Best diesel engine

[matt21]

I'm not necessarily talking quickest. For me a good diesel engine is bulletproof, flexible, frugal and punchy.

Always been impressed with the BMW 3.0 diesel, but a little more humble surely the older D5 found in the S60 and the VAG 1.9 TDi found in everything takes some beating.

What else?

[RJP001]

Bulletproof diesel - go back about twenty to thirty years when there were no such things as computers making them work.

The HDi line of engines seem to be reasonably reliable - family have a couple of cars with these powerplants and not had any trouble so far. I have heard of stories about turbochargers having problems later in life however?

[V88Dicky]

The best diesel engines are the ones that aren't running, surely?

[thinfourth2]

Landrover 300Tdi

Mechanical injection, runs on damn near anything, 2 stage direct injection

[Vladimir]

BM 3.0 has to be one of the best?
Quite impressed with our van engine. Only a 2.0 but 180ish bhp, 295 torques and pretty economical seeing as it has 2.6 tonnes to push around!!

Like the D5 unit too.

VAG 1.9 gets a lot of praise but its very agricultural and has a pathetically tiny power band.

[ShayneJ]

Don't have a long enough beard to quote numbers but surely the non turbo units
fitted to older (pre ECU) Mercedes must be in with a shout here.
I understand many of them running to phenomenal mileages's and still going.

[mike9009]

Best meaning what? IME the 2.4 litre alfa 5 pot. But i havent owned another diesel. Driven plenty of VAG units but find them dull and boring in comparison - very utilitarian. But i think that applies to most diesels.....

Would like to experience a BMW 6 pot as a comparison to the Alfa.....

Mike

[Dave Hedgehog]

audi 4.2 v8

[And172940]

Current Meredes V6 Diesel?

All aluminium, variable pitch turbo, smooth and quiet with instant power delivery.

3000cc 265bhp and 480 fl/lbs

[wolf1]

The ford transit 2.5 Di engine, Low on power but pretty much bullet proof. Cambelt failure? Slap a new belt on it and straighten the pushrods with a hammer.

[R300will]

Massey Ferguson?

[supersingle]

Citroen/Peugeot 1.9 non-turbo diesel engine.

Slow yet faithful.

[tamore]

2.2 honda unit seems pretty good so far.

[robsco]

PSA make some fantastic diesel engines. Frugal, refined and reliable.

[ruff'n'smov]

wolf1 said:

The ford transit 2.5 Di engine, Low on power but pretty much bullet proof. Cambelt failure? Slap a new belt on it and straighten the pushrods with a hammer.

^^^^ yes ...and still beat anything up the A1 on a Friday.

[Torquey]

tamore said:

2.2 honda unit seems pretty good so far.

From a civic? I was reading recently that many diesel civic owners are replacing clutches every 20,000 miles.

[C Lee Farquar]

It's got to be a two stroke.

[tamore]

Torquey said:

tamore said:

2.2 honda unit seems pretty good so far.

From a civic? I was reading recently that many diesel civic owners are replacing clutches every 20,000 miles.

2008 accord tourer dog mobile. looks like a hearse!

[Willy Nilly]

R300will said:

Massey Ferguson?

Massey Ferguson do not and have never made engines, they are just a brand now and use Sisu diesels.

My experience has shown that a diesel should have either 4 or 6 cylinders in a line. 3 is ok, but if there are 8 cylinders and they are in a V configuration the engine will be crud.

[tamore]

Willy Nilly said:

R300will said:

Massey Ferguson?

Massey Ferguson do not and have never made engines, they are just a brand now and use Sisu diesels.

My experience has shown that a diesel should have either 4 or 6 cylinders in a line. 3 is ok, but if there are 8 cylinders and they are in a V configuration the engine will be crud.

not driven one (4.4 diesel), but i'd guess a few range rover drivers might disagree?