What one should know about Diesels

[Skoeter]

There are so many information and threads on the net that it takes ages to research all. I put this bit of info together for enable anyone to access it and do with it what they feel fit.

The main document is:

What the average guy needs to know about a modern Diesel vehicle.

Cheers

[Dirk]

Very nice document, you surely spent a lot of time on this.

Just a note, it looks like you used a non standard font, the text is all screwed up when I read it.

[avk]

Just a note, it looks like you used a non standard font, the text is all screwed up when I read it.

When you convert to PDF, use a program such as DoPDF and select the 'embed fonts' option. That way the font will travel with the document, eliminating this type of issue.

Thanx for the docs! I'll be checking them out later.

Cheerz!

[ThysleRoux]

There are only two things to know about diesels - they are noisy and the stink !!

[duncang]

More popcorn !
Opens perfectly with Adobe Reader 10.1.0 ?

[johannes14]

There are only two things to know about diesels - they are noisy and the stink !!

Sounds about right

[Elders]

THYS !!! time to remind you (again) that DIESEL has very good aroma ......


and that is not "noise" ! Although it does not quit match the "music" of a rumbling V8 ...

[Mad Manny]

Skoeter - Great Thread. Thanks!

Dirk - Please make this a Sticky (Just Post #1).

Thys - You need help.
I think you should join 'Diesel-Haters Anonymous'...
It's a twelve-step programme.
The 1st step is admitting you have a problem...

Thys; "Hi, my name is Thys & I dislike Diesels"
Everyone; "Hello Thys, welcome..."

[KingsleyB]

I have read many writings about diesel fuel, dirty fuel supplied, injector hassles and pumps that drop pressure at inconvenient times and on and on. This last publication, which I think is rather well written, goes on to confirm all the writings that I have read on the subject. Extra filters to be fitted, etc, etc. Leads me to wonder why anyone would want a diesel in the first place. I certainly will never buy a diesel, ever. I have also done some basic sums and, taking account of what has dgone wrong with their diesels on this and other forums, I get the distinct impression that to own and run a diesel is going to cost you in the region of 38% more to run over a 100,000 Km period than a petrol vehicle in the 3,5 to 4,0 litre range. Interesting and I think I note that among the general public there is a swing away from diesels as well. That is just my impression and not researched results. Maybe I'm just biased.

[PenthouseNinja]

There has been something that has been bothering me in all this. The particles and water that gets into diesel through bad storage and transport..... how does it happen with diesel and not with petrol? Same storage, same transport, yet you never hear them moaning about poor quality fuel etc.

[batman diver]

is not not because diesel is working at a MUCH higher pressure ? so the system is more susceptible

[Mad Manny]

Kingsly, as you say, you have read many bad things about Diesels...

I own & run the following;

1999 Isuzu NPR Truck 99 000km
2000 Isuzu KB280DT 366 000km
2004 Mitubishi Colt2800D 145 000km
2004 Isuzu KB300LX 230 000km
2010 Isuzu KB300 D-Teq 42 000km

All vehicles:
Total 882 000km
Average 176 400km

Turbo Diesels only:
Total 638 000km
Average 212 667km

I have NEVER experianced any problems with ANY of my vehicles related to the engine.

I doubt I would have gotten similar hassle-free mileage from a petrol fleet.
I would definately NOT have spent as little on fuel were my fleet petrol.

So, in my personal fleet, I can, scientifically, report that not one of the gloom & doom
articles written by the likes of Jake Venter & others are true.
So my attitude to these articles is: Hogwash!

Edit: The Isuzu Truck & the Colt are NOT turbo charged

[LuckyLuke]

Mad Manny: only the DTEQ in your list of vehicles are a Common Rail Diesel...

At the end of the day I believe that servicing, taking the precautions you can and plain logic sense has a big influence on the service your vehicle will give you. It can however not be ignored that if your fuel is bad on a super high pressure system with very fine tolerances such as with the Common Rail Diesels that you will have premature wear and failure of the injectors.

As for petrol - it's comming - the new age petrol engines are also moving to very high pressure injection systems, it's the only way manufacturers can stay within emission standards and still be able to provide the fuel economy and power we lust after.

[JerrydeLange]

In my own experience I have driven a couple of 'new tech' diesel engined vehicles and to date have had no problems with any of these vehicles. The list:
1.4 TDI VW Polo
3.1 CRD Jeep Grand Cherokee
2.5 TDI VW Touareg
3.0 CDI Mercedes GL

I am sure there are some engines that will have problems, but to state that diesel technology is inferior to pertrol technology when looking at reliability/risk of breaking down. Then I will say ... crap.

I agree that poor fuel will impact the lifespan of injectors, but this is NOT limited to diesel engines only. I am sure my 1.4 Tsi Jetta (turbo and supercharged new technology motor) will complain as musch as a commonrail diesel if I put poor fuel in it.

[PenthouseNinja]

In my own experience I have driven a couple of 'new tech' diesel engined vehicles and to date have had no problems with any of these vehicles. The list:
1.4 TDI VW Polo
3.1 CRD Jeep Grand Cherokee
2.5 TDI VW Touareg
3.0 CDI Mercedes GL

I am sure there are some engines that will have problems, but to state that diesel technology is inferior to pertrol technology when looking at reliability/risk of breaking down. Then I will say ... crap.

I agree that poor fuel will impact the lifespan of injectors, but this is NOT limited to diesel engines only. I am sure my 1.4 Tsi Jetta (turbo and supercharged new technology motor) will complain as musch as a commonrail diesel if I put poor fuel in it.

Well to be fair the 3.1 Grand Cherokee wasn't a common rail diesel, it was a turbo diesel as was the Polo so they don't really count as "new" diesel technology.

[Fluffy]

Well, present fleet.

Polo 1.9 TDi Sportline, high output version.

RR Sport 3.6 TDV8

Freelander 2 TD4

And ex VW Touareg 2.5 TDI

Not an ounce of trouble/problems with any motor, fun to drive, economical, and I defy ANYBODY to smell diesel in or near my cars....

[JerrydeLange]

Well to be fair the 3.1 Grand Cherokee wasn't a common rail diesel, it was a turbo diesel as was the Polo so they don't really count as "new" diesel technology.

CRD.... Common Rail Diesel.

[Backroads]

Thank you for the very interesting article. From my experience- (2 X CRDI diesels with the Bosch system) On my platkar - I had one injector fail at +-60 000 km not long after filling up at Klerksdorp service station after a long uneventful trip to the Cape and back. I suspect the fuel was contaminated. The injector was fortunately replaced under warranty.

Some time later +-110 000 Km there was some uneasy idling which was solved by adding some injector cleaner. The Bosh Injector pump failed at +- 122 000 Km by leaking fuel from one of the "heads". This was repaired by a local garage by replacing the seals.

My other SUV - I generally only use 50ppm Diesel - (save the CAT-save the planet) has had no problems in the 30 000 km I have driven it so far.
My experience is that certain fuels definitely have an adverse affect on performance, fuel economy and "smoothness". I would rate them as follows:
ENGEN 500ppm - best performance on platkar.
TOTAL 50ppm - best performance /economy on SUV
Other Brands -IMHO- offer less performance and engine "feels" rough

[PenthouseNinja]

CRD.... Common Rail Diesel.

I'm aware of what it stands for, now go check the engines again. The 3.1 was not CRD, it was an Italian Turbo Diesel and liked to blow up. The 2.7 mercedes motor was a CRD which came out in the WJ Jeeps from 2002.

So either you had the 2.7 CRD or the 3.1 Turbo Diesel...... no such thing as a 3.1 CRD in the Jeeps.

[NNunkie]

This is going to get interesting...
Popcorn on order...