|
[QUOTE=CFECO;269681]Millions of small block Chevy engines produced in over half a century plus the hotrod market = low cost due to large demand and supply. Small diesel engines have a relatively small demand here, plus the enormous cost for new design and tooling for production all add up to high cost. Due to EPA regulations, even small off highway engines have to meet stringent emission standards which also increases cost/quote]
The diesels are just simple lil piston engines, no rocket science required. There's some castings and some stampings and some automated machining. There would be some premium for the injector system vs a gasser but the prices from the N. American suppliers are nothing short of ludicrous. The equivalent diesel from China costs 1/4 as much. I'm sure the Kohler is better quality, but is it 4x better? This is another reason the U.S. mfg base is going to hell in a handbasket.
|