Technical Swaping petrol engine for diesel one. What's involved?

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Technical Swaping petrol engine for diesel one. What's involved?

Stuartl

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More hypothetical at the moment, but temptatation is there.

I have a 4x4 climbing 1.2 petrol. It's for sale but I don't want to sell it. The only reason I have it for sale is because it's not as frugal as I'd like it to be. 38.7 mpg average.

To gas convert it I'm looking at £1300+ vat.

BUT, I could buy a 1.3 Panda diesel engine for less than that and bring the consumption up to around 50mpg (I don't drive hard and it's mostly motorway).

So, considering the 4x4 is available in europe in diesel form, how big job would it be to take my petrol engine out and put the diesel in.

Anyone with the technical knowhow to give an idea potential problems. All I can think of is rhd blocking something.

I have a diesel Alfa 156 that's doing over 50mpg but I love the Panda much more as it just does everything I want it to.

Any thoughts.
 
I don't have any specific technical knowledge but would imagine there would be all sorts of problems involving space within the engine compartment due to RHD, physical compatibility of engine to engine mounts, transmission, clutch and, probably the biggest problem, electronics and ECU.
 
More hypothetical at the moment, but temptatation is there.

I have a 4x4 climbing 1.2 petrol. It's for sale but I don't want to sell it. The only reason I have it for sale is because it's not as frugal as I'd like it to be. 38.7 mpg average.

To gas convert it I'm looking at £1300+ vat.

BUT, I could buy a 1.3 Panda diesel engine for less than that and bring the consumption up to around 50mpg (I don't drive hard and it's mostly motorway).

So, considering the 4x4 is available in europe in diesel form, how big job would it be to take my petrol engine out and put the diesel in.

Anyone with the technical knowhow to give an idea potential problems. All I can think of is rhd blocking something.

I have a diesel Alfa 156 that's doing over 50mpg but I love the Panda much more as it just does everything I want it to.

Any thoughts.

just a guess but wouldnt the gearbox + clutch all have to be changed to cope with all the extra torque?
 
The 4x4 is sold in diesel form on mainland Europe so technically they should have the same engine mounts and they both fit in the same space.
I would be changing the ECU along with the engine.

Uprated clutch is a good point.

They both have electric power steering so I supose I need to have a look were the unit for this goes.

I think I need to get a diesel car beside mine to see whats involved.

I'm at work so can't get into the Eper to see what that shows.
 
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I should imaine the gearing will be different as the D revs lower and produces its torque and power at lower rpm and more of it... you will need all the ECU etc too..

Yes LPG convertion will cost the 1300, but the fuel is less than half the price of D (54ppl - 123ppl)........ so that 1.2 38mpg means approx 76mpg running cost compared to the D... work out what it will cost to convert to D do the maths on the price of the fuel and expected mpg over what time you will keep the car...
But the tank will take up space and I dont know what space is available in the 4x4 (very interested in this as I am thinking of a 4x4 and LPG ing.. as when the MJ 4x4 comes here I expect quite a few 1.2's to come on the market..)
 
Thought about the gas but ruled it out because it would mean doing away with the spare wheel. The tank would be pretty small I would suspect. The closest place for gas is 11 miles out of my way, and they are charging 70p a litre.

So I need to find out if the gearbox on the diesel 4x4 in Europe is the same box that's in the petrol. Then we'll know if the gearing is the same.
 
More hypothetical at the moment, but temptatation is there.

I have a 4x4 climbing 1.2 petrol. It's for sale but I don't want to sell it. The only reason I have it for sale is because it's not as frugal as I'd like it to be. 38.7 mpg average.

To gas convert it I'm looking at £1300+ vat.

BUT, I could buy a 1.3 Panda diesel engine for less than that and bring the consumption up to around 50mpg (I don't drive hard and it's mostly motorway).

So, considering the 4x4 is available in europe in diesel form, how big job would it be to take my petrol engine out and put the diesel in.

Anyone with the technical knowhow to give an idea potential problems. All I can think of is rhd blocking something.

I have a diesel Alfa 156 that's doing over 50mpg but I love the Panda much more as it just does everything I want it to.

Any thoughts.

£1300 or whatever buys a lot of petrol! :confused:

I would have thought it would be a huge job to change engones, fuel tank, mountings, fuel lines, sender unit, gearbox, ecus, wiring looms! how scary is that small list! then you would have to make it all work! you would need a Fiat Diagnostic machine to set up! :cry:
 
Stuart, I thought there was a place that sold gas near the Stockmans Lane Junction. (They used to advertise the price at the side of the motorway, but I haven't noticed it since the roadworks began.) You pass that on your way to work... Would be handy enough for you if it's still there.
 
I should imaine the gearing will be different as the D revs lower and produces its torque and power at lower rpm and more of it... you will need all the ECU etc too..

Yes LPG convertion will cost the 1300, but the fuel is less than half the price of D (54ppl - 123ppl)........ so that 1.2 38mpg means approx 76mpg running cost compared to the D... work out what it will cost to convert to D do the maths on the price of the fuel and expected mpg over what time you will keep the car...
But the tank will take up space and I dont know what space is available in the 4x4 (very interested in this as I am thinking of a 4x4 and LPG ing.. as when the MJ 4x4 comes here I expect quite a few 1.2's to come on the market..)

Well Said!!

Personally i do not think either is worth doing. It would take ages to recover the cost the converstions, not to mention reliability concerns. Ok you are only getting 38mpg, but the cost of diesel is at least 10% more now, so really getting nearer 42mpg. Based on the same fuel cost.

Stick with it, be glad you dont have a big petrol saloon!
 
I guess you could import a mj 4x4, but I still reckon, you would be better off sticking with your 1.2. Import costs, possible dealer issues in the future??

Keep it simple..
 
Do you really need a 4x4? you say most of your driving's on motorways anyway, could a 2wd 1.3mj do the job? if you do a bit of soft roading 4x4 wheels/tyres could be added for extra grip.
 
Hi All,
I was one of those interested in getting a diesel 4x4 over here too so much so that i contacted fiat about it last year and they let me know at christmas that it was a marketing glitch with it and that they were going to release the 4x4 in diesel this august. However, as of today i phoned round most of the garages in northern ireland and they hadnt heard any word of its imminent launch yet and said that the first they'll hear about it will be when one lands on their forecourt as a demo. Another guy i was talkin to said that he had been at a Fiat conference in England a few weeks ago and no one had even mentioned it so maybe its been delayed yet again.:bang: My advice to you Stuart is to stick with the car you've got it if your enjoying having it... as pointed out by other members its probably slightly harder to run than a diesel but then again everything is expensive to run at the moment the way fuel is! Dont worry about a change over of engines as the 4x4 multijet is coming soon but just not yet. When it arrives take it for a test drive and if you like it im sure you'd get a good trade in price.(y)
 
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