im toying with the idea of swoping my engine with a diesel. I saw diesel xterras in costa rica a few weeks ago. Do they make these Engines in the states? What do you guys think, good/bad and pros and cons.

Diesel engines get better fuel economy simply because they do not need to burn as much fuel as a gas engine to get the same power. Diesel engines are also built heavier than a gas engine to sustain the added stress of the higher compression ratio. Diesel engines do not have an ignition system so you will never have to tune them up. Exhaust systems last longer because diesel fuel exhaust is not as corrosive a gasoline engine exhaust.
The down side is they are fairly noisy. You will get the typical diesel clatter at idle, but that goes away off idle. At normal driving speeds they are as quiet as a gasoline engine. You won't get the same acceleration that you get from a gasoline engine. But a turbo diesel will get up and go fairly quickly. You will need to adjust your driving habits somewhat also.
A diesel convertion would be a custom job and can sometimes be expensive and this convertion must meet very strick emission standards.

http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/us/stationary.php#intro

i dont know... have you heard the new 08 ford f350 they are quiet and they come with twin turbo's.... yes it will be hard to keep it in regulation due to the fact that they are real strict on diesels.... in my area they are strict on everything, the cost for your inspection sticker is like 50 or 60 bucks when it used to be 15, all due to the fact they have to put the computer and read every sensor.... next year or so it will be the same for diesels as well..... good luck if you do it....

you have to pay to be inspected?

yes and if your car fails then you have to pay twice....

thats ridiculous i am liking co ... not only do i not need inspection, i can run no cats if i want yeay

lol must be nice..... my inspection is out at the end of this month and i hope the knock sensor dont make it fail....

thats ridiculous i am liking co ... not only do i not need inspection, i can run no cats if i want yeay

but dont you have to have fender flares to stick out as far as the tires; ie, tires ca not stick out and be uncovered
also, dont you have to have splash guards/mud flaps that have to cover all the tire from the axle up?

negative...... people have some crazy sh!t out here im not sure what the law says, but it definitely not enforced. from what ive seen so far co seems like a very 4x4 friendly state.

does anyone know anything about the motor in the diesel x's

nvm its a 3.0 turbo diesel
making about 150 hp and 231 ft lbs tq

lolz
those are killah numbers right there

but i bet the mileage is better than the gasoline motors and should be much more reliable

mileage maybe
but who has had bad reliability to begin with?

i'd like to do i diesel conversion so that i can run bio diesel. i'm not a tree hugger. i'm just cheap.

actually i worded that wrong.... less maintenance would be the correct term. no timing belt, spark plugs (granted you have glow plugs), ignition system

Diesel engines do not have an ignition system so you will never have to tune them up.

:huh: No tune up? I've had to tune up every diesel I worked on.