The 2021 Is First Escalade To Have a Diesel Option, but Not the First Cadillac: A Stroll Through History

When we think "Cadillac" the first word that comes to mind for most of us is "Luxury." At least that's how it is for me. I suppose a few other words come to mind as well, including Money and Status. A word that doesn't come to mind for most is the word Diesel. Nevertheless, Cadillacs and diesel engines have had a history together as this article by Conner Golden in Automobile magazine points out.

In his February 2020 story Golden recounts the circumstances that led GM to marry a diesel-powered drivetrain with a Cadillac in the first place. What prompted him to write this article was GMs new Cadillac Escalade that would give buyers the diesel option if desired.

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The context for GMs first foray into diesel powered Cadillacs took place in the '70s. Part of it was driven by the growth in diesel-powered passenger cars in Europe. Automakers like Mercedes-Benz, VW and Peugeot were all producing diesel cars and it appeared to be a trend that would continue. These were also the days when gas shortages and other pressures led to the then-new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations. Things were changing.

GM's first diesel experiment took place in the Oldsmobile line. Golden writes, "Oldsmobile was tapped for a diesel powertrain that would proliferate through GM's entire passenger car portfolio, as this was still of the era when GM's various branches developed proprietary engines."

Unfortunately, these new moves were occurring at a time when GM was implementing a massive cost-cutting program, which Golden describes as "GM at-its-worst." The result was a series of decisions whose consequences would only appear later. Quoting Golden again:

"To reduce development time and keep the budget as small as possible, engineers essentially dieselized the existing Oldsmobile 5.7-liter (350 ci) small-block gasoline V-8 with the intention of keeping shared tooling between the diesel and gasoline versions. The block was strengthened for the diesel variant, but the head bolt pattern carried over from the gas V-8, resulting in common head bolt failures across the board thanks to the diesel's much higher-compression nature. GM also left a fuel-water separator out of the final design, leading to corroded injector pumps and ruined fuel system componentry."

The makeover was so successful that 60% of the diesel cars in the U.S. were GM. Unfortunately, when the problems began to emerge, a class action lawsuit followed in which the company had to pay 80% of the costs to replace engines. Ouch. If you ever need an example of the maxim "Haste makes waste" or "A stitch in time saves nine," this is a story to illustrate that.

The article is alive with vivid language. Conner Golden writes, "Production of the Olds diesel ended in 1985, but not before it slithered under the Cadillac crest." The first Cadillacs to receive this ignominious blessing was the 1978 Seville. Eventually these diesel engines were offered to the entire Cadillac roster.

To say that this experience left a sour taste in people's mouths is an understatement. On the other hand, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. My personal feeling is that GM learned an invaluable lesson through that tumultuous experience. It's unlikely the company will want to repeat it. 

In its 21 year history, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade is the first in the family to offer a diesel engine option. More towing oomph and fuel efficiency are just two of the benefits that come with this choice.  

READ THE FULL STORY HERE:
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/cadillac-diesel-history/#:~:text=Production%20of%20the%20Olds%20diesel,to%20a%20pathetic%20105%20hp.