Hi,

I considering the purchase of a 1999 Ducato 2.8D LWB, I was wondering how many miles per gallon I can expect to get from this engine with a light load (and careful driving style)?

Thanks,
R

If you drive like my dad (original discs and pads at 140k miles) and keep it under 60 30 maybe for mostly extra urban, once you hit the motorway that falls off rapidly. Normal reserved driving 27mpg maybe.

Don't get the 2.8 n/a though the 2.8idtd is far better direct injected, more power, more torque, more economical far nicer drive. And get a 3.5ton version it has a better gearbox, stronger driveshafts, bigger brakes. You'll get better economy out of the idtd without driving like a granny.

Sounds like good advice, thanks very much!

There seems to be a lot of Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Relay vans around which are a similar size, price and year (1999-2002) - are either of these vans better on fuel economy, or is 30mpg as good as it gets for that year of van?

Also, does the LWB make a big difference in the fuel consumption, or is it only marginal?

Cheers,
R

moodrater said:

....get a 3.5ton version it has a better gearbox, stronger driveshafts, bigger brakes. You'll get better economy out of the idtd without driving like a granny.

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Am I not right in thinking that a van of that weight is subject to HGV speed limits, (40mph on single-carriageways, 55mph on dual)?

fenman said:

Am I not right in thinking that a van of that weight is subject to HGV speed limits, (40mph on single-carriageways, 55mph on dual)?

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Over 2 tons and under 7.5 tons:
Built-up areas mph (kph) 30 (48)
Single carriageways mph (kph) 50 (80)
Dual carriageways mph (kph) 60 (96)
Motorways mph (kph) 70 (112) - If articulated, or towing a trailer, limit is 60 (96)

The lightest ducato has a gvw of around 2.8/2.9 tons so theres no disadvantage in having the 3.5ton (maxi) version.

I'm glad you pointed that out because I thought those limits started above 3 tonnes.

RFDD said:

Sounds like good advice, thanks very much!

There seems to be a lot of Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Relay vans around which are a similar size, price and year (1999-2002) - are either of these vans better on fuel economy, or is 30mpg as good as it gets for that year of van?

Also, does the LWB make a big difference in the fuel consumption, or is it only marginal?

Cheers,
R

Click to expand...

If you get the 2.8 idtd or jtd the vans are virtually identical. The 2.5 in the relay and boxer is a PSA engine. The jtd can give you 32mpg driving normally, 35mpg with grandad driving and good quality diesel, driving hard with 70+ on the motorway I'll still get 28-30mpg in mine. You have to be careful buying a common rail with high miles though. Bills for injectors, pump, sensors etc can add up to thousands.

From memory lwb high roof is only about 10% heavier unloaded than swb lr so not much difference but the high roof does make a difference over 60mph where aerodynamics play a bigger role. The 06 on model ducato has excellent aerodynamics with a drag coefficient less than many cars.

moodrater said:

If you get the 2.8 idtd or jtd the vans are virtually identical. The 2.5 in the relay and boxer is a PSA engine. The jtd can give you 32mpg driving normally, 35mpg with grandad driving and good quality diesel, driving hard with 70+ on the motorway I'll still get 28-30mpg in mine. You have to be careful buying a common rail with high miles though. Bills for injectors, pump, sensors etc can add up to thousands.

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Thanks, i'll dodge the 2.8D then and keep an eye out for the 2.8 idtd or jtd, I assume they are the slightly newer model, from 2002 onwards?

When you say be careful with the high miles on the common rail engines, how high are we talking? The 2.8D I was looking at had 111,000 miles.

I've seen figures online for 35mpg from the old PSA engines in the Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxers - is this realistic?

Cheers
R

RFDD said:

Thanks, i'll dodge the 2.8D then and keep an eye out for the 2.8 idtd or jtd, I assume they are the slightly newer model, from 2002 onwards?

When you say be careful with the high miles on the common rail engines, how high are we talking? The 2.8D I was looking at had 111,000 miles.

I've seen figures online for 35mpg from the old PSA engines in the Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxers - is this realistic?

Cheers
R

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jtd was available in 01 in the old model and idtd from about 98 I think.

With common rail you need to be careful at any miles really, fuel contamination that an old mechanical pump would take in its stride can basically destroy the high pressure pump and injectors in seconds. You're talking 20000 psi so anything compromising lubricity will cause wear or damage.

You get unscrupulous people trying to offload them when they see a big bill coming. If you let the lift pump prime the system the jtd with a good battery should start almost instantly if its turning over longer than that its a sign of wear. I'd also drive it flat out up a hill to make sure its not running out of pressure and going into limp mode.

Thanks again for the advice.

moodrater said:

jtd was available in 01 in the old model and idtd from about 98 I think.

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I looked up the history of the JTD engine and according to Wikipedia (not the best source, I admit), the JTD was first available in 1999. The reason this is relevant to me, is the person selling the van claims the engine is 2.8 JTD, however the badge on the bodywork says 2.8D. Does anyone know what year they started putting "2.8 JTD" on the bodywork, or is the seller (who is a pensioner) just a bit confused what engine is in the campervan?

I tried looking up the registration number of the van (using autotrader) and it just describes the vehicle as "1999 FIAT DUCATO 2.8 High Roof Van Maxi Lwb Diesel".

Any help would be much appreciated. It's seems a good price camper (£5.5k /111,000 miles - I don't want to miss a good opportunity here).

Thanks

RFDD said:

Thanks again for the advice.



I looked up the history of the JTD engine and according to Wikipedia (not the best source, I admit), the JTD was first available in 1999. The reason this is relevant to me, is the person selling the van claims the engine is 2.8 JTD, however the badge on the bodywork says 2.8D. Does anyone know what year they started putting "2.8 JTD" on the bodywork, or is the seller (who is a pensioner) just a bit confused what engine is in the campervan?

I tried looking up the registration number of the van (using autotrader) and it just describes the vehicle as "1999 FIAT DUCATO 2.8 High Roof Van Maxi Lwb Diesel".

Any help would be much appreciated. It's seems a good price camper (£5.5k /111,000 miles - I don't want to miss a good opportunity here).

Thanks

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I have just converted a 2.5 LMC Lordliberty Lord Munsterland 24ft motorhome to a IDTD engine which I sourced from a 2001 X reg fiat ducato 15 lwb 3.5 tonne van, my motorhome is a 3.5 tonne version as well, the JTD and the IDTD are on the same years, the first being 2000 regs for the JTD but the IDTD was only produced between 1998 to 2000/1 they didn't make many and I have had a right rigmoroll getting matching gearboxes to engine etc.. but the IDTD where ever I have read is good for 35mpg even in my motorhome as there are a few conversion already been done now

the difference between the IDTD and the JTD (the engine I couldn't use) is one is a mechanical pump (IDTD) and the other being a Fly By Wire version (hdi is same) so a ECU would be needed to run the engine,

as regards to yours easiest way to tell is look under the bonnet, if the fuel pump on the front does not have a throttle cable attached to it then it is more that sure a JTD, look at also the grill area and there should be a intercooler next to the rad, if the piping on both inlet and outs are pointing forwards then it is a IDTD (if it has not got a intercooler then its a straight diesel)

Mileage, 111k is absolutely nothing for a diesel engine let alone a fiat ducato 2.8, all the breakers I have managed to find on fiats all have said the engines are bullet proof, but as I say, if its been serviced at least once every year then the engine will be good if there is no service history for servicing or even receipts to show its been serviced then take it a run and watch the mirrors under acceleration as it could be on its last legs

All desiels are good for 300k and more if looked after correctly, the problem with motorhomes they do more standing that moving so people think that cause its not gone anywhere I should not have to service it regular etc which is far wrong, oil solidifies etc so a good service every year should be done oils fluids tyres should be checked for cracking and other little rust spots water ingress etc..

I have refurbed my motorhome from the ground up, the engine has been a pain in the A to find, and modifying to get it in lol, but I don't think you will go far wrong with the ducato, you can get replacement engines off ebay and some people are breaking them all the time as its usually the bodies that give way before the engines gearboxes if they are properly serviced etc

Andie

RFDD open the mask see how your injection pump and you will see that you have a (D, TD, DTI) and JTD
the first is simple injection system, the second high-pressure system
and the end of it
one and the second option is good as well as the TDI or JTD, with us these cars is a lot and are very populations, especially with all triplets Ducato, although they say that it is a good Italian pasta

I'm getting 28 to 30 mpg with my 2.8 idTD campervan, plated 3200kg.
It is quite nippy. Wife got a speeding ticket 63 kph in a 50.