Diesel tuning

manic mushroom

manic mushroom

manic mushroom

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Joined
1 Apr 2012
Posts
59
So im going to get a new car soon, and think I will go for a diesel turbo.

only thing, i know all there is to do with petrol tuning, but dont really know anything about diesel.

will be getting a 1.6 ibiza diesel, but think I will get a bit annoyed and bored with only 105 bhp after a while, but it being a new and good car in all the other ways I dont really want to change it for something else.

so what can I do to make it faster other than a remap and fitting a bigger turbo/adding a supercharger?
 
If you've not purchased the Ibiza yet, why not buy something that won't have you itching to change (on the basis you "will get a bit annoyed and bored with") so soon?

I don't see the point of buying a (new) new car and then invalidating your warranty by messing with it.

Do you do enough miles to justify a diesel? That's typically 15k+ a year to start making financial sense.
 
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hmm, didnt actually think about that, well, might just go for the petrol one if the insurance isnt much more.

but just for the thread sakes, what can you do to a diesel to tune it, other than a remap or turbo swap?
 
Erm.... not a lot? Same with a petrol though. Swapping a turbo will be extremely expensive though. Remaps are so popular on turbo vehicles because they offer massive gains for a small amount of money.

You seem a bit confused on what car you're after? Need some help?
 
Is it a company car? Is that what you're alluding to?

A tuning box might be what you're after but they're a bit ***** tbh.
 
Fuel pump, turbo and injection. Then watch the black smoke pour out of the exhaust.

I had a merc om606 diesel that I was going to muck about with until I lost interest and decided petrol was easier. You can get 450hp out of them by chucking on a big holset turbo with custom fuel pump and injection.
 
£ for £ you'll get more power from remapping a diesel than you will a petrol, and actually, some of the more modern diesels are more powerful than their petrol counterparts (535d vs 535i for example). I like diesels because of the way they drive (or drove), that gap has diminished now and a lot of the newer petrol cars have significant in gear acceleration which means you don't have to worry about what gear you are in. Unless you do moonship mileage (and we're talking at least 30k a year) you can't justify a diesel anymore.
 
On Ford TDCI's the common mods are remap, K&N panel filter (I don't believe you get real gains personally), larger front mount Intercooler & a de-cat (not req'd for diesel MOT until law changes next year).

Depending on which re-map you have and how much of the other bits you do you should be able to get a Maximum of 35-40% more torque and 25-30% more bhp with everything on that list. The figures are mainly taken from my own and others Mondeo/Focus 130hp & 155hp engine figures but mine are slightly less as I don't have a max power remap but a "more MPG" one (proven 8MPG more on my commute with +10hp and +50ft/lbs dyno'd).

Whether it's worth it is down to you and your particular needs. I've always been a modder at heart so rational thought wasn't involved in my decision to tune my car :D
 
On my engine (late Rover L series) swapping the injectors for the early, lower break pressure versions, decatting and a remap will see 160bhp, up from 99.

Not bad for a total cost of around £200... shame it usually wipes out a weak clutch though :D

Every diesel engine is different in respect as to what kind of tuning works best. Some you can chuck a map on, others you need to swap oily bits to get decent power.
 
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