Any tips going from a Diesel to a petrol?

PMKeates · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:32

howardcanning said:
To be fair I can change up at low revs in my 2L Honda and it'll be fine for town driving, just not on the open road

I dunno. Change at 2,000, and you're dropping to 1,500. At those spinning speeds, there's gonna be a period of labour with not a lot happening.

In my car:

1,500rpm = 50hp
3,000rpm = 130hp

Just 1,500rpm, yet you're going down the road with significantly more ease!

PMKeates · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:34

Sone said:
Reach the speed limit / appropriate speed for road within a resonable time period. Only really drive through town or on the motorway so i see no point of driving the nuts off it, not exactly going to have any fun.

In my experience a petrol engine is very happy going between 2000 and 4000 rpm. It's producing plenty of power, not screaming, operating smoothly, in no way labouring and is relaxing to drive.

NickXX · 21 Oct 2007 at 15:17

spoonz said:
Remeber, diesel engines are upside down.

7k rpm is where its as. All this bloody low down turbo induced torgue running out at 3k rpm is a load of boring crap.

I mistakenly bought a "performance" diesel and it bored me silly. Stick to petrol, its the future!

Torque running out at 3k, what a load of tosh.

What "performance diesel" did you have?

Lashout_UK · 21 Oct 2007 at 15:19

I found that those Focus 1.6's really have to be gunned to get going, so no suprise you're finding it very different!

Practice makes perfect -find a slope or carpark and just get some manuevers in so you can familiarise with the biting point and what revs for what motion

Dolph · 21 Oct 2007 at 15:21

Don't forget to take out the earplugs

I think everything else has been covered

Mark A · 21 Oct 2007 at 15:29

I'm not sure what i change up at Ive not looked yet. I suppose Ive just been changing up when the car feels like it needs to. Ive no problem at all getting up to speed and keeping it there its just the setting off in first and maneuvering i need to get used to.

Ive been setting of boy racer stylee (unintentionally) a few times as in my instructors car i had to wait till the turbo kicked in to get any power. But in this as soon as you raise the clutch you have power, i know its only a 1.6 Focus but to me its pretty fast

.

Mark A · 21 Oct 2007 at 15:35

Dolph said:
Don't forget to take out the earplugs

I think everything else has been covered

Haha, yeah i get driven around in a merc sprinter van every day of the week as well. Ive tried starting it again sometimes as i think Ive stalled

.

Practice makes perfect -find a slope or car park and just get some manuevers in so you can familiarise with the biting point and what revs for what motion

Good idea, i think I'll wait till next Sunday and get up at the crack of dawn, pack a flask and head out for the day. Theres loads of quiet NSL roads round here to practice on. I'll just have to watch out for the doggers this time :eek:

.

MrMatteh · 21 Oct 2007 at 15:46

NickXX said:
Torque running out at 3k, what a load of tosh.

What "performance diesel" did you have?

cause your torque goes all the way to 7000rpm doesnt it

NickXX · 21 Oct 2007 at 15:51

MrMatteh said:
cause your torque goes all the way to 7000rpm doesnt it

7,500rpm.

DannyW · 21 Oct 2007 at 16:05

spoonz said:
Remeber, diesel engines are upside down.

7k rpm is where its as. All this bloody low down turbo induced torgue running out at 3k rpm is a load of boring crap.

I mistakenly bought a "performance" diesel and it bored me silly. Stick to petrol, its the future!

No your wrong some small diesels may run out of puff low down, but bigger ones, mine included, rev all the way to 5000 and the power doesnt drop off. Mines going on RR next week and Ill scan the results and post them. Petrol will never be the future, Re-mapping Turbo diesels is. I would never choose petrol over diesel again, regardless of cost

NickXX said:
7,500rpm.

is that it ?? ma duratorq kicks in at 7k n revs to 9k and still does 60 mpg yo

Dolph · 21 Oct 2007 at 16:08

DannyW said:
No your wrong some small diesels may run out of puff low down, but bigger ones, mine included, rev all the way to 5000 and the power doesnt drop off. Mines going on RR next week and Ill scan the results and post them. Petrol will never be the future, Re-mapping Turbo diesels is. I would never choose petrol over diesel again, regardless of cost

Compare like for like, turbo petrol to turbo diesel...

As for the power not dropping off, shame it's all killed by the high gearing killing your wheel torque figures

Dangerous Dave · 21 Oct 2007 at 17:16

DannyW said:
No your wrong some small diesels may run out of puff low down, but bigger ones, mine included, rev all the way to 5000 and the power doesnt drop off. Mines going on RR next week and Ill scan the results and post them. Petrol will never be the future, Re-mapping Turbo diesels is. I would never choose petrol over diesel again, regardless of cost

I assume you have never driven a standard or remapped turbo petrol, they can match the torque of the TDI however over a larger rev range and produce around 80-100bhp more

-Mike- · 21 Oct 2007 at 20:03

Dangerous Dave said:
I assume you have never driven a standard or remapped turbo petrol, they can match the torque of the TDI however over a larger rev range and produce around 80-100bhp more

Bad example I know, but having driven a rover 620TI, I can safely say the torque far exceeds that of any turbo diesel I've driven and most of it is available very low down

Infact, you can even drive the thing like a diesel with the same rev range and make pretty swift progress if you want!

I'm not having a go at you DannyW, I'm a big diesel fanboy - but petrol turbo is where its at

spoonz · 21 Oct 2007 at 21:14

NickXX said:
Torque running out at 3k, what a load of tosh.

What "performance diesel" did you have?

Sorry, I wasnt being mathematically precise. 3.5k

I prefer engines that rev TBH, its personal preference. I find turbo diesels awkward and unrewarding to drive.

PikeyPriest · 21 Oct 2007 at 21:27

OP - how are you finding the car? I`m thinking about getting one as my first car mid-next year (or the fiesta zetec S)

Insurance costs of the fiesta may put me off though, also if i cant fit in it comfortably (6ft3) it may have to be the focus

Mark A · 21 Oct 2007 at 22:11

PikeyPriest said:
OP - how are you finding the car? I`m thinking about getting one as my first car mid-next year (or the fiesta zetec S)

Insurance costs of the fiesta may put me off though, also if i cant fit in it comfortably (6ft3) it may have to be the focus

I love it

, really glad i chose it over the Fiesta Zetec S/ Saxo VTR i was also looking at. I'm also quite tall at 6'1" so i wanted something with a bit more leg/ head room.

The 1.6 i chose is powerful enough for me with ease, at least until i get some experience and no claims. I don't think the Focus 1.6 is a million miles off the Zetec S performance really. I went for the Zetec as i heard it has a more sporty suspension setup. I cant really compare it to anything as Ive not driven many cars but it seems to handle really well. I love the gear change on this car, much better than the Vauxhall Astra i drove to take my first test in.

The sound system in the car is great to, well the HU isn't stock its a Blaupunkt Casablanca CD51, i got the car second hand and this came with it. I'm not sure if the speakers are stock or not but it sounds great, much better than my Technics hifi, but could do with a sub.

If i was you id sit in a Fiesta and see if you can fit in it OK. If not then i cant see you being disappointed with the Focus.

-Mike- · 21 Oct 2007 at 22:38

spoonz said:
Sorry, I wasnt being mathematically precise. 3.5k

I prefer engines that rev TBH, its personal preference. I find turbo diesels awkward and unrewarding to drive.

I like my diesel, its rewarding on the pocket to drive

I'd still have a turbo petrol if mpg wasn't a concern though - you can drive it like a diesel if you wish, and yet you have 7000 odd rpm to play with

celliott · 27 Oct 2008 at 19:01

paradigm said:
Its all about clutch control, even the lowlyest of petrol cars can be manuevered on the clutch alone, it'll come to you with time.

Yup, my 1.25 Petrol fiesta loves to tick over with just the clutch in traffic. Even with a car full of 5 people!

Begbie · 27 Oct 2008 at 19:47

Time, really thats it.

If you havn't driven much since you have passed your test, then well really you are just beggining to learn and much of that is how to do drive your car. Give it a few years and you will be able to jump in and out any car and drive it with no problems.

Enjoy it and take your time learning.

Clarkey · 27 Oct 2008 at 20:16

Begbie said:
Time, really thats it.

If you havn't driven much since you have passed your test, then well really you are just beggining to learn and much of that is how to do drive your car. Give it a few weeks and you will be able to jump in and out any car and drive it with no problems.

Enjoy it and take your time learning.

fixed