better perfromace and economy

[anthonyqld]

Hi, I am looking at buying a 2.8TD Mu. Just wondering what the most common mods are for them (it is stock at the moment). for both performace and economy as well as reliability. any help comments welcome.

thanks

[geeves]

Dont do anything for ecconomy unless its not running right in the first place. LWB Bighorn with same motor does 32mpg (about 8.5l/100km)on a trip including big hills.Mu is better airodynamicly and slightly lighter so should improve on this.
Power can be improved by adding an intercooler with no effect on reliability (The bighorns got these from factory) You can also play with boost, fuel,and injector timing and big gains can be had but these come with no garentees on reliability.One of the good things with diesels is that none of these things affect ecconomy while criusing as they only make a differance when you plant boot.

[anthonyqld]

thanks for the info geeves

[Pissy]

As greeves said don't have to much (but there are a few things you can do), the 2.8s are very good on fuel. As for perfornace just do/maintian the servicing specially oil and oil filter every 5000kms and maybe exhaust and air filter changes.

Maybe a dyno test to make sure fuel pump setting are not out of wack. Small amounts of black smoke is OK, white smoke,...usually means unburnt fuel,......could be pump over fueling, or other engine stuff.
I'm no mechanic but that what I have learnt here!

You'll probably spend more $ on lifting the little beast though,....hehe.
;D

Try reading up on some older tpoics and you'll see what can be done and what people think.

Cheers

Chris

[anthonyqld]

Is it worth putting in a top mount intercooler. I have read different opions on here about them.

[geeves]

Top mount is easy as you just get a bighorn one with all its brackets and bolt on cut hole in bonnet and fit scoop over done in a long afternoon. Top mounts are not as efficient as front mount at low speeds but testing mine at highway speeds showed the air was going into the manifold only 5 deg hotter than cabin temp. This can be improved with fans or water sprays.
Front mount is most efficiant but a lot more work on the plumbing and if you use off road they get full of mud and stop cooling

[mulover]

Go top mount but put a fan on it like the one in an older post which is on here somewhere, it hasn't made mine go much faster but it makes her pull alot harder, my mods are too numerous to list, but like pissy said, look through the engine mods forum and have a read, ive got a 2.8 as well, and if its more economy you want then go easy on the boot and just a good tune will give you the best economy around, but if you want power, toqure bigger tires and some good fun then open your wallet and get a 2.5 or 3" exhaust and turn up the boost, put on a snorkel, remove the erg valves( do this anyways!!!) and screw in the fuel pump!!!

[anthonyqld]

thanks for the help guys.

[maletimaru]

Black smoke = unburnt fuel

White smoke = water (evaporation/condensation in exhaust or problem with cooling system/water jacket etc)

[geeves]

A little white smoke on first start is ok esspecialy if cold outside but should stop within 30 sec or so Any other time its bad as if its steam theres water where it shouldnt be If its fuel you have big injector probs. Black smoke could be injector probs or oil. Some black smoke at full load is ok but not much or Mr plod will be interested. At light loads there shouldnt be any significant smoke.

[James W]

Actually,

White smoke can be unburn fuel as well as water vapour. Try getting diesel hot on a hot plate or simular, if not hot enough it will create white smoke. This is often used to create smoke trails for aerobatics, often keroseane though. Simply inject some fuel into the hot exhaust manifold to get lots of smoke.

Black smoke more correctly is incomplete buring of fuel due to insufficient oxygen producing carbon, the black smoke. so insufficient oxygen or over fueling.

[Andrew]

Lots of White Smoke = not good..... hehehe

mine had LOTS of white smoke.... ended up being a blown turbo - OUCH !

[Benzev]

maletimaru said:

Black smoke = unburnt fuel

White smoke = water (evaporation/condensation in exhaust or problem with cooling system/water jacket etc)

Black smoke is overfuelling and as a result not 100% burnt!! White smoke is unburnt fuel!!
White smoke is different than steam which is what you get from condensation/ coolant loss into exhaust!

[Benzev]

If you want extra power and economy at the same time this can be obtained by one simple action, increase the needle seating pressure in your injectors(by fitting heavier springs or if the adjustable type crank them in a bit tighter to obtain the extra pressure) This shortens the injection time(less fuel injected) but you get a much better atomisation of the fuel which improves the all over combustion process!! Diesel specialists should be able to perform this action for you!

[anthonyqld]

mulover said:

Go top mount but put a fan on it like the one in an older post which is on here somewhere,

Does anyone know were this post is?

[namic69]

I decided that it was time to take air for the engine from outside the engine bay but could not afford a snorkle, so I removed the fog light from the bumper, drilled a 80mm hole in the wheel arch and installed 80mm flex hose from the light hole to the air box. Well it made the truck better but man has the fuel bill gone up. Need to throw away the lead shoes....

[geeves]

When you go near water remember where your taking your air from. 1 tablespoon of water in one cylinder and you throw your engine away. Dont know why consumption went up. Mine improved measurably with the snorkle.
There are some good home made snorkles around made from stainless exhaust tube and some functional ones made of drain pipe

[turnturn]

benzev said:

If you want extra power and economy at the same time this can be obtained by one simple action, increase the needle seating pressure in your injectors(by fitting heavier springs or if the adjustable type crank them in a bit tighter to obtain the extra pressure) This shortens the injection time(less fuel injected) but you get a much better atomisation of the fuel which improves the all over combustion process!! Diesel specialists should be able to perform this action for you!

Benzev, is this something that somebody with some mechanical skills could do themselves or does it require specialist tools and /or knowledge?
Are springs available for non-adjustable injectors?

[namic69]

Fuel bill went up mostly cos I got a heavy boot. When I first got the truck I was gettin 490k from 72ltr. Now if I drive it normally I get around 540k