"Best diesel engine ever made"
"Best diesel engine ever made"
Author
Discussion

Roboticarm

Original Poster:

1,673 posts

90 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
quotequote all
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405213783501?mkcid=16&a...

Saw this and it got my thinking, if I had been asked I'm not sure the Montego would be in my list.

But if we focus on cars sold in the UK and standard road cars, what would be on the list?
80s Merc diesels seem to last forever
The Renault 1.5 dci is apparently near bullet proof
The Peugeot diesels featured in the 90s 306s ?
BMW 3.0 from the E46 ?

Moodyman1

153 posts

68 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
quotequote all
VW’s TDI pre-DPF was darn good. Had the performance/mpg balance just right. And was pretty tough. Plenty of high mileage Passats and Octavias in tax fleets.

Edited by Moodyman1 on Thursday 19th September 14:55

SlowV6

720 posts

168 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
quotequote all
I'd vote M57 into the conversation. Also PD130.

Not sure I would have ever considered the Perkins diesel in the Montego a candidate hehe

But without "best" criteria, this thread is destined to become just a list of peoples personal favourite diesel engines.

Looking at the feedback on ebay I would possibly not be confident in that seller!

GeniusOfLove

5,763 posts

41 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
quotequote all
Think we had a long thread about this a couple of years back.

Volvo D5 is a strong contender; economical, very robust, much smoother and better power delivery than a four.

otolith

68,789 posts

233 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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None of the four cylinder ones.

halo34

2,890 posts

228 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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D5 and/or BMW 330d unit - nothing 4 pot

Dog Star

17,583 posts

197 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
quotequote all
Depends on use I guess - for sheer agricultural simplicity and durability id say a Pug engine from the 80s or a Toyota 3981cc six cylinder lump or the later 4.2 turbo. Simple and bombproof.

Decky_Q

2,084 posts

206 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
quotequote all
Scania 16.4l V8 is the most iconic diesel I know and it's an excellent engine. Sounds pretty cool straight piped out a stack too.

Cummins next, I've no experience of them but ppl who do love them.

I highly rate the Euro5 2.0Hdi engines from PSA. They are an evolution of the Dturbos from the 90s. No coking up issues, no dpf issues, no issues with short journeys, they make good power without needing adblue, crankcase vent doesn't cover everything in oil and pretty refined. It was used in cars from many manufacturers.

I'm sure the VAG V10 diesel engine is a good motor and may have been highly regarded if it was fitted to a few more vehicles, but I've never encountered one.

Jimjimhim

2,107 posts

29 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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Best diesel is a bit like asking for the best tropical disease biggrin



Echinococcosis if you're asking

WPA

14,669 posts

143 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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Volkswagen PD110 or 130

HJG

661 posts

136 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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Detroit Diesel 2 stroke

Ussrcossack

1,107 posts

71 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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PSA XUD was the best high volume diesel at the time

The Montego was frugal with it perkins engine, but a tad noisy

CornedBeef

645 posts

217 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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I'd agree with others, PD130 or the M57. I've had 2 M57 engined cars and they've been excellent, and I've had friends in the past with PD130's that were remapped to heaven and did mega miles without any problems.

Surely an old N/A (is it N/A?) Montego diesel is an absolute nail, or am I missing something not being familiar with it?

miniman

30,039 posts

291 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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Land Rover TD5 assuming it isn’t pissing oil into its ECU.

njw1

2,778 posts

140 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
quotequote all
CornedBeef said:
I'd agree with others, PD130 or the M57. I've had 2 M57 engined cars and they've been excellent, and I've had friends in the past with PD130's that were remapped to heaven and did mega miles without any problems.

Surely an old N/A (is it N/A?) Montego diesel is an absolute nail, or am I missing something not being familiar with it?
Turbo diesel in the Montego, the funny thing is, being an 'old school' diesel I bet it'd be more reliable than modern stuff as it isn't full of dpf's, egr's, adblue, sensors and electronics plus it'd probably run on any old crap.

Agree on the M57 but never understood the love for the PD engine personally with its very narrow power band, tractor noise and lack of refinement.


Edited by njw1 on Thursday 19th September 15:39

phil1979

3,671 posts

244 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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Any love for the Merc V6? I love mine in the GLC.

layercake

446 posts

133 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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phil1979 said:
Any love for the Merc V6? I love mine in the GLC.
om642 ?
im running one currently at 200k, hoping to see 500k time will tell

Mercutio

334 posts

191 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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B57 diesel in an X5 is the modern equivalent - I love that diesel engine.

Boobonman

5,700 posts

221 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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Got to be Mercedes OM606 hasn't it? No ECU, runs forever and can make absolutely insane power. Sounds pretty good too.

Snow and Rocks

3,413 posts

56 months

Thursday 19th September 2024
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The Toyota 1HD-FT as fitted to Land Cruisers and various Toyota bus, commercial and marine applications.

Straight six turbocharged 4.2. Sounds good, almost unstallable but still revs surprisingly well for what it is. Even quite economical considering the size, weight and poor aerodynamics of a Land Cruiser with 30+ mpg possible.

168 bhp in unstressed Land Cruiser tune but as much as 420bhp in some marine installs. Everything from the air filter to the 24v starter motor is huge and lasts as well as you'd expect for a such a heavy duty and lightly stressed engine. In a different league to typical passenger car stuff like the VW Pds or Land Rover Td5s.