wrecked it, and past 50,000 in the car we swapped it into, was traded in for a S10 Blazer in 92, should have kept it. GM went in the tank for not caring, at 40,000 miles, dad's Buick started leaking oil, they told him those high miles, it's expected to, charged $1100 to fix it!

[cowboy5632]

damn man..that fucker is old...

5.7 olds diesel....responsible for giving diesel motors a bad reputation in the United States for many decades..

[orangie84]

yea and purring like its new..

>< OO

what was that about how bad the engine was??

its still running!!!!!

how bad could they have been???

diesels are way more economical fuel wise but they require a lot of maintenance

if you don't keep everything clean and running smooth the injectors become fouled and the engine gives you major problems

Its not the engine its lack of knowledge on how to properly care for it..

A diesel will last hundreds of thousands of miles 3 times more than gasoline

[maxdog8591]

Hot Hot Car! Luv that diesel rumble!

[6030diesel]

show us the motor show us the motor! love that car it starts so good!