Page 1 of 3

1.9 DG engine

Posted: 25 Jan 2017, 16:31
by philmcC
I have the 1.9 DG engine in my autohomes komet. It's a VEGE unit. I read the forum regularly and see all sorts of less than enthusiastic messages about it. I have to say that mine goes beautifully cruising between 55 and 60 mph gives 27 mpg. A major improvement to the running was taking Aidan's advice on buying a new carburettor from Brickwerks. Of course it requires a bit more gear changing on hills, but the way things are going now I would not want to change. philmcC

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 25 Jan 2017, 17:44
by itchyfeet
If it's not broke then don't fix it but it seems they liked ( to use lots of bathroom sealant in places VW never intended any sealant.

I'm sure all the budget rebuilders are cutting corners on all the usual stuff. What you have to remember is most rebuilders are just fixing the broken bits and adding a few new seals and bits, the labour alone is massive and so there is no money for new parts unless they are broken.

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 25 Jan 2017, 19:02
by Moonrakers
Nobody ever wrote that every lump Vege knocked out was useless, just that there have been many failures reported over the years and some pretty shoddy work-arounds revealed in failed units. As Itchy said, costs of a thoroughly reconditioned fail-safe engine are surprisingly high compared to the cheapest variety...

Let's hope yours continues to chug along happily for many more miles - there's nothing quite like a healthly WBX, strangely endearing little motors, they are.

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 25 Jan 2017, 22:35
by ajsimmo
I love the phrase "strangely endearing little motors". Might pinch that, as it sums up their quirky charm for me.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 26 Jan 2017, 11:17
by R0B
Not the phrase Baxter would choose :-)

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 26 Jan 2017, 11:20
by itchyfeet
Give it a few years when Diesel is socially as bad as farting at the dinner table and attitudes to the WBX may change :lol:

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 26 Jan 2017, 13:04
by itchyfeet
Word on the Street is VEGE was supplied by Elite some years ago, dunno if it's true but makes sense as both VEGE and Elite engines have been reported with silicone inside.

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 26 Jan 2017, 18:54
by Aidan
A good 1.9wbx is a fine thing just as a good gearbox is, but when these vans were under a grand not many people would spend more than
that on repairs so they were done to a price and shoddy often, just good enough and now 10 years on we are seeing them again worn out and damaged and very expensive to repair right

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 26 Jan 2017, 19:26
by Dad
Must admit my vege recon has been great for 20000 MLS and 6 yrs.

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 31 Jul 2023, 18:52
by angleseycaver
my 1983 komet will cruise all day at 70 mph using 28 mpg but more often than not i tend to stay at 60mph on motorways

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 01 Aug 2023, 08:34
by cobblers
ajsimmo wrote: 25 Jan 2017, 22:35 I love the phrase "strangely endearing little motors". Might pinch that, as it sums up their quirky charm for me.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

Yup, objectively they are pretty crap really. Thirsty, fairly low powered, complicated. I never really understood why VW bothered making them - When they switched to watercooled T25s, they already had designed the I4 mounts for the diesel engines, they might as well have just fitted the 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines that they used in the rest of the VW range and gained from the economies of scale) and ten years ago, I really didn't like them - I was so desperate to get the 2.1 out of my old van and put an AGG in. Ruined the van, I hated it. Sounded crap

I really like my WBX now. It's interesting.

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 02 Aug 2023, 14:43
by southernscouse
Drove my gipsy slowly with a 1.9dg for over14 years (now fitted 2.1dj) my son had a 1.6 non turbo cheetah you have no idea how slow that was

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 02 Aug 2023, 15:16
by Smiffo
1.9DG here too. Will easily do 65-70mph on a motorway for hours. ( Until I reach an incline  :lol:  )

I daren't work out the milage per gallon/litre. I'd rather not know.

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 02 Aug 2023, 15:23
by R0B
The 1.6 non-turbo is ok as long as you go everywhere downhill. :lol:
southernscouse wrote: 02 Aug 2023, 14:43 Drove my gipsy slowly with a 1.9dg for over14 years (now fitted 2.1dj) my son had a 1.6 non turbo cheetah you have no idea how slow that was



 

Re: 1.9 DG engine

Posted: 02 Aug 2023, 15:25
by cobblers
R0B wrote: 02 Aug 2023, 15:23 The 1.6 non-turbo is ok as long as you go everywhere downhill. :lol:
 

A friend of mine has one of those. He drove it once, from Rotherham - Scarborough. The slowness terrified him so much that he had it recovered home and he's never driven it since!