Pointless engine combos.

[twosmoke300]

The main prob with the Honda diesel is that they drink a bit of oil ( litre every 1000 miles not uncommon ) . Hondas never used to drink oil so customers never checked it between services so loads got run low on oil . If you buy a used one you just don't know if it's been run low .

I've done a few engines and timing chains on them for this reason .

Oh and cracked manifolds on the accords and seized in injectors .

[cros]

I don't know much about them, but a German friend had the predecessor of those 70's front wheel drive Merc vans. It had a tiny 2 cylinder 2 stroke engine in a body larger than a VW transporter. A later Hanomag version had what looked like an A series BMC engine.

[danthecapriman]

My work van is a 2010 Merc Sprinter with the 2.1 turbo diesel. It's shit! Absolutely gutless.

 

I know it's like comparing chalk and cheese but my 1984 2.0 petrol pinto powered Transit can piss all over the Sprinter at normal speeds, and it's quiter and smoother. Mercedes you should be embarrassed!

The Transits handling is appalling however so it's not all rosy.

[SiC]

The main prob with the Honda diesel is that they drink a bit of oil ( litre every 1000 miles not uncommon ) . Hondas never used to drink oil so customers never checked it between services so loads got run low on oil . If you buy a used one you just don't know if it's been run low .

I've done a few engines and timing chains on them for this reason .

Oh and cracked manifolds on the accords and seized in injectors .

Yeah, I knew about this when I bought one. I believe Honda started telling dealers to stick warning stickers on the drivers door jam to remind people to check them at every other fuel fill-up!

 

My Civic does have a oil level sensor - however it only actually does the check under certain conditions - iirc only checked when running and warm, etc. My oil level has got to minimum (low as I wanted to take it) and no warning came on. Mine uses pretty much a litre in between 12.5k services. When I did a oil change on it, I tested this too by turning the ignition on with no oil in the sump and no warning came up. So I don't know if I trust the thing. Oh and they very annoyingly take 6 litres of full synthetic 0W-30 - which is not a common grade, darn expensive and is more than a standard 4l/5l container!

 

The cracked manifold thing was on 55-reg and earlier Accords. Honda, to be fair to them, are usually pretty good on these things and in-fact did extended 6 year/100k mileage warranties on the manifolds if they cracked on the Accords.

 

Timing chains are my biggest fear. I see the occasional mention of it, but I suspect like you said its low oil and also missed servicing. Given access on the engine in the Civic is ... well non existent ... if mine goes, I suspect its not going to be worth the cost of getting it fixed due to labour costs involved.

 

I bought mine at 5 years old, full Honda service history (first owner was a Swindon Honda Factory employee - PDI was done at the factory!), all receipts and 80k odd on the clock. So high miles for the age, but I know it has (well a dealer service so ...should) been regularly serviced with the correct grade and the correct times. Would I buy a 10yr old example with sketchy history? No way. But then that's the same with me on any modern high-pressure fuel injected engine (both Common Rail diesel and Direct Injection petrol) and especially one with a chain engine!

[sloth]

4.1 litre Cortina

 

2.6 litre Marina

 

4.0 litre Chrysler Centura (180)

 

Morris 1500 (ADO16 with bonnet bulge and B-series)

 

morris 1500 ran the e series from the maxi with its 5 speed. having owned one with a ported head, and twin su's i can say it was a riot. excellent idea.

[Pete-M]

That's what all modern two litres gulp away. Or more. I don't know how, where to, and why, but they do.

Back when there still was real progress, my father praised his two-litre R20 needing only 8.5 to 9 litres/100km, less than the R16TX he had replaced with it.

When my not-very-economical 3.2 litre, 1.7 ton automatic Mercedes diseasel uses 7.5 l/100 km (on the motorway), and the 2.0 TDI Å koda Superbs I use for work use 3.9 l/100km on average, it kinda makes the old Renault look distinctly average on fuel. Especially when the both the Mercedes and Å koda both have lots more toys, are quicker, quieter, comfier and a lot more likely to get to their destination.

[Richard]

Talbot Sunbeam with a slightly bigger Imp engine?

 

They went ok-ish and crucially they got decent mpg, so not totally pointless. They went a bit better if you stuck a 1.6 in with the 1.0 gearing though.

[D Spares & Tyres]

Volvo 340 1.4

 

Underpowered while managing to be worse on fuel than the 1.7

[Liggle]

Ftfy because of the lack of torque

 

I've had several standard and tuned VTEC engines - the later K series engines are fine in the right car. It had as much torque off VTEC as a 'regular' 2.0 N/A Petrol of the same era BUT the gearing was very very short in my FN2 so it was tiring on a long journey and crap on fuel. Best of my bunch at least was a 210bhp B18 engine in a 1100kg ish car, didn't need to worry about torque in that. 

[Guest Hooli]

Snap.

 

I fitted an electronic ignition to my P6B many years ago, and WHEN it failed, I reinstalled the points, condenser and original breaker plate.

 

Yes I do have to check the dwell now and again, but I am all the happier for it.  The car is more responsive to tuning adjustments as well.

 

Snap again.

 

I replaced the aftermarket leccy ignition on my Triumph Bonneville with the proper points it should have. Result is no more breakdowns and it performs better. I got sick of the leccy kit dying every 2-2.5k, points don't need changing for 3k & it doesn't breakdown before hand.

[derskine]

Volvo 340 1.4

 

Underpowered while managing to be worse on fuel than the 1.7

Under powered - agree, but I've found 1.4s to be the most economical 300 series.

The 1.7 looks good on paper but it's unreliable and fragile.

[Liggle]

The 1.7 looks good on paper but it's unreliable and fragile.

 

Same engine as R5 1.7 GTX/Monaco isn't it?

[Bren]

1.8 petrol granada - mercifully killed off very quickly.

[derskine]

Same engine as R5 1.7 GTX/Monaco isn't it?

 

Aye.

I've got a 1.7 340, it drinks about the same fuel as my 360 does. Driven a 1.4 though and I did like it.

[D Spares & Tyres]

well I had a Volvo 340 1.4 and hated it.

 

Drove a 1.7 for a short while and it was a lot better.

 

Had a Renault 21 with the same 1.7 as the Volvo and loved it, very reliable and economical.

 

But I also have owned several Ladas and loved them all so how much my opinion is respected I`m not sure......

[bub2006]

I must admit the Volvo 1.7 auto I've got now is more responsive and more economical than the 1.6 vec b auto and focus 1.6 auto. Please don't say they are fragile.....

[forddeliveryboy]

The Sierra 1.3s I used to deliver to customers made you wonder what they were thinking of. About as miserable as motoring gets, yet they paid more than the cost of my uni fees in one great big go, sometimes even worse, with APR. Even a 1.3 Montego was less desperate, my Dad's ancient Saab with 190,000 on felt less tired than a brand new Frod, even in 2.0 Ghia guise.

 

A cousin had a CX turbo diesel at the time, it would sit at 120 with nothing but the sound of the air rushing past - complete with brakes like a parachute and a ride second only to Ali Baba's airborn rug. We used to go out looking for Hoorays in Golf GTis and show them what a bit of decent engineering meant - those old machines could handle like nothing else, contrary to the 'motoring connoisseur' who thinks that because they roll they're useless. I'd choose one over any XM, if it was right. Sadly the 70s and 80s brought us cars which often weren't.

[nacho man]

I must admit the Volvo 1.7 auto I've got now is more responsive and more economical than the 1.6 vec b auto and focus 1.6 auto. Please don't say they are fragile.....

I had the 1.7 in a 460 and I gave it some right hammer, the thermostat failed on the way home one night and I coaxed it home when it was way way way way in the red, new stat and was fine.

 

If my memory serves me right they had a right small rad and are meant to be thermally efficient or some bollocks.

 

Anyhow, I gave mine some stick as young lads do and it never blew up.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bub2006]

Thanks for that. Feel better now. I love it. Awesome little motor

[NorfolkNWeigh]

1.8 petrol granada - mercifully killed off very quickly.

The reason for the existence , in the UK anyway, of 1.8 Granadas, Carltons (remember the Mk1 was 2.0 only) etc was company car tax. When it first came in ( 85?) it was structured on engine size price bands with 1799cc being a big jump .

This didn't last long before it was replaced with a value based system, the equivalent jump was at , I think £19,250 hence things like the Montego engined Rover 820

 

Edited to add: sorry I'm talking bollocks, again, £19250 was the top band and the raison d'être for the tweed trimmed 2.9 XJ40. The lowere level must have been aroun £12k.