Club 80-90 Forums

So in my on going search for a T25 or a T4, and to help me head towards a decision, would people with a 1.6TD engine please share their thoughts and experiences on this engine please?

Owlets,
I have a 1.6td.
I have owned it since November I think!!
Put diesel in 350 miles later put more in and so it goes on!!
I have a 5 speed box on mine, top speed is somewhere between 70-80 but happiest around 60 ish, don't know cause speedo needle wobbles a bit!
Haven't had any problems yet, got a little drip at the moment not sure where from haven't looked.
I like it sounds agricultural but cheaper to run that my petrol one and just as nippy.
bought it blind so I am happy with it. mind you was a bargain (i think!)

Thanks for the info D.................did you get those bits from the Volksworld show?

Ive got 1.6td westy which smoked when cold did not see this when i brought it. In the end i've had to put a new engine in also a new turbo and the bill was about £2750 but it is great now. So have a good look at the engine.

what kool kamper said.but excluding november and the little drip bit....

Still under powered for my liking. Get an average of 30mpg. Can cruise at 75-80 but mine sits in the groove at about 65mph. Yeh they sound like a tractor when cold. Went through 2 turbos on the first engine due to low oil presure (engine shagged). New engine from vee gee runs a treat.

Forgot to say in my previous post:

Mine's nippy compared to a tortoise! BUT
I would have another, with out a doubt

All that said I do like the sound from a boxer but have one of them when I can afford petrol!!!

Oh and Owlets I've got to go to syncro101 land for bits!!

I agree with everything Kool-Camper said. I've had my van for just under a year now & I specifically searched for a diesel because I'm sold on the reliability of the engine & the fuel economy.

Most expensive thing I've had done so far has been a service by a competent mechanic. No issues spotted.

If the engine ever does die I would look at installing a 1.9TD to have that little extra oomph on the motorway, but I'd recommend a diesel engine, be it pushing a T25 or a T4.

Best of a bad bunch in my eyes.
Fair enough, they ain't as economical as they could be, but marginally better than a petrol.
Westies are full of kit, like you say, fitting a LPG tank seems daft as it wastes what you bought the van for, loads of useable space. Fitting LPG under back seat you will loose all your electric charge and rear heater where fitted, in the back locker you loose the cupboard space.
I got a couple of AAZ's I am rebuilding, but no rush to fit it to either the Atlantic or the caddy (Or syncro for that matter) as I am quite happy with the 1.6's that they all sport.
Buy one, give it a right good service and drive it.
Remeber that later Westies esp Atlantics have extra sound deadening and are really quiet!
All this fuss about Diesels being noisy is just "Balls" spouted by people with petrols.

Simon Baxter wrote: All this fuss about Diesels being noisy is just * * *ks spouted by people with petrols.

I prefer the noise of diesels, they sound like there doing something.

hi, i have 1.6td. bought it with a dead engine and fitted a vee gee remanufactured unit and have a 5 speed box.

The injector pump needs the timing setting up properly as it smokes (white) a fair bit under heavy load as the engine was supplied with the pump timimg set waaaay out (not good) and the mechanic had to fiddle about getting it right.He was an ex VW mechanic but I believe 1mm or 2 adjustment can make all the difference.

On the whole tho its superb and very relaible and pretty economical. Im led to believe that these engines are only good for 100k or so before needing attention due to them being inclined in the engine bay and not vertical as originally intended. That aside, itll take me ages to do 100k in it, lol, so its all worth it. Check the engine out and buy one.

andysimpson wrote:

Simon Baxter wrote: All this fuss about Diesels being noisy is just * * *ks spouted by people with petrols.

I prefer the noise of diesels, they sound like there doing something.

Yeah I agree. It sounds like a monster growling or something as opposed to an electric motor! 1.6TD engine in my experience has been faultless. Never had a minutes trouble. Pulls well, I get about 35 to 40 mpg and it will do 75mph, and this is in a Syncro. When I say it pulls well now, I mean it will move a lot of weight easily, but its never in a hurry with acceleration. I had roughly a half tonne of audio and lighting equipment in the back of my van, as well as my camping interior, and it moved along nicely. And theyre a lot quieter than some more modern diesels Ive come across too. New Transit van, Merc vans, Iveco or Fiat vans all have clattery old lumps in their engine bays that make the JX engine sound like the most refined diesel engine ever!

Mines noisy if you walk round the back of the vehicle. With all the sound deadening stuff its silent inside. Quieter than my brothers 2lt petrol.

And the whine/whistle of the turbo is great. I know its daft but it makes you feel good when theres 30 cars stuck behind you going up the hills in the country lanes. With the window down, elbow out and a bloody grert grin on yer face coz yer in yer VAN an them poor buggers dont know what they're missin.

Have an oil leak in mine which i keep minimising (hopefully it'll be gone soon, can't replace much else)

Had to replace the head soon after I bought it, but this was mainly due to it seemingly being bodged throughout it's life, but other than the leak it's fine now pulls well cruises fine

Would go for a 1.9tdi replacement if the engine ever lets go tho but otherwise a good choice I think