Thread: Common rail explained

Originally Posted by Judo

Wow, that is great read, thanks. Some sweet technology being developed there.

And 400 HP from the 2.2 litre Grand Am or 2 litre Le Mans versions.

Originally Posted by Bush65

And 400 HP from the 2.2 litre Grand Am or 2 litre Le Mans versions.

129 kW and 420 Nm in stock "6" form is not too bad either.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Agreed, however a commonrail diesel has an extra level of complexity over an old mechanical diesel.

For a fully mechanical diesel, you could carry a spare lift pump, injector pump and injectors. That and some hoses and filters is the entire fuel system. All of which can be easily replaced in the field. Those bits would probably cost you $2-5k new all up.

For a commonrail diesel you need all the above - except that the equivalent parts are bigger, heavier and much more expensive, plus you need at least a couple of critical sensors and pressure valves for the fuel rail, etc... Easily $10k plus in parts and probably lots of special tools...

That's the point. Most of you guys travel up here on specific trips and look at things that way, in the sense that you'd get the car recovered to a big town and someone there would fix the thing, and it would cost you whatever amount. I can't afford to think that way, so I use old technology. If we were stuck somewhere then I'd try and get whatever part flown in and I'd do the work myself.

I'd love it if new cars were built with this in mind. I've heard many stories up here where electronics have failed - I listed them in another thread. Since then, a friend's lovely new Navara decided to lock the doors while the keys were in the ignition and they had to break a window to get in. (So you could say the repair was made with a big rock!) With other breakdowns, the downtime can be huge as well.

Anyway, I'm very interested to see where this will lead in the next decade or so. I expect engines will be far more powerful and efficient, but it may get to the point where if something goes wrong the whole motor will be replaced instead of just parts of it.

Originally Posted by Davo

That's the point. Most of you guys travel up here on specific trips and look at things that way, in the sense that you'd get the car recovered to a big town and someone there would fix the thing, and it would cost you whatever amount. I can't afford to think that way, so I use old technology. If we were stuck somewhere then I'd try and get whatever part flown in and I'd do the work myself.

...

Not sure I like the generalisation when quoting my post... I have done all my own mechanical work for the last 18 years. The only time mechanics have touched any of my cars has been to do RWC/TÜV/Safety Cert inspections.

For that reason all my cars are also mechanically injected, as I use computers enough in my day job...

I have no issue at all travelling remote with modern engines,what was the thread that got heated?. Pat

I seem to have problems traveling to non remote areas with mechanical engines

Originally Posted by uninformed

I seem to have problems traveling to non remote areas with mechanical engines

Maybe you should try a Puma.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Not sure I like the generalisation when quoting my post... I have done all my own mechanical work for the last 18 years. The only time mechanics have touched any of my cars has been to do RWC/TÜV/Safety Cert inspections.

For that reason all my cars are also mechanically injected, as I use computers enough in my day job...

Now, now, I don't have time to address each one of you. Generally speaking, that's how it works with a modern car, whatever it may be, because you need that very specialised equipment that will only be found in a decent-sized town. With your Isuzu you're more in my boat and would obviously have no trouble with whatever happened.

And that type of travel is different in some ways to living here. But I think my point remains that should something happen - whatever it may be - the more specialised the repair the more trouble it's going to be up here. And it would be great if something new was designed to avoid that as much as possible.

Originally Posted by PAT303

I have no issue at all travelling remote with modern engines,what was the thread that got heated?. Pat

Neither do I; it's not travelling with one because it's broken that would worry me!

That other thread was here: How to get 400Nm from RRC People started getting personal, you know . . . stupid diesel drivers.