Diesels on a Short Journey?
Discussion
How bad an idea is this?
Looking a new family estate car and weighing up some interesting Alfa diesels. Thing is day to day I have a pretty short commute, like 5 miles which I know would be much better in a 1.2 city car but is it realistic in a diesel without screwing it up?
We do a lot of mileage every months to Ireland and Manchester at the weekends hence the need for such a a car.
Looking a new family estate car and weighing up some interesting Alfa diesels. Thing is day to day I have a pretty short commute, like 5 miles which I know would be much better in a 1.2 city car but is it realistic in a diesel without screwing it up?
We do a lot of mileage every months to Ireland and Manchester at the weekends hence the need for such a a car.
Regardless of damage to engine as not warming up fully, unless you get a modern diesel with an electric assistance for the heater, you'll be very cold in winter.
I used to have an S-Max (not that old as it was an 07 plate) that was so thermodynamically efficient that if you were driving in town, even if the car was warm when you got into town, the heater would soon fail to blow out any warm air.
Best of luck.
I used to have an S-Max (not that old as it was an 07 plate) that was so thermodynamically efficient that if you were driving in town, even if the car was warm when you got into town, the heater would soon fail to blow out any warm air.
Best of luck.
if its a modern diesel stay away all youll have is DPF issues and EGR faults, your not doing enough miles for it to regen, .some cope well others clog up IE Vauxhall, I got rid of the wifes zafira for a petrol version for this exact reason.
My dads also had problems with his as he potters
Get petrol
My dads also had problems with his as he potters
Get petrol
Foppo said:
MG CHRIS said:
Get a petrol or hybrid if you do a lot of small journeys.
I do lots of small journeys a diesel 1.6 HDI.Lease car curious what will happen.
But keep oil changed regular every 6-8k miles ignore the 15k-20k schedule that the manufacture uses way to long for that engine.
Tobamory said:
if its a modern diesel stay away all youll have is DPF issues and EGR faults, your not doing enough miles for it to regen, .some cope well others clog up IE Vauxhall, I got rid of the wifes zafira for a petrol version for this exact reason.
My dads also had problems with his as he potters
Get petrol
I agree, the wife was given a new Corsa diesel in November, she works in town (1 mile away, she has to use the car for work) and most of her customers she has to visit are around town, so 99% of her journeys are less than 5 miles, this means we get the dpf warning light at least once a week and she has to take the car to the bypass and drive up and down it a few times till it goes out, its ludicrous really for something that is supposed to work in the exact environment it was designed for, modern cars are so full of unnecessary sMy dads also had problems with his as he potters
Get petrol
te.The heater also never ever gets warm.
Buy a petrol, it will do better mpg round town, be quieter/more refined and it will probably work properly most of the time.
If you're doing monthly trips to Ireland and Manchester, then I would say a diesel should be fine.
It won't like the short trips and you'll be cold in winter but the long drives to Ireland and and Manchester, should give the engine plenty of opportunity to do a regen and clear the rest of the ste that might have accumulated through the week.
As a precaution it might be better to put the expensive stuff in the tank, such as BP Ultimate. The DPF will most probably need replacing at some point and the EGR valve might too (if you're planning on keeping it for a long time), but as I said, the monthly long trips should ensure they will last a considerable amount of time before they do.
It won't like the short trips and you'll be cold in winter but the long drives to Ireland and and Manchester, should give the engine plenty of opportunity to do a regen and clear the rest of the s
te that might have accumulated through the week.As a precaution it might be better to put the expensive stuff in the tank, such as BP Ultimate. The DPF will most probably need replacing at some point and the EGR valve might too (if you're planning on keeping it for a long time), but as I said, the monthly long trips should ensure they will last a considerable amount of time before they do.
MiniMan64 said:
Cheers chaps, good advice.
To be honest I might have my hand forced anyway, I really fancy a 156/159 estate (don't like the German options, like my cars a bit different) and most of these come in Diesel form anyway plus supposedly it's the best engine option in the 156/159.
The diesel engines in the alfa are generally good very few problems. Just keep oil changes regular every 6-8k miles.To be honest I might have my hand forced anyway, I really fancy a 156/159 estate (don't like the German options, like my cars a bit different) and most of these come in Diesel form anyway plus supposedly it's the best engine option in the 156/159.
I have an 11 reg 1.6 tdi Ibiza sport company car on 60k of motorway use of 100 miles a day. No problems.
I've been moved short term 4 miles from home. The car has had DPF light in several times already. The hard blast to clear it is once a week and more fuel is used than my weekly commute??!! And this is cheaper motoring? Also it's running with condensation every morning as it's never fully hot.
I've been moved short term 4 miles from home. The car has had DPF light in several times already. The hard blast to clear it is once a week and more fuel is used than my weekly commute??!! And this is cheaper motoring? Also it's running with condensation every morning as it's never fully hot.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff