Technical 2.8TDi or JTD

[Jezport]

What are the pros and cons between these 2 engines, as I am looking at a motorhome and it has the TDi? Is the newer engine a lot better to drive, or more reliable?

 

[lebesset]

the JTD just has the edge performance and economy wise , but personally I went for the TDi on the basis that any reasonable diesel mechanic can deal with it , and it is is better able to deal with dubious fuel than a common rail engine [ I visit some odd places ]
you can also try some bio diesel if you want ...although I haven't ...yet!
perhaps someone who has the JTD and had problems can comment on the costs of visiting the fiat agent!

 

[John C S]

The only issue I have had with the 2.8JTD engine that has affected running is a broken electrical connection on the injector on cylinder 4, which a diesel specialist repaired for me.

I did have the Red Engine (MIL) light on for 70,000 miles (approx), caused by a 3rd piston deactivation in the fuel pump. This was diagnosed by a diesel specialist and didn't affect running in the slightest, due to the rest of the common rail system compensating! This one day, magically sorted itself!

My Ducato is used daily, so the electronics never get a chance to get damp, so I have had very good reliability over 5 and a half years.

 

[paddyponchero]

What are the pros and cons between these 2 engines, as I am looking at a motorhome and it has the TDi? Is the newer engine a lot better to drive, or more reliable?

100% TDI

One sniff of water and your jtd will need high pressure pump/filter/injectors/injector pipes at a minimum on top of that the rail, tank, filter housing and lift pump will need to be cleaned so that garages will usually replace these instead. about £5000 + labour

I have just finished changing all of the above on a 2005 van with low mileage that had some water in the diesel.

I also have a 1996 TDI ambulance here with 254k mile on original injectors that starts immediately and will run on any old crap you throw at it.

JTD is all about emissions - only get it if you have deep pockets.

 

[John C S]

The water is not really an issue, granted if it does happen to a JTD, then it is costly. But any common rail injection will suffer this foible, not just the JTD.
You can get a fuel filter called a H2O Eliminator, which our mechanic fitted on our one.

We are lucky that Diesel sells in such volume now, that the tanks really don't get water in in the quantity they used to.

If it's going to be used most days, I would say a JTD. If it's going to be lying around a lot, and, you want to try Bio-Diesel, then the 2.8iTD is the one to go for.

Only rule really to follow is that if whatever you're buying seems to cheap, I'd steer clear.