Diesel Eurovans: any good?

[Wayland]

For a while now I've been curious about the diesel Eurovans. I see quite a few of them around, and I've heard the gas versions are expensive to fix and unreliable, but what about the standard trans, NA diesel models? Anybody got any experience withe them?

[Vincent Waldon]

My brother has one... (edit) 2.4l 5 cylinder NA diesel...basically an AAZ with an extra cylinder.   Slow and steady, great fuel economy for a big van.

His only complaint is that it's geared a bit low and so a bit loud on the highway... but otherwise he swears by it.

[blackdogvan]

X2 on Vince's comments. You mentioned the manual tranny, thats good as the auto's don't have a good reputation. Audi 5 cyl turbo manifolds bolt up BTW, I'd love a turbo'd AAB.

[rabbitman]

We have a gasser eurovan and it's been ok, the hall sender went out in the distributer and that cost like $130. We've had lot's of coolant leaks.....a flange and those plastic hoses that run to the rear heater have leaked. The temp sensors have been nothing but trouble and there's so many it's hard to know exactly which one is bad. The rad fans and electric water pump are sorta random and for some reason the AC doesn't work...........and the front tires wear real bad but we have new ball joints so that might fix it. The ignition switch also went bad.

All this is since the fall of '05 @ 140,xxxmi to now at 199,xxxmi.

For some reason starting usually takes two twists of the key, first twist acts like it's not sparking and the second fires right up.

Overall I guess it's kinda been a pain, it's comfortable and cruises pretty good though. I never thought it was an upgrade from the vanagon..........a diesel eurovan would probably be lot's better than it's gasser sister.

[Wayland]

X2 on Vince's comments. You mentioned the manual tranny, thats good as the auto's don't have a good reputation. Audi 5 cyl turbo manifolds bolt up BTW, I'd love a turbo'd AAB.

Do AAB's have piston oil squirters? All AAZs do, afaik, even the industrial NA models.

[rabbid79]

Yes, AABs have oil quirters, while their gas counterparts do not.  Also, the AAB is 2.4L.

[MJF]

2,4 5cyl is internally same as 1,9NA, not same as AAZ.