I think you're all going to kill me

[niallinireland]

Hey All
I think i'm being a bit cheeky but hay!! only young once ;D

Due to the increasing price of dieseal in this part of the world i'm going to have to sell my 3.1td :-[for something with a smaller engine.
But the only problem is that i still do watersports and need something to tow with 4wd. Looking at opel frontera and nissan terrano's. i found out what these are rated to tow at so i'm not going to wreck my gearbox but what i want to know is the horsepower so i know i can get up bad hills without a struggle. Cann't find these, anybody go any good siteS???

Thanks
Niall

[geeves]

One thing to remember is that a diesel bighorn 3.1 does 25 - 30 mpg A petrol one does 17 - 20 mpg Similar comparison on a Frontera or Terrano. Diesel needs to be a lot more expensive before it becomes unecconomical

[niallinireland]

Don't worry still sticking with diesel, buying a petrol 4wd of any sort over here is just throwing money away. Not only in your tank but also when I go to try and sell it on. Ireland still has a strong agricultural economy alot of jeeps are used by farmers for towing especially the japanese jeeps and there not going to buy petrol 4wd. I'd get a lot less then an equivalent diesel. Only petrol 4wd here are the chelsea tractors like the BMW X5, Volvo V70.
My trooper is my day to day runabout also, with my drive into work being nearly 40km 60 litres does me a week without much change. I've had the jeep service and check and there wasn't much improvement fuel economy
Actually when looking for the HP and torque again last night found something for the terrano and Frontera, anybody no what it would be for my trooper??

Thanks
Niall

[mudgrip4]

hello niall

check this website - has reliable info - english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/isuzu. Click onto 'search' and enter data for other makes.

Your trooper (bighorn) 3.1td has 92kw (about 124hp) and 275nm of torque if 92 - 95 model. It jumps to about 135hp and 294nm from late 1995 I think.

If your 3.1 is a bit hard on diesel and you don't want to spend too much, find a good isuzu 2.8td model - quite alot better for economy - usually 30mpg. Mine does 32-33 regular as clockwork. 2.8td is 110hp and 225nm or 115hp and 235nm for intercooled model. Excellent motor. Very easy to tune up another 25hp.

Don't really recommend swap to terrano. Quite good truck and reliable motor but 1989 to 1985 2.7td has less power at 100hp and 215nm. After 1995 they increase to 130hp and then on to the bigger 3.2 motor with about 150hp. 2.8td Isuzu far better - better offroad, noticeably more power and the 2.7td terrano is heavier on diesel - gives about 27mpg, little better than your 3.1 trooper.

The terrano auto gearbox is also known to be a bit weak - especially if towing quite alot. Gearbox specialist told me he does plenty of them - may be improved if oil cooler fitted but best to avoid if towing

Isn't the mu produced under the label opel frontera in some markets?

hope this helps - Mike.

[niallinireland]

Cheers Mike

Correct the Mu is re-badge over here as the frontera although i have seen some jap imported Mu also. Also heard bad report about Mitsuishi gearboxs as well just as a matter of interest
I'm looking at both and comparning against the trooper. Basically comparing it against what i know.......
Looking at technical spec I found/given(thanks) it's interesting

trooper 3.1Tdi 124 Hp
Terrano 2.7Tdi 125Hp
Frontera 2.2Tdi 120Hp

Drop nearly a litre in engine size and only 5Hp, thats bloody good to me......
Its is a bit unfar cos the frontera and terrano spec are the new version spec comparing with 12 yr old trooper.
the new trooper 3.0Tdi 159Hp.
One of my big concerns was the abiltiy of a the frontera 2.2TDI to tow large weights. Another feature i like about the frontera is disk brake on all four wheel, terrano only two wheels.

Options, Corrections??

Thanks
Niall

[Graham]

What's the torque figure for each engine though?

G.

[geeves]

Word of warning on the Opel Frontera The 2.2 engine is made by Vauxal need I say more. look at this link for more on fronteras. www.fronteraowners.co.uk

[Diesel28]

Just read this posting RE: diesel economy ,My 93 bighorn auto T/D intercooled gets about 500k's out of a 90 ltr tank.that is without getting a fuellight come on.
is this good or bad ?
i know its sounds a simple question but wondering if im getting good milage or bad ..
how many mile per gallon does that equal ?

Also hows the best way to use overdrive to save fuel and make truck more economical.

[niallinireland]

Hey

In reply to your question D28, working with the figure you gave me its 15.6 mpg, cos basically your figures are too much a guestimation or you’re in bad need of a service..........
The trick is next time you got to get a fill, fill up your tank to the brim, restart your trip log after the fill. Drive till nearly empty, you don't have to be driving on fumes though just till near empty. Fill your tank to brim again, note the liter put in on the refill and note the km on your trip log since your trip log restart. So you now know how far you went and how many liter of diesel you used. Then it’s easy to calculate

1km = 0.625miles (approx)
1 gal = 4.5litre (approx)

say you did 500km on 50 liter

500km x 0.625mile/km = 312.5mile

312.5miles divided by 50 litre = 6.25 miles/litre

6.25miles/litre x 4.5litre/gallon = 28.125 mpg

taa-da!!!!!! ;D

[Graham]

I get 500Kms or more from 65 Litres, so if you really are using the full 90L for 500Kms, it's a bit uneconomical.
I'd get about 600Kms from the same amount when I first got the MU, 3 years ago.

I NEVER use the power mode as the gearbox doesn't shift nicely in that mode. Instead if I ever need to hold a gear I turn over drive off or select 2 or even 1 if I have to (ie: trying to get through a muddy patch smoothly)

Hopefully your fuel useage isn't as bad as it sounds, but if it is, one of the first things to look at would be the air and fuel filters of course.

Cheers, Graham.

[Diesel28]

have done the fuel filter about 3 months ago.put in a new one.and have changed air filter.
Was serious about the k's.to fill it takes just on 90 ltrs.and thats to the brim.then when i have done 500k's the gauge is just above E .
Must just be the way i drive then

[geeves]

It could also be the type of driving you do. If I try very hard I can get my 2.8 diesel down to 500k to the tank (red rocks sand, Akatarawa mud lots of hills big hurry) but open road I can coax 800k from the same tank. The 3.1 is not as ecconomical as the 2.8 but it is more powerfull at low revs and smoother. The auto will loose ecconomy around town and off road but should make little or no differance on the open road.If thats 500k of traffic jams and commuting then its possibly ok If your daily drive is from Geraldine to Chch then its not so good

[Diesel28]

trying to think about this one.
Have done some long trips before.Have gone from Chch to blenheim.Picked up a 19ft boat weight was about 1850kg towed it back to chch and all up used tank and a quarter.
so thats about what 700k's i think .

Also have noticed it sucks the gas when doing A->B->C driving around town with traffic lights etc.stop go Stop go stop go .maybe just a very Un-Economical truck in traffic then .