1.9cdti tuning

[paul080803]

Hopefully going to look at a vectra cdti estate at the weekend as a new daily.

It is a 2004 120bhp cdti 6 speed manual. It is definitively a 16v model (oil filler is on the right). Am I correct in thinking that the 16v 120 cdti is a detuned 150 (engine identical on both) and will therefore remap to approx 200bhp? Are the clutch and driveshafts different between the 120/150?

Aso tuning box or remap?

[Keif]

You've made the common mistake.
The 120BHP 1.9CDTi is the 8v, the 150BHP is the 16v and both engines have the oil filter on thr right hand side of the block.
The easy way to tell the difference is the 120 has the oil filler on the left side of the head.
The 150 has it on the right.
Also the inlet and exhaust manifolds are the opposite way round. Glow plugs are on the back of the 120 and are a pig to get to, they're at the front and dead easy to get to on the 150. So completely different units, not a detuned version of the other.

They both respond well with tuning, obviously higher output from the 150 (Z19DTH) but they're not as reliable as the 120 (Z19DT)

[kent14sr]

The early 120bhp 1.9 CDTIs were often detuned 16v engines as there was a massive shortage when they were introduced so its very possible a 2004 model could indeed be a 16v.

[raf24]

Fiat/alfa romeo engines,not vauxhall either.

[paul080803]

This is the engine bay

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/498e9b4e268df2e8b70b5f0793bfa75d.jpg

From my research that is a 16v, it is in a vectra and there is some people that say the 120 16v was only fitted to Astras and never the vectra but they are registered incorrectly and are actually 150s. On a reg check it comes up as DOHC and 120bhp. It is 6 speed manual if that makes a difference?

[Stuart]

If you MUST ruin your Derv engine with some messing about, use the remap option as its less of a bodge than a tuning box (its still a bodge though)

[turbojolt]

Fiat/alfa romeo engines,not vauxhall either.

win win then

[paul080803]

Serious question Stuart, why is remapping/tuning box on a diesel ruining it and a bodge? Do you think the same of turbo petrol engines?

Is it not just a case of a good map v a bad map? Genuinely interested in your view!

[Stuart]

All 'remaps' are bad imho (I do have experience from the OEM side and have seen many weird and scary things done in the name of tuning from 'professionals').
Diesels are far more sensitive to any wrong doing in a map than a petrol engine is (turbo/ NA is irrelevant really) because they run mental fuel pressure and critical injector opening times etc which the tuners just tend to whack up as high as possible and hope, and ofcourse on occasion bypass some of the safety stuff.

The boxes are worse still as they bypass the safety stuff from the start, frigging sensor readings etc to make the ECU do things it really shouldnt be doing.

Its interesting to consider that for example the Puma diesel engine (fitted to Transit/Defender/Kuga/Some Mondeos etc) was 'mapped' (calibrated) by something like 50 people over 5 years (not to mention the software team making improvements in that time too), and its still being updated as the engines improve/wear.... Then you get 'Dave da Chooner' hacking about in an afternoon to give you loads a powaaaah. You get where I'm heading? lol

Petrol engines are less sensitive so its less of a gamble, but I'd still not have any of my cars fettled with in that manner unless it was from an OEM warranty approved source (eg Mountune ST/RS toys... ok less headline figures than some but hell its covered under Ford warranty!)

[Keif]

Sorry, double checked and got my oil filler locations the wrong way round. Edited my original reply.

PM me the VIN number.

[paul080803]

Sorry, double checked and got my oil filler locations the wrong way round. Edited my original reply.

PM me the VIN number.

Keif, I only have the reg. Is that any good?

[paul080803]

All 'remaps' are bad imho (I do have experience from the OEM side and have seen many weird and scary things done in the name of tuning from 'professionals').
Diesels are far more sensitive to any wrong doing in a map than a petrol engine is (turbo/ NA is irrelevant really) because they run mental fuel pressure and critical injector opening times etc which the tuners just tend to whack up as high as possible and hope, and ofcourse on occasion bypass some of the safety stuff.

The boxes are worse still as they bypass the safety stuff from the start, frigging sensor readings etc to make the ECU do things it really shouldnt be doing.

Its interesting to consider that for example the Puma diesel engine (fitted to Transit/Defender/Kuga/Some Mondeos etc) was 'mapped' (calibrated) by something like 50 people over 5 years (not to mention the software team making improvements in that time too), and its still being updated as the engines improve/wear.... Then you get 'Dave da Chooner' hacking about in an afternoon to give you loads a powaaaah. You get where I'm heading? lol

Petrol engines are less sensitive so its less of a gamble, but I'd still not have any of my cars fettled with in that manner unless it was from an OEM warranty approved source (eg Mountune ST/RS toys... ok less headline figures than some but hell its covered under Ford warranty!)

Thanks, seems logical there!

If it turns out to be a detuned 150 then I will look at getting a vauxhall standard 150 ecu load put on effectively making it a standard 150. Hopefully it is just an incorrectly registered 150

[Keif]

Keif, I only have the reg. Is that any good?

Might be, depends if it recognises it.

[paul080803]

You have PM

[Keif]

Replied, with 150bhp!

[paul080803]

Replied, with 150bhp!

Cheers, have some rep!!

[Stuart]

Cheapest (and best) 'remap' ever lol

[paul080803]

Cheapest (and best) 'remap' ever lol

Yeah! Shame the car had no service history so not buying it! lol