Tuning Is there any way to increase the power of a TD engine?

[fenman]

Hi,
I have a motor caravan (not a motorhome) based on a 2001 medium-wheelbase Ducato D10 with the 1.9TD engine. Ideally I would have liked a bigger-engined version but couldn't find a suitable one so I'm now wondering if there's any way to give a modest boost to the power of this engine, since it's not a common-rail unit and so can't just be remapped.

 

[Shadeyman]

I'm sure you can tune them by remapping.

Edit.
I knew I'd read somewhere that someone had their 1.9TD tuned. Your correct, they can't be remapped. The pump has to be tweaked to give better performance. From what I've read the gains are similar to having a remap.

4th post down, this guy had his done.
http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftopic-23610-0.html

 

[fenman]

Hi Shadeyman, I was tempted to jump in on your initial reply and point out my last sentence, then decided to wait to see if you realised your error
Anyway thanks for the link. I may follow that up.

Hi Nick, this one's not in your line of expertise I'm afraid. I may be wrong but I don't think this van has any sort of ECU anywhere, not even for body systems.

 

[Shadeyman]

Yes I soon realised my mistake.

There are plenty of places that offer old school "Mechanically Tuning" of TD's, but not all of them do it correctly so choose wisely.

But this company who have a good reputation offers a remapping service for the Ducato 1.9TD.
http://www.dnatuning.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=168&Itemid=322

Edit.
Is this the sort of thing you have?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fiat_Ducato_based_motor_home_first_reg_March_1992_1971cc.JPG

 

[crosgor]

You could try an internet trawl for an after market inter-cooler.My next door neighbour had one fitted to his TD Mondeo which gave him a very healthy power boost compared to my brothers identical car. Other than that a larger turbo could be fitted, for best results you really have to go to an engine tuning expert.

 

[fenman]

No, mine's the later model, but it's still old technology. No A/C or power toys. Still there are some advantages in simplicity.

 

[Shadeyman]

"Mechanical Tuning" if correctly done correctly should see an increase in power of around 30%.

 

[varesecrazy]

You could try an internet trawl for an after market inter-cooler.My next door neighbour had one fitted to his TD Mondeo which gave him a very healthy power boost compared to my brothers identical car. Other than that a larger turbo could be fitted, for best results you really have to go to an engine tuning expert.

Yes,
Turbo's work better with Intercooled air,
I suspect your van already has one though,
worth checking - out as it should be a relatively straightforward fit,
Charlie

 

[fenman]

Turbo's work better with Intercooled air,
I suspect your van already has one though,

Yes it does already have one, visible through the front grille, so it looks like it's going to need to be a specialist who can make adjustments to the injection pump.

Before that, though, I'll need to clear it with SWMBO (unlikely) and then consult my insurance company.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi ,
I thought as much..,
worth checking for worn hoses/tubes or other issues though, 'cos if the systems leaking its a good as useless,
Charlie

 

[fenman]

Although the van's ten years old it's done less than 9,000 miles and my information is that it was serviced every year and kept garaged all that time so it's unlikely that there is any wear in the intake or fuel system components. I think the 92hp engine is just under-powered for the weight of the vehicle. We also have a Focus Estate with the 1.8TDCi 115ps engine. It's power-to-weight ratio is around 87ps/Tonne. By comparison this van works out at about 38ps/Tonne. Some difference!

 

[mikey72]

I've got one.
It's probably the most underpowered van I've ever driven.

 

[fenman]

You've obviously never driven a VW caravanette!

 

[fenman]

No luck so far

I'm not having much luck. Last Sunday I sent out enquiries to four firms of which three were dealers affiliated to DNA Tuning. So far I've only had two replies. One said it could be done but would increase fuel consumption drastically, "you have what you have", in other words live with it. The other said any improvements would only be marginal, 5% to 15% and 2 - 4mpg. They would need the injection pump removed and sent to them so obviously no rolling-road checks to verify the gains and no mention of adjusting boost pressure in conjunction with the adjustments to the pump.

Incidentally, Shadeyman, your link to MotorhomeFacts doesn't work for me because it seems you can't browse that site as a guest. Could you provide any details about the guy you mentioned in that link?

 

[Stu DemonD]

Re: No luck so far

Incidentally, Shadeyman, your link to MotorhomeFacts doesn't work for me because it seems you can't browse that site as a guest. Could you provide any details about the guy you mentioned in that link?

The link works fine for me - first time I have ever been onto that site as well

 

[fenman]

Well when I use that link it takes me to the website but I can't access the forums as a guest. I did try to register on that forum but for some reason my registration didn't work properly and I can't log in. I contacted the webmaster on 31st March for help but have had no response. Maybe I've got a corrupted profile there now which won't let me in, so if any of you who can see the item that Shadeyman was referring to can pass that information on I'd be really grateful.

 

[Stu DemonD]

See the attachments

 

[fenman]

Cheers Stu. That's most helpful.

I've had another go at contacting them by leaving a message on their online help system (for which I didn't need to log in, obviously). It appears that as a guest you should be able to post up to five times before needing to register so it's baffling that I just get a blank page and no way of getting in. As a matter of interest this is all I get when I click that link and if I click the 'Forums' link on that page it just brings me back to the same page:-

 

[fenman]

Another dead end!

It appears that Van Aaken Developments has gone to the wall:-

http://companycheck.co.uk/company/02740069

So that's another avenue closed

 

[moodrater]

Mechanical tuning is basically increase fuel, increase boost to burn the extra fuel, a competent mechanic will be able to do it, if you're really concerned about smoke a placve with a rolling road is required. The performance gain will be small though or you'll have lots of smoke under certain load conditions.

If you want to really tune you'd be talking porting the head, new injector nozzles, change cams, larger valves, larger exhaust, less restrictive turbo, maybe even change to a 16 valve head from a car etc. etc. but it would be silly to go this road.