Hi guys,

I have a 3-year old Fabia 1.4MPi Classic, the old pushrod 8-valve engine. What with the steep increase in the price of petrol and all I am thinking of changing the engine to a diesel one.

Do you know what engines are compatible with my car? Can I change the engine for a diesel engine designed for the Fabia itself?

What are the odds that I'll manage to put a diesel engine successfully on this vehicle?

Thanks

Would it not be the sensible idea to sell your Fabia classic, and buy a 2nd hand diesel? Not saying you need to buy a Fabia vRS but the 1.4tdi or the 1.9 option? Im sure its more logical to change cars rather than an engine change.

in uk probably yes. in malta, don't think so unfortunately. i have actually never seen a 1.4tdi fab over here.

in malta, people usually get an old car, such as an old mk1 golf, or a favorit, or lada or something similar, and put on an imported toyota 1.5td (the ones standard on the imported toyota corolla windy2 model - i don't know if they're imported into the uk too).

in uk probably yes. in malta' date=' don't think so unfortunately. i have actually never seen a 1.4tdi fab over here.

in malta, people usually get an old car, such as an old mk1 golf, or a favorit, or lada or something similar, and put on an imported toyota 1.5td (the ones standard on the imported toyota corolla windy2 model - i don't know if they're imported into the uk too).[/quote']

Wow! I want a 1.5TD Favorit!

Lol...

talking mega work. To maintain all the things working on a petrol fabia you will need almost an entire diesel fabia to donate all the parts. Would be easier to go abroad to mainland Europe/UK and buy a diesel Fabia and drive it back to Malta.

hmmm.... again... problem is.... i'll have to pay importation tax on it as soon as i arrive here. believe me, this country's still far behind!!

in malta' date=' people usually get an old car, such as an old mk1 golf, or a favorit, or lada or something similar, and put on an imported toyota 1.5td (the ones standard on the imported toyota corolla windy2 model - i don't know if they're imported into the uk too).[/quote']

Woooah cowboy, the Furby ain't an 'old car' and you can't just 'wing in' a diesel engine either.

As already said you would need to change lots of parts other than just the engine. You'd probably need to get hold of a pretty mechanically and electrically complete donor diesel car in which case you'd be better fixing up that car instead. Unless it's been written off of course. Hope you are handy with a spanner.

Good Luck

Takksi - listen to Devonutopia (Jason) - he knows what he's on about in hard-work terms when he talks about engine conversions! It didn't take you that long did it Jason??!

Aside of that, am I being naive, but Malta's in the EU, no? So you should be well within your rights to buy from Spain or whereever within the EU and drive it back into Malta? It was all the rage in the UK a few years ago, when the € was strong against the £, to order and buy from Belgium/France, in full UK spec, and take it back to the UK.

I may be wide of the mark here, feel free to criticise....

Steve

Well if you buy from spain then but a Seat TDi, Job Done !

Takksi - listen to Devonutopia (Jason) - he knows what he's on about in hard-work terms when he talks about engine conversions! It didn't take you that long did it Jason??!

Aside of that, am I being naive, but Malta's in the EU, no? So you should be well within your rights to buy from Spain or whereever within the EU and drive it back into Malta? It was all the rage in the UK a few years ago, when the

I don't see petrol going up that much to be honest, not to the point where the effort and cost of doing a diesel conversion will be of benefit. Are there diesel variants that can be bought locally? Maybe a cheap banger for day to day use and the Fabia for special occasions? How far do you drive? malta being an island must be quite restrictive on long distances - for short distance journies a small petrol like the MPI is ideal - A TDI needs time and distance to warm up and reach optimum performance.

Steve - one smiley for you! (ok, thats three....)

I don't see petrol going up that much to be honest' date=' not to the point where the effort and cost of doing a diesel conversion will be of benefit. Are there diesel variants that can be bought locally? Maybe a cheap banger for day to day use and the Fabia for special occasions? How far do you drive? malta being an island must be quite restrictive on long distances - for short distance journies a small petrol like the MPI is ideal - A TDI needs time and distance to warm up and reach optimum performance.

Steve - one smiley for you! (ok, thats three....)[/quote']

will reply later cos i'm going out for a concert...

That's a good point by Jason. Not only do diesels take a good time to get warm but it also doesn't do them a great deal of good to just use them for short journeys all the time. Perhaps an LPG conversion would be a better option if running costs are the prime target?

That's a good point by Jason.

Doesn't happen all that often - I'd better put this in my signature.

I don't see petrol going up that much to be honest' date=' not to the point where the effort and cost of doing a diesel conversion will be of benefit. Are there diesel variants that can be bought locally? Maybe a cheap banger for day to day use and the Fabia for special occasions? How far do you drive? malta being an island must be quite restrictive on long distances - for short distance journies a small petrol like the MPI is ideal - A TDI needs time and distance to warm up and reach optimum performance.

Steve - one smiley for you! (ok, thats three....)[/quote']

Hi Steve, finally back...

as regards petrol costs, here petrol went up from about 36c/litre to 48c/litre in a matter of months. this will be approximately from

That's a good point by Jason. Not only do diesels take a good time to get warm but it also doesn't do them a great deal of good to just use them for short journeys all the time. Perhaps an LPG conversion would be a better option if running costs are the prime target?

excuse my ignorance... but what's LPG ??

Liquified Petroleum Gas, it's an alternative fuel which in the UK is about half the price of petrol. I assume it's available in your neck of the woods, it's basically running the car on gas, but keeping the petrol tank (you need to start it on petrol to get the engine going - we have a few LPG vans at work and they need petrol to get going, but are fine on gas once driven a mile or so) as well.

oh ok i heard something like that... working the car on the same gas you use for cooking apparently or something similar... a colleague at work was telling me about it.