catastrophic diesel failures how many do we know of?

[Rynie]

I have seen treads where such cases has been discussed.
but is there a number that we can attach to this?

is it possible to get such a figure over time let say, the last 3 years.

if possible facts only not which one cannot prove, please

I am Rynie Kleyn. I have a good story to tell(!). Some of you guys may remember me as the guy who was part of the team that established the Toyota engine remanufacturing plant (APR) in Johannesburg. I have been a diesel fitter since 1961. Now you all know that I should know a bit. Diesel engines are exponentially more reliable than petrol engines. Most, if not all, are designed to work hard. Which petrol engines are more reliable than marine, locomotive, industrial or construction diesel engines? There are some diesels with built-in faults, eg. 2.2 Mazda diesel oilpump drive. Same with petrol engines, eg. most 1.3 Opel engines we exchanged had one and sometimes two broken conrods. I have had Peugeot 404, Hi-Lux 2,4 and Isuzu 280. I have never had a blown motor on any vehicle I owned. My ISUZU REEF was bought new 436 000km ago. I never add oil between changes. I stripped and cleaned the turbo in Nov. '14 and did not have to replace any part. The secret? A TURBOPROTECT was installed at 1000km. Through the years I have been involved with thousands of engines of all types and I can assure you all that most engines will look after you if you look after them!

[Dustbin]

I am Rynie Kleyn. I have a good story to tell(!). Some of you guys may remember me as the guy who was part of the team that established the Toyota engine remanufacturing plant (APR) in Johannesburg. I have been a diesel fitter since 1961. Now you all know that I should know a bit. Diesel engines are exponentially more reliable than petrol engines. Most, if not all, are designed to work hard. Which petrol engines are more reliable than marine, locomotive, industrial or construction diesel engines? There are some diesels with built-in faults, eg. 2.2 Mazda diesel oilpump drive. Same with petrol engines, eg. most 1.3 Opel engines we exchanged had one and sometimes two broken conrods. I have had Peugeot 404, Hi-Lux 2,4 and Isuzu 280. I have never had a blown motor on any vehicle I owned. My ISUZU REEF was bought new 436 000km ago. I never add oil between changes. I stripped and cleaned the turbo in Nov. '14 and did not have to replace any part. The secret? A TURBOPROTECT was installed at 1000km. Through the years I have been involved with thousands of engines of all types and I can assure you all that most engines will look after you if you look after them!

Rynie, just one question;

Why do you own an Isuzu instead of a Toyota?

[sweeper]

Rynie, just one question;

Why do you own an Isuzu instead of a Toyota?

Because he has class

[Dustbin]

Because he has class

[Rynie]

Please define catastrophic diesel failure?

Me thinks you will get no definition! I own a November '69 ISUZU REEF DC 280 4X4. It has done 436 000km and has let me down only once due to a faulty fuel cut-off switch. I never add oil between 5000km oil changes. The injection pump was removed for service at 424 000km. First service anD second set of injector nozzles. Total cost R4105 in Feb. '14. I live at the coast and I noticed that rust was setting in. Stripped it down to cab and chassis and had it resprayed back to it's old lovely self. I removed the engine and gearbox to have the engine bay done properly. I put the engine back without opening it. I replaced all gaskets and seals because I had all the aluminium parts powdercoated silver and black painted parts also powdercoated. Every external engine bolt, nut and washer and all other visible bolts and brackets were treated or coated to it's original colour. The clutch assembly was replaced for the first time. Wear was 0,25mm per lining. The gearbox had never been removed before. I stripped and cleaned the turbo, assembled it and refitted same with new mounting studs. I installed a TURBOPROTECT unit from Turboformance in Nelspruit after the first oil change. There was really no noticeable wear of any component. This I believe is due to the excellent job of protection done by the TURBOPROTECTOR. With this unit there is no need to idle the engine before switching off. You can climb a mountain, stop and switch off. Since then I have been using BP Visco 3000 oil. I also had a 63mm bore exhaust system fitted which made a surprisingly big difference in performance. This little bit cost R42 000+. Some may call me crazy but I see it as an investment in good, reliable old technology. Still better than these new technology modern engines although not as powerful. In my opinion diesel engines are far superior. Been running the things since '75! I have never changed the specifications of my vehicle's engine. Diesel engines power all construction equipment, heavy trucks, ships and mining equipment very successfully. My advice to all users of diesel or petrol vehicles is: MOENIE KRAP WAAR DIT NIE JEUK NIE! I started my career as a heavy vehicle diesel mechanic in 1961. I know a little about them.

[Rynie]

I left Toyoya to build a reman plant for privateers. Before I left I purchased a lwb 2.4D LDV. I lived in Kempton Park and the factory was 85km from there. After 20 months and 133 000km I wanted a 4x4 vehicle. Toyota offered me peanuts on a 2.8D Hi-Lux. Sold it on auction at a very good price. Two reasons for not buying a Toyota. Firstly, I expected the best price from them. Secondly at the time 2.8D's packed in by the dozens due to oil sludging which caused major bearing failures. In those days you had to furnish the service agent with a document obtained from the weather buro quoting the average barometric pressure for the operating area of the vehicle to enable them to set the HAC UNIT. This was not a perfect solution because, if you went from ie. Bloem to PE the system underfuels and if you go to J'Burg it overfuels. I then decided to buy the Reef on recommendation of a friend who owned one. In my opinion Toyota is one of the best but I will again buy ISUZU although I have not grown to like these newfangled hi-tec diesels. Maintenance cost is simply horrendous! You can have your 280 4JB1T done in Welkom for around R20k. The injectors for some 4 cylinder engines go to R20k! I' in any case, believe all the DC's are beautiful to look at, lekker to drive and they are all excellent.

[Rynie]

Dave, you are correct. I am a heavy diesel mechanic. since 53 yrs ago. Apart from, what I call 'end of life' failures most failures are caused by negligence, abuse and ignorance. Things can go wrong with new engines. Undeniably so. That is why ALL manufacturers warrant their engines against malfunctions. Those are manufacturing faults. Not stuffing up through stupidity. Today petrol and diesel engines are mostly well designed. Even those that are not amongst the top lot are good.

[Clem]

Somewhere in SA there is a million km club for isuzu 250s. Not many petrol engines have such a club...

As far as I know the world record for a car engine is held by a Volvo petrol engine. A 1966 P1800 that has done more than 3 million MILES.

[Desperate Dan]

As far as I know the world record for a car engine is held by a Volvo petrol engine. A 1966 P1800 that has done more than 3 million MILES.

And i bet that that engine has never been opened. had oid changes every 2000kms.was driven 1000kms a day open road and the brakes pressed once when it came to stop at the petrol station.......

[sweeper]

And i bet that that engine has never been opened. had oid changes every 2000kms.was driven 1000kms a day open road and the brakes pressed once when it came to stop at the petrol station.......

Ive heard its been redone, not sure how many times, still impressive

[Dave 2000]

And i bet that that engine has never been opened. had oid changes every 2000kms.was driven 1000kms a day open road and the brakes pressed once when it came to stop at the petrol station.......

You forgot one careful lady owner who is the vicars wife!

regards

Dave

[andrew.ashton]

TIC
I can't understand what the fuss is about that Volvo - it's taken nearly 50 years to get there - its average speed over its life is 11.24 kph.

This diesel (http://driving.ca/auto-news/news/gol...l-speed-record) could do that in just over 1 year (well, theoretically, at its top speed, but not practically of course!):

"The world record for a 4.0-litre diesel engine-powered vehicle is 275 kilometres per hour. Goldenhawk’s crew believes their Cummins four-cylinder diesel, boosted by twin turbos and a nitrous oxide system, will do 515 kilometres per hour."

[andrew.ashton]

And this diesel (http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/motorin...11363954830014), a Hanomag Rekord model D, did 165kph over a 5km stretch in 1936.

However, this post, and many of the above, seem to be totally off-topic.

[Raymond du Plessis]

and when you fill your diesel 4x4 powered cars' tank with petrol...and then happily drive off

[Kambro]

The world endurance record for passenger vehicles are held by Mercedes: 100000km @ 225km/h. 3 E320CDI Mercs were used. I think the record still stand, will check the FIA website.