catastrophic diesel failures how many do we know of?

[willem wikkel spies]

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

[Pieterk]

Please define catastrophic diesel failure?

[Elders]

Two that I know for a fact.

1) many years back my dad had the first generation Isuzu diesel, non turbo. While towing the boat the temperature needle SHOT up into the red. Pulled over but it was too late Still dont know why it was okay and shot up so quickly .... Think they rebuilt the motor two or three times, never got it right again.

2) Aunt was driving the Hilux, did not notice the temp needle going up. Turns out a small stone ruptured the radiator and she ran the motor dry on the N7 some distance outside Springbok. Started by re-doing the top, ended up with a new sub-assembly ... got it running fine and sold it. Went back to petrol - not that this failure was in any way related to petrol vs diesel.

3) actually a collegue had a diesel Ford Focus. Cost him over 80k in various repairs in one year. Then with last years heavy rains he encountered a flooded tar road, ended up drowning the engine !! Insurance wrote it off.


Actually know of no "driven to destruction" cases of diesel motors, these three cases are hardly the fault of "diesel". While I do know a number of people that managed to drive a petrol engine to bits.

[Madmax]

I have to replace all the electronics on my Volvo S40 D5

[Mad Manny]

My stats (these are vehicles I own/owned, not stories from my friends, daughter's boyfriend):

KB280DT LE 410 500km
KB300DT LX 255 800km (Stolen)
KB300DT LX 130 000km
KB300D-Teq 121 000km
Fortuner 3.0D 61 500km
That's a Total of 978 800km

So, nearly 1 million kilometer - ZERO fails....

As far as I'm concerned it's a myth...

[Fluffy]

My stats (these are vehicles I own/owned, not stories from my friends, daughter's boyfriend):

KB280DT LE 410 500km
KB300DT LX 255 800km (Stolen)
KB300DT LX 130 000km
KB300D-Teq 121 000km
Fortuner 3.0D 61 500km
That's a Total of 978 800km

So, nearly 1 million kilometer - ZERO fails....

As far as I'm concerned it's a myth...

My best buddies Sugar Cane farm in Eshowe, a fleet of ISUZU's, mainly KB280DT's and TOYOTA's, mainly KZTE's, driven over many many millions of KM's, driven by mmm (TOS)...I cant remember a failure.

Now he is in Port Shepstone, similar, but smaller fleet but higher mileage PM vehicles, never had a failure as far as I know.

EDIT - Actually interesting thread. Off forum I have never met anybody with a TD failure. And I am not a hermit, I get around, a lot.

[BeachCat]

30 Years of car mods and conversions, never ever got stranded by the side of the road. It was something I was proud of, then I bought by first Diesel within 2 years I had been left stranded by the side of the road half a dozen times.

Diesels have a huge design fault, if there is a drop in compression then they don't fire and are useless. A petrol motor will keep providing power even if there is catastrophic damage. If there is less compression on a damaged cylinder then a petrol motor will just provide less power on that cylinder while a diesel motor becomes a huge paper weight.

Then the biggest problem is there are few good diesel mechanics, I think it is because if you are a good diesel mechanic then you will get plenty of work from the commercial sector so you don't need to bother with the private budget conscious user.

Search these forums and many others Diesel Turbos are the devils handiwork, if you want a motor that even when damaged will keep going then it has to be petrol.

Here's a forum member who has had catastrophic failure as we write, and he has been quoted R53,000 to overhaul the motor.

http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/...25#post2670425

I had two complete engine rebuilds in as many years that cost me R50,000. Until I had enough and am now going back to good old reliable bullet proof petrol.

[Sam vd Merwe]

I'm a diesel mechanic. Seen a lot of failures. But must say this. Owners don't know how to look after their turbo diesels. Flat foot driving on highways kills most of them.

[BeachCat]

My stats (these are vehicles I own/owned, not stories from my friends, daughter's boyfriend):

KB280DT LE 410 500km
KB300DT LX 255 800km (Stolen)
KB300DT LX 130 000km
KB300D-Teq 121 000km
Fortuner 3.0D 61 500km
That's a Total of 978 800km

So, nearly 1 million kilometer - ZERO fails....

As far as I'm concerned it's a myth...

7 catastrophic failures from 7 posts.....so much for the "myth" theory

[BeachCat]

I'm a diesel mechanic. Seen a lot of failures. But must say this. Owners don't know how to look after their turbo diesels. Flat foot driving on highways kills most of them.

Exactly they have to be pampered and treated like an old lady.

Every petrol motor I ever had, I red lined in every gear year after year, and they just kept standing up and screaming for more

[4eJunior]

Every petrol motor I ever had, I red lined in every gear year after year, and they just kept standing up and screaming for more

Jip, you are not a man who should (and could) drive a diesel.

[BeachCat]

Jip, you are not a man who should (and could) drive a diesel.

Yes, you are right, I need a motor that gives whenever asked, never complains and even when it is feeling poorly never lets you down.

I mean what sort of "reliable" is it that when your aunty borrows your truck you have to tell her "watch the temp gauges like a hawk", "Don't put your foot down on the freeway".......

A diesel will first suck all the money out of your wallet before sucking all the joy out of driving.

[jarnojvv]

Exactly they have to be pampered and treated like an old lady.

Every petrol motor I ever had, I red lined in every gear year after year, and they just kept standing up and screaming for more

I share your sentiment and driving stye, BUT I have however driven a Opel Corsa 1.4i engine to desruction in 150k km.

[Sam vd Merwe]

I share your sentiment and driving stye, BUT I have however driven a Opel Corsa 1.4i engine to desruction in 150k km.

Do the exact driving style with a diesel and you won't make the first service

[jelo]

1) Nissan TD27 double cab 4x4. The turbo waste gate was stuck, turbo never spun up, I knew zip about turbos back then. Drove it like that will it was stolen 100,000kms later. NO FAILURE

2) Nissan TD27 Sani SW: oil feed pipe to turbo ruptured, after an indie damaged the pipe during a service. FAILURE, but not the fault of the engine

3) Same TD27 in same Sani, after a speog&plak rebuild (bearings, hone, rings) and another 100,000km: FAILURE, step son left filler cap off and drove to Koster. No fault of engine.

I have yet to see anybody destroy a TD27 without there being an underlying cause that would have detsroyed any petrol engine as well.


Petrol engine failures:

- uncountable Essex V6s (OK, about 8)
- 2 x Kent 1600s
- 2 x Golf 1600s
- 1 x 4.7HO V8
- 1 x terracan 3.5 V6

All of the above for no real reason.

Petrol better than diesel? Only if you're a real chop.

[BeachCat]

I share your sentiment and driving stye, BUT I have however driven a Opel Corsa 1.4i engine to desruction in 150k km.

That would be 130K more than I got from 2 diesel motors

[jarnojvv]

That would be 130K more than I got from 2 diesel motors

I got 60k km from a Polo 1.2TDi, no issues (same modus operandi)! (apart from a cracked turbo pipe, and various engine sensor failures)

[Sam vd Merwe]

I love the td 27 motors. Drove one myself. Got the turbo and downpipe glowing pulling a load uphill. Stopped and idle to cool down. No troubles. BUT. It was a motor out of a terrano. The original motor popped quickly.

[LeonP]

interestingly I've flat footed 1.9 diesels for a lot of the mileage I've done with it and they did not fail. must admit there was also a lot of very sedate highway driving.

in this day and age im surprised there are still some who say one is better than the other (petrol vs diesel). it depends on what you want in a vehicle.

[Clint_Hemi]

You guys are all wrong. Rotary engines are better than both.

And no, I don't classify them along with petrol engines. No pistons.