Modern diesels and short-ish journeys

Modern diesels and short-ish journeys

Author
Discussion

Bigdom86

Original Poster:

2 posts

67 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
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Hi guys
Always had petrol cars as done 5-10min drives, my petrol astra is on its last legs and looking at new cars.
How are modern diesels on short-ish journeys? Im looking at a 420i or 420d auto, seem to be many more diesels around than petrols these days.

I will be doing 8-10 miles twice a day 6x a week (anywhere from 30-45min drive), some stop start driving and some bits i get momentum going (london to kent driving) - wouldnt really get over 30-40mph. Perhaps once a few weeks it would get a 45min motorway run but not always.

Tempted by better fuel economy on the diesel but unsure if in 8ish miles it would have fully warmed up plus the possible issues with egr and dpf. Are these still issues on modern diesels? Say 2015+

Cheers
Dom

skyrover

12,671 posts

204 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
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If anything they are more of an issue with modern diesels.

I would NOT buy a diesel today for short trips.

Bigdom86

Original Poster:

2 posts

67 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
quotequote all
How short is short? What type of journey would you consider a diesel for? I know you can remove dpf and remap etc as my friend did it on his a7 and hasnt had issues but i duno

magpie215

4,388 posts

189 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
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Don't think you'll be doing enough miles to warrant a diesel.

Egr dpf delete is now an mot fail so if done it needs to be invisible to the tester.

I'd go petrol if it were me

austinsmirk

5,597 posts

123 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
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I’ve managed to do silly, short journeys for the last 9 years in a 2.0d Mondeo with no issue. I’m quite happy it’s returning 39 mpg and about 55 on a proper journey: which in fairness I do do occasionally.

My wife has a pure electric leaf: in all Honesty, that’s the perfect urban car for going nowhere. Ie in the last 8000 miles, it’s average speed was 17 mph. I suspect that’s the reality of most people’s driving. With fuel a 1.32 a litre, it’s a win win.

steve-5snwi

8,643 posts

93 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
quotequote all
Stick with the petrol, i guess you will get 35ish out of the 420i and 42ish out of the 420d on those trips.

Poshbury

686 posts

119 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
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Judging by what I've read on various motoring forums, diesels are a no no for regular short journeys. That, combined with higher service charges, make a petrol more sensible.

Who me ?

7,455 posts

212 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
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I do less than 5000 peryear on an older diesel ( no DPF), but a few years ago i had problems with EGR Shut off valve sticking. I've found the cure is to have a ten mile or so blast once a week. No more sticky valve and emmissions for past few years are creeping downward. MPG is also edging upwards, from the older 50 and now is circa 55-60 .

underwhelmist

1,855 posts

134 months

Sunday 23rd September 2018
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My mate has a 5 year old Skoda Superb 1.6 diesel. Seems a tiny engine for such a big car. He mostly drives a 6-mile round trip to and from work each day, with occasional longer runs down to Devon.

He had an engine management light come on, the problem was determined to be the EGR valve. Apparently it would cost £700 to replace so the garage tried to clean it instead. This seems to have worked for a week or so but now the EML is back on and he's going to have the EGR blanked off. I don't know if this will be a problem at MOT time.

I wouldn't have a diesel unless I was doing mega motorway miles.

sparks_E46

12,738 posts

213 months

Sunday 23rd September 2018
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Get a petrol, you will kill a modern diesel with your journeys.

Slushbox

1,484 posts

105 months

Sunday 23rd September 2018
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"Tempted by better fuel economy on the diesel "

It has to be offset with higher fuel prices, increased city taxes and so on. Lord Khan of London doesn't like diesels, Westminster have doubled parking charges for them.

There a reason there's a lot of diseasels for sale. :-)

Much as I like diesel autos, the current climate of 'tax them out of existing' put me off buying one, as residuals are suffering.

As to fuel economy, some modern petrols are at 50 mpg plus - though the average 420i figures are down at 35 mpg or so.

magpie215

4,388 posts

189 months

Sunday 23rd September 2018
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underwhelmist said:
the EML is back on and he's going to have the EGR blanked off. I don't know if this will be a problem at MOT time.
It will only be a problem of its visible to the tester that it's been blanked off or the car is outside emissions parameters.

T5R+

1,225 posts

209 months

Sunday 23rd September 2018
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2,500-3,000 miles per annum in a C Class diesel - zero issue.

Car does maybe 5-8 miles round trip most days with a once a month 100ish miles motorway trip.

Wife's car - so it had to be a certain colour/specification. The C63 that I sourced in the correct specification, in her words "it is a boy racer car and the seats are uncomfortable". So ended up in a diesel in the chosen colour combo.

I was convinced that short journeys and diesel/DPF do not good fellows make. But, may be it is just the luck of the draw.

dmsims

6,506 posts

267 months

Sunday 23rd September 2018
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Seems like a plug in hybrid would be perfect

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

167 months

Sunday 23rd September 2018
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Bigdom86 said:
How short is short? What type of journey would you consider a diesel for? I know you can remove dpf and remap etc as my friend did it on his a7 and hasnt had issues but i duno
Your friend is effectively fly tipping his vehicle emissions.