1990’s Quality Diesels

[Lacquer Peel]

The TDS had the isuzu unit - the TD was the GM slow blow

The Isuzu TD didn't exist 96-98 and was replaced with a GM TD with similar power. I can't believe I'm arguing about this and need to get a life. I KNOW ALL THE 90s DIESELS

[puddlethumper]

My vote goes to the Xud. Coz I've got one and its great.

[DaveDorson]

I had a couple of MK3 cavalier 1.7 Turbo diesels which I quite enjoyed if I'm honest.

 

But the Peugeots of the era were far better in my experience.

 

I quite like the PowerTrain Ltd 2.0 that ended up in Rovers and MG's as well, my 400 with a non intercooled one went perfectly well and was pretty unburstable, if a bit unrefined.

[Hendry]

What Diesel engine would’ve been fitted to a 1998 R reg R3 bubble shape Rover 220 SDi?

 

Always thought those were very brisk wee cars and cheap to run. Shame most were white though.

[DaveDorson]

What Diesel engine would’ve been fitted to a 1998 R reg R3 bubble shape Rover 220 SDi?

 

Always thought those were very brisk wee cars and cheap to run. Shame most were white though.

 

That's the PowerTrain Ltd made one that Iw as on about.

 

Good unit I reckon, apparently had some lineage with the Perkins Prima or something.

[Bren]

Had one up until about 3 years ago and they are amazing, engine always springs into life and they do high forties at 80/90 all day long.

Keep up with servicing/cambelt changes and the engine will literally do a million miles as there's one still (or was until recently) in service doing airport runs where his only major replacement was a gearbox at 700k, not bad!!!

Ford 1.8td is DEFFO one of my fave 90's dervs.

I've got the ahz (ve pumped pre PD) whatever they call it in my Leon which is 2001 but it's effectively the same motor vw used since I believe the late 80's, another superb go forever lump.

I love the springy accelerator pedal and the turbo lag/then boost.

 

Like being towed behind a lorry on a bungee.

[Bren]

I had driving lessons in a mk IV escort - not sure what lump.it had but progress was best described as "glacial."

 

The instructor never tired of telling me I did'nt need to touch the gas while doing a three point turn.

[Rusty_Rocket]

The Isuzu TD didn't exist 96-98 and was replaced with a GM TD with similar power. I can't believe I'm arguing about this and need to get a life. I KNOW ALL THE 90s DIESELS

 

I had a 1998 Astra-F with the Isuzu engine!!  'R' reg.  The Isuzu and GM unit ran side by side from 1992 in the Astra-F, to well into Astra-G production (when the lowblow was thankfully dropped and the Isuzu was re-introduced with common rail and 16v).

GM engine was always available as a fleet or budget option in the lower spec cars.  The Isuzu was available with LS spec and above on the Astra but across the board on the Cavalier.

 

Many people got confused with identifying the 1.7 diesels but the Isuzu was 1686cc and the GM 1700cc, dead on.  Useful when sizing up a potential purchase and there's no engine bay shots.  (although I appear to be the only person on here that still seeks them out). 

[twosmoke300]

No no no - LP knows all the 90s diesels - we must be wrong

[sierraman]

As far as I know, the 1.5 and some of the turbo 1.7 diesels were Isuzu based, other earlier 1.7s were based on the earlier 1.6 diesels which in turn were based on the Family Petrol units. I’m basing this on the Haynes Manual on them I had when I used to work occasionally on a Corsa 1.7 D.

[Rusty_Rocket]

^^ exactly that.  The old 16D and 17D were Family2 (big block) lumps that also served the 1.8 and above petrol engines.  GM certainly got their money's worth out of the old 8v engines!

[sierraman]

The Corsa I used to work on was a bit of a swine to service, space was limited and the oil filter required some fairly deft small hands to get it round the back of the block from above. Went on forever though on a diet of 15w40 and fuel filters.

[sierraman]

Frequent misconception that the 1.7 DTI as fitted to Mk4 Astras was the same unit as the earlier units.

[twosmoke300]

Isuzu oil filters were fun when someone changed a starter and didn't replace the cover on the positive terminal . The technique for doing the oil filter on those was to loosen it off then let it drop . Then you could put your finger in the hole ( fnaar fnaar) and pull the filter out . There wasn't enough room to wrap my hands around the filter and pull it out .

The issue was when you dropped the filter on the starter terminal and it arcs itself ! I always kept a 10mm or 13 mm spanner on me when doing them from that point on

[Rusty_Rocket]

Frequent misconception that the 1.7 DTI as fitted to Mk4 Astras was the same unit as the earlier units.

 

The block is pretty much the same, I've had the two side by side and there was only minor differences.  The rest is totally different though, like the gear-driven twin cam head and the alternator setup is slightly less awkward!

[twosmoke300]

Oh god yeh changing an alternator on the combo ( corsa b shape) vans with the Isuzu was a right oily pita

[twosmoke300]

Also that engine is one of very few that has the cambelt tensioner on the drive side .

[Rusty_Rocket]

Yes, I always thought the tensioner setup was unusual.  Weirdly, it worked fine though, I think the belt drive on them was very robust, certainly I never had any trouble over the 10+ years I ran them.

The alternator/ vacuum pump arrangement is sent from hell and I still have the scars to prove it!  Didn't help that the alternators were a weak point with their remote charge relays too.