So guys I just purchased a diesal Vrs 130 Fabia. Loving it ATM. Just need some advice as to the characteristics of the diesal engine. I notice I can set off from just the clutch. So yeah basically just a little advice as to how these beastly engines run. I'm used to French tin cans with match box engines so this is the first time I have owned a proper car and would like to treat the engine well. So any general advice would be nice:-) thanks

Don't bother using all the rev range... you'll find that, as standard, it's out of ideas by around 3.5k...

Nifty little trick is to pop it in 6th and leave it, without throttle input, when you're doing a constant 30ish. She'll pull herself along very happily. Also uses naff all fuel.

Always change the oil every 6-10k, and always use the recommended stuff or you'll get cam wear.

Injectors are very strong, but treat it to a tank of Shell V-Power every so often (once every 5-6k) to hose the injectors out.

Disconnect the EGR at the top of the engine as it's a pointless lump of crap. Just puts exhaust gases back in the engine.

Hope that helps..!

You can drive ANY car on tickover if you are careful with clutch control. However with nice torque-y Diesel engines it's a lot easier and harder to stall as there is so much more inherent pulling power (torque).

If bothered about fuel efficiency use the live gauge as it teaches you a lot about your foot position! A slight adjustment and 1 mph slower can affect your mpg widely when at motorway speed!

Before starting give it 10 secs to warm up the glow plugs, and before switching off let it rest for at least 20secs - longer if you have just been travelling at speed - to let the turbo slow down, otherwise cutting the ignition cuts the oil flow and they grind to a stop!

Edited 23 September, 201213 yr by Oli3000

Not a Fabia owner but have driven diesel most of my (long!) life. I Now drive hire cars a bit with work and these are usually poof powered and have to say I find it difficult to adult to having to rev an engine.!!

You will eventually find the "sweet spot" in the rev range - diesels pull well from low revs and you will find you need do a lot less gear changing. Most will cruise happily at less than 2000 rpm and have plenty pull to do an overtake without a change down.

Good advise above about letting the turbo cool but most modern Diesels don't need to be preheated except in the coldest of weather

Use the correct VW50x.xx spec oil in the car, this is imperative.

Don't rev it excessively, it's pointless as the power has all tailed off by then and you will make better progress and use less fuel by changing up a gear.

In the winter wait for the glow plug light (yellow 'coil') to go out before starting the car, this will make starting easier, there is no need to do this in warm weather,

Don't leave it ticking over to warm up - diesels need to be under load (driven) to warm up, you could leave a diesel ticking over for ages without it coming up to normal working temperature, they are not like a petrol engine in this respect.

You don't need to let them tick over after a run...this just wastes fuel, it is much better to drive the last mile steadily, this will give the turbo ample time to cool down, likewise don't 'give it some' from cold, wait for the oil to be up to temperature first ... the oil can take up to 5 mins longer than the coolant to get up to temperature.

Enjoy it, the PD is a peach of an engine.

Wow guys thanks for the advice:-) I been told about letting the glow plugs warm up bit never about letting the turbo slow down. So do turn engine off to ignition or do I just the engine idle for five after a decent drive? Nt sure about this egr thing but have heard of it. The guy I bought the car from said t has had a service but think I'm putting it in for one on payday just to make sure:-) again guys thanks!!!

leave it idling for the turbo to cool, doesn't need long. 15 or 20 seconds will do.

Some useful advice here.

When wamed up, and if you want best acceleration, try changing up so that the engine speed falls to about 2000 rpm in the next gear. Generally, for fun driving, you'd want to be working within 2000-3000 rpm, although you'll need to go a bit over 3000 rpm in 1st and 2nd.

Try not being bothered about the lack of acceleration off the line; the nice thing about this engine is how it keeps on going, so if you're initially patient you'll soon enough be moving at decent speeds.

It`s not very often I need to let the turbo cool. It`s only really needed to do it if you`ve been fully ragging it straight before turning it off so in the real world, unless you floor it up to your driveway/tesco etc then it`s not needed. I tend to just drop the revs down as I arrive at my destination is enough to let the temps drop a bit.

One tip i`m surprised hasnt been mentioned, if your in higher gears, make sure the revs are above around 2000rpm, so If your doing 60mph in 6th change down if your gonna boot it. It`ll save the DMF & clutch no end.

Don't bother using all the rev range... you'll find that, as standard, it's out of ideas by around 3.5k...

Nifty little trick is to pop it in 6th and leave it, without throttle input, when you're doing a constant 30ish. She'll pull herself along very happily. Also uses naff all fuel.

Always change the oil every 6-10k, and always use the recommended stuff or you'll get cam wear.

Injectors are very strong, but treat it to a tank of Shell V-Power every so often (once every 5-6k) to hose the injectors out.

Disconnect the EGR at the top of the engine as it's a pointless lump of crap. Just puts exhaust gases back in the engine.

Hope that helps..!

You learn something every day! Even after 2 years of ownership!

Edited 26 September, 201213 yr by leighboyuk

diesal

Diesel

Sorry had to be done. Welcome to the world of smog, the guys have pretty much covered everything. Just be sure to pick up the (normally) black pump, this is easily noticeable by the fuel that leaks onto your hand, other then that just enjoy the smuggness that comes with a nippy motor that achieves 50mpg + and cheap road tax, anyone who mocks you is only jealous

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm still getting used to the engine torque. When I drop down a gear for a junction and let clutch up I forget that the torque pulls the car along quite quickly compared to my old little petrol . I'm loving the superb pulling power with out changing down. I'm actually averaging 51mpg and haven't touched a motorway!! I like how smooth they are too:-) for me ill never go back to petrol now haha

diesal

Diesel

Sorry had to be done. Welcome to the world of smog, the guys have pretty much covered everything. Just be sure to pick up the (normally) black pump, this is easily noticeable by the fuel that leaks onto your hand, other then that just enjoy the smuggness that comes with a nippy motor that achieves 50mpg + and cheap road tax, anyone who mocks you is only jealous

haha Grammer ain't my best subject lol hehe

haha Grammer ain't my best subject lol hehe

Spelling dont you mean? haha sorry ill stop.

Enjoy your Fabia, you thinking on getting anymore work done to it? They go well with a remap

and its grammAr haha Sorry its just a giggle, glad your enjoying your motor

Edited 26 September, 201213 yr by Lofty79

Just stumbled across this thread. I have recently purchased a 06 plate Fabia 1.9 TDI 100bhp. I am new to driving a diesel as well but I am pleased overall. I did have a 2000 plate Fabia 1.4 mpi Petrol, as this was my first car since passing my test. I was happy with the petrol one, if anything I just got bored with the engine, and my requirements changed. Now having cheaper insurance, being more experienced and longer journeys.

I learnt in a diesel Citroen C2 1.4 diesel, and really did enjoy it when I did my pass plus motorway lessons in it. Main things I noticed was the power going up the hills.

I have quite a bit to learn about the new car, but from the sounds of things I have made the right choice, and everyone else seems to enjoy running a diesel.

Thanks for the tips

Lol I'm not helping myself am I lol haha , yeah just ordered some Vrs replacement badges for all round car and some Philips headlights. Going for the intercooler and exhaust then remap:-) hoping to have the intercooler in January as it will be my 22nd bday so that will be me present. Then exhaust will come out me Christmas bonus:-) then remap will follow:-) for now I'm sticking to the subtle mods. It is my family run about ( recently had a baby ) so ill be taking real good care of the car as it needs to care of my family on the road. I have OCD when it comes to car care.

Nifty little trick is to pop it in 6th and leave it, without throttle input, when you're doing a constant 30ish. She'll pull herself along very happily. Also uses naff all fuel.

I tried this the other day, but i didn't like how it reacted to it :p