Over stressing engine?
Discussion
I was towing my kit car for the first time today, but noticed there was a serious lack of power, in particular going up hill. When i put my foot down, i can hear the turbo spooling up, but it takes ages for it to really get up to any real speed.
My tow car is an alfa 159 1.9D (150 BHP)
The car weighs around 1500KG, and trailer/car weight about another 1500 KG, so around 3Ton in total.
Is this a bit too much weight to be putting through a small engine? Will it do it any damage? or wear out the turbo Etc much quicker.
It does tow nicely once up to speed, but just a little worried if I'm overdoing the engine?
My tow car is an alfa 159 1.9D (150 BHP)
The car weighs around 1500KG, and trailer/car weight about another 1500 KG, so around 3Ton in total.
Is this a bit too much weight to be putting through a small engine? Will it do it any damage? or wear out the turbo Etc much quicker.
It does tow nicely once up to speed, but just a little worried if I'm overdoing the engine?
McHaggis said:
What does the owners manual say about tow weights?
Edit to add, limit is 1500kg for those so right at the limit?
I don't think he should be towing 3 Tonnes with a limit of 1500Kg. To the OP, the risk would be far too great for me to be towing that with your Alfa. It is not primarily about the engine capability, but the safety of having such a weight behind that vehicle.Edit to add, limit is 1500kg for those so right at the limit?
Edited by McHaggis on Wednesday 9th May 21:14
Mike
R1 Indy said:
Just checked, and yes the max towing weight is 1500KG, so should technical be ok.
Mike, Its only 1500KG thats actually being towed. The 3000KG comes from Towcar (1500KG), and trailer with car on (1500KG), so the weight distribution should be fine.
Oops completely misread ops post.... Ignore me.Mike, Its only 1500KG thats actually being towed. The 3000KG comes from Towcar (1500KG), and trailer with car on (1500KG), so the weight distribution should be fine.
The engine was probably struggling yes, we had similar symptoms in the Multipla (Same engine) when we filled it to virtually Max laden weight on the way back from Dover 
. Climbing the hills on the motorway, foot flat, we could just about maintain 60 mph.
Do you tow often? - If so, i'd borrow a bigger car, because the extra weight on the drive train will wear the clutch + flywheel out more quickly at the very least, and possibly the rear suspension as well.
. Climbing the hills on the motorway, foot flat, we could just about maintain 60 mph. Do you tow often? - If so, i'd borrow a bigger car, because the extra weight on the drive train will wear the clutch + flywheel out more quickly at the very least, and possibly the rear suspension as well.
Edited by Matthen on Wednesday 9th May 22:05
Matthen said:
The engine was probably struggling yes, we had similar symptoms in the Multipla (Same engine) when we filled it to virtually Max laden weight on the way back from Dover . Climbing the hills on the motorway, foot flat, we could just about maintain 60 mph.
Do you tow often? - If so, i'd borrow a bigger car, because the extra weight on the drive train will wear the clutch + flywheel out more quickly at the very least, and possibly the rear suspension as well.
IIRC, the Multipla used either the JTD (115bhp) or the Multijet (120bhp). It never came with the 150bhp 16V unit.. Climbing the hills on the motorway, foot flat, we could just about maintain 60 mph. Do you tow often? - If so, i'd borrow a bigger car, because the extra weight on the drive train will wear the clutch + flywheel out more quickly at the very least, and possibly the rear suspension as well.
Edited by Matthen on Wednesday 9th May 22:05
I have to say a 1.9 turbo diesel shouldn't struggle with that. My mondeo (130bhp, 265ft.lb) regularly tows 900kg with a boot full in the car etc, total weigh not far off your 3T. Once at speed I use 6th gear except for on the steepest hills.
Use 500-800 more revvs than you usually would. Don't let it fall off boost. Personally I have upped my towing speed so I can be on boost in 6th.
Use 500-800 more revvs than you usually would. Don't let it fall off boost. Personally I have upped my towing speed so I can be on boost in 6th.
By the way, once you have moved off, avoid slipping the clutch altogether. Rev the engine past your usual shift point to give yourself time to perform a leisurely shift and get the clutch re-engaged before engine revvs have fallen too low. Don't go down through the gears when decelerating either.
I have had a few 1.9tdi passats and they all towed our caravan with ease car weight 1690kg caravan at the time 1450kg.
just got the new 2.0tdi 140 bluemotion and even with just 5000 miles on the clock it pulls like a train in 6th at anything over 55mph. just had a long weekend in cornwall with the family in the caravan and, we joined the m6 at jct 18 and got into 6th and the first time we changed down to 5th was when we left the M5 at junction 30 to join the a30. the current caravan is bigger and heavier at 1725kg. economy is better than the previous model at average 38mpg towing.
just got the new 2.0tdi 140 bluemotion and even with just 5000 miles on the clock it pulls like a train in 6th at anything over 55mph. just had a long weekend in cornwall with the family in the caravan and, we joined the m6 at jct 18 and got into 6th and the first time we changed down to 5th was when we left the M5 at junction 30 to join the a30. the current caravan is bigger and heavier at 1725kg. economy is better than the previous model at average 38mpg towing.
Try without the load. My old Croma had the exact same engine in it and I had that problem twice. First time it was the EGR -£500 for the warrant company to pay. Second time it was a split hose - £20 for me to pay. For the split hose it was a gradual loss in power until the EML came on. EGR was rather more sudden! I also had slight losses in power after long periods of using low revs, such as after the long period of icy weather we had a couple if years ago. The resolution to this was a good hoon, using one gear lower than you normally would.
To up the power output a little I shoved a K&N air filter on. Just a direct replacement one for the OEM one, rather than new air box etc.
Good engine, though. I realised that when I came to look for a replacement. I ended up with an Alfa 147 with a strangely familiar engine in it...
just with 20bhp more. 
To up the power output a little I shoved a K&N air filter on. Just a direct replacement one for the OEM one, rather than new air box etc.
Good engine, though. I realised that when I came to look for a replacement. I ended up with an Alfa 147 with a strangely familiar engine in it...
just with 20bhp more. HustleRussell said:
I have to say a 1.9 turbo diesel shouldn't struggle with that. My mondeo (130bhp, 265ft.lb) regularly tows 900kg with a boot full in the car etc, total weigh not far off your 3T. Once at speed I use 6th gear except for on the steepest hills.
Use 500-800 more revvs than you usually would. Don't let it fall off boost. Personally I have upped my towing speed so I can be on boost in 6th.
+1. I had a 2.0 TDci Mondeo towing a 1500kg caravan and most of the time I hardly knew it was there.Use 500-800 more revvs than you usually would. Don't let it fall off boost. Personally I have upped my towing speed so I can be on boost in 6th.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff