Originally Posted By: bigjl
Well considering it is a well known issue with this engine in the UK and Europe where most new cars are indeed DIESEL.
And who says they were driven by people who didn't care about them?
They were serviced every 3000 miles on average, sometimes sooner, certainly every 6/8 weeks. Not just due to the oil but brakes were stripped out and re copper greased a every service.
Initially there was an issue with oil specs not being sufficient but they continued to be unreliable and it is partly the work done by the fitters in partnership with Vauxhall and latey Saab main dealers with help from Vauxhall UK that a lot of the issues wih this engine and specifically the problems caused by the EGR system were recognised.
All these vehicles were driven by Class 2 advanced drivers and though sometimes driven in Emergency Situations they are automatic so in fact excess revs are not really an issue, are they?
Just to confirm?
How many of these particular engines have you dealt with?
And I assume you are some form of advanced driver aswell?
Lets not forget that these vehicles are in use 24/7 and rarely have any cold starts.
They do get switched off after a hard run though, but the only widespread turbo failures were on the few mk1 2.0 diesels which had a Vauxhall engine fitted, incidentally apart from the turbos the 50 odd old shapes had NO engine failures to date, just turbos, and these were used in the exact same conditions.
The previous generation response car were petrol Vauxhall Astras with a 1.8 scorecard lump with an auto box, there was never any failures on these as far as engines go, a couple of autoboxes broke at 5/6 yrs in service, but other than the odd sensor they were very reliable.
Wih same usage over many, many years why exactly do you assume this was operator error rather than an engine just not up to the job.
Try googling a few UK based Vauxhall forums to see the conversations relating to. Issues with the 1.9 Fiat engine.
Now I didn't say it wasn't smooth etc when running, as they are a nice smooth engine, but reliable, no they are certainly not.
1. I am from Europe, live currently in the U.S.
2. I am advanced driver, with employment in automobile related field that requires let say "good" driving skills and knowledge.
3. I owned Opel's from Ascona to Vectra B, Lancia 2.4jtd, and now in Europe, I drive Skoda Octavia 1.9tdi (owned first evrsion of A5 and now second) and have in houshold Peugeot 407 1.6hdi.
4. I had an opportunity to drive numerous times 1.9jtd engine, in Alfa's, Fiats and Vectra C as well in SAAB. Those engines COULD BE prone to problems but only due to poor maintenance or some other irrebularities. Usually, it is poor chocie of oils.
The fact that that engine shows good track in one application does not mean it is show same reliability in other.
Take VW 1.8T. In EU it did not have problems bcs dealerhips usually had always top notch oils. In the U.S. they were horrible due to poor choice of oil and some other stuff that are unique to the U.S. markets.
As far as comparison between Astra 1.8 and Zafira 1.9cdti, you are right!
Diesel engines today are what gas engines were in late 80's and 90's. Diesels are more complicated and technology driven and off course cause more issues. OPEL has one of best 4-bangers in Europe. I owned 2.0 liter opels and those engines can run on cooking oil. I put on my Ascona 2.0l OHC around 550,000 miles before I sold it (engine did not die).
I think Zafira was wrong choice for that application. Look, IVECO is using 2.4jtd engines (1.9 + extra cyl) for military application. In civilian use, 2.4jtd is making in alfa's 210hp. For military use, 115hp! Reason? Bigger but slower turbo with low pressure, different ijectors, no emission [censored] etc. For hard core use, Zafira 1.9CDTI is not really good choice. For family of 4? YES!
Well considering it is a well known issue with this engine in the UK and Europe where most new cars are indeed DIESEL.
And who says they were driven by people who didn't care about them?
They were serviced every 3000 miles on average, sometimes sooner, certainly every 6/8 weeks. Not just due to the oil but brakes were stripped out and re copper greased a every service.
Initially there was an issue with oil specs not being sufficient but they continued to be unreliable and it is partly the work done by the fitters in partnership with Vauxhall and latey Saab main dealers with help from Vauxhall UK that a lot of the issues wih this engine and specifically the problems caused by the EGR system were recognised.
All these vehicles were driven by Class 2 advanced drivers and though sometimes driven in Emergency Situations they are automatic so in fact excess revs are not really an issue, are they?
Just to confirm?
How many of these particular engines have you dealt with?
And I assume you are some form of advanced driver aswell?
Lets not forget that these vehicles are in use 24/7 and rarely have any cold starts.
They do get switched off after a hard run though, but the only widespread turbo failures were on the few mk1 2.0 diesels which had a Vauxhall engine fitted, incidentally apart from the turbos the 50 odd old shapes had NO engine failures to date, just turbos, and these were used in the exact same conditions.
The previous generation response car were petrol Vauxhall Astras with a 1.8 scorecard lump with an auto box, there was never any failures on these as far as engines go, a couple of autoboxes broke at 5/6 yrs in service, but other than the odd sensor they were very reliable.
Wih same usage over many, many years why exactly do you assume this was operator error rather than an engine just not up to the job.
Try googling a few UK based Vauxhall forums to see the conversations relating to. Issues with the 1.9 Fiat engine.
Now I didn't say it wasn't smooth etc when running, as they are a nice smooth engine, but reliable, no they are certainly not.
1. I am from Europe, live currently in the U.S.
2. I am advanced driver, with employment in automobile related field that requires let say "good" driving skills and knowledge.
3. I owned Opel's from Ascona to Vectra B, Lancia 2.4jtd, and now in Europe, I drive Skoda Octavia 1.9tdi (owned first evrsion of A5 and now second) and have in houshold Peugeot 407 1.6hdi.
4. I had an opportunity to drive numerous times 1.9jtd engine, in Alfa's, Fiats and Vectra C as well in SAAB. Those engines COULD BE prone to problems but only due to poor maintenance or some other irrebularities. Usually, it is poor chocie of oils.
The fact that that engine shows good track in one application does not mean it is show same reliability in other.
Take VW 1.8T. In EU it did not have problems bcs dealerhips usually had always top notch oils. In the U.S. they were horrible due to poor choice of oil and some other stuff that are unique to the U.S. markets.
As far as comparison between Astra 1.8 and Zafira 1.9cdti, you are right!
Diesel engines today are what gas engines were in late 80's and 90's. Diesels are more complicated and technology driven and off course cause more issues. OPEL has one of best 4-bangers in Europe. I owned 2.0 liter opels and those engines can run on cooking oil. I put on my Ascona 2.0l OHC around 550,000 miles before I sold it (engine did not die).
I think Zafira was wrong choice for that application. Look, IVECO is using 2.4jtd engines (1.9 + extra cyl) for military application. In civilian use, 2.4jtd is making in alfa's 210hp. For military use, 115hp! Reason? Bigger but slower turbo with low pressure, different ijectors, no emission [censored] etc. For hard core use, Zafira 1.9CDTI is not really good choice. For family of 4? YES!