hi im on the verge of finally purchasing a jtd although, Though i have just thought, i drive to college everyday which is less than 2 miles there and then less than 2 miles back, i then do the odd trip to do some shopping which is between 4-8 miles basically the car will very rarely do more than 10miles at once more than once or twice a month. Would this be bad for the diesel engine? would it eventually destroy it?
Thanks Alex

Don't worry about it. The JTD engine is just superb anyway - and the amazing fuel economy is just a bonus.

I'd recommend Castrol Edge 0W-30 if you’re going to make lots of short journeys and is also quite handy if you're thinking of visiting the arctic circle! Reduces engine wear to minimum and provides a little more BHP and economy too.

so it will deffinatly be ok, with the numerous short journeys, it wont suddenly need a huge repair or anything a year or so later due to the short journeys?
cheers Alex

Lots of short journeys will put a toll on any engine.

It would be a real shame not to show the JTD the open road though (which is where it comes into its element)

This was posted a hour or two ago, on another thread:

https://www.fiatforum.com/showpost.php?p=536608&postcount=27

I agree with the post on the other thread; doing such a short mileage is bad news for any engine, but a turbo diesel in particular. I would make sure you give it a good run at least once a week otherwise you are stacking-up trouble

If you are doing short runs a diesel doesn't actually make a lot of sense and as has been said isn't good for the turbo. I'd personally go for a petrol variant if doing those sort of miles. The diesel will be more expensive to buy in the first place and tend to be more expensive to service so you'll only recoupe your money if you travel considerable distances - this is why I have just bought an Alfa JTD, had I not been doing 24000+ miles a year I would have stuck with the Abarth The JTD is a fine engine but it can't compete with a petrol for noise and refinement.

I'd love to have the Abarth engine with the JTD fuel consumption in my new Alfa, that would be heaven!

thepottleflump said:

The JTD is a fine engine but it can't compete with a petrol for noise and refinement.

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I can't really go along with that statement (although it may well apply to other diesels).

When driven hard the JTD feels very refined and is certainly quiet compared to it's petrol counterparts.

However, if you're purely referring to town driving then I'd have to agree with you.

By the time the engine would have warmed up to use the turbo without worry about problems with it you will have got out, so to me being used so little is not worth going with a diesel. And if it's performance you want then a smaller petrol car can offer good performance while offering great fuel economy. Perhaps a Punto Sporting is a better buy unless you really need the extra space or exclusivity.

Argonought said:

I can't really go along with that statement (although it may well apply to other diesels).

When driven hard the JTD feels very refined and is certainly quiet compared to it's petrol counterparts.

However, if you're purely referring to town driving then I'd have to agree with you.

Click to expand...

Oh it is refined for a diesel but still some way off a petrol engine for smoothness and noise levels. On a motorway you wouldn't know the difference but when pulling away etc then it is clear you are in a diesel. Maybe i've been spoilt with the Abarth which is a superb engine and silky smooth to drive.

For that kind of milage you'll probably find the JTD costs you as much if not more to run than any of the petrol models.

Plus your exhaust is going to rot out frequently if you never cover any decent trips and dry it out! Not sure for certain, but seeing as the petrol models are more common than the JTD then replacements could well be cheaper.