Q's on an IDI engine you may, or may not, know

[greg123]

Greetings all,

I'm a TDIclub'er and currently run a few diesels, inc a motorhome and a peugeot 1.9td intercooled, shortly to be replaced by an Octavia Estate with the 110tdi vw engine.  I also have a couple of Citroen AX's, having a bit of history with them and having built a few.

For those not familiar with the TUD3 (1.4) and later TUD5 (1.5) peugeot engines in the Citroen AX, the 1.4 still holds many economy records and hit 60 in about 15 seconds and about 95mph tops with a very punchy revvy engine that genuinely does over 70mpg on a run and 65mpg average, driven pretty hard.  The 1.5 feels more like any other diesel and has less economy, slightly more power, is smoother but not as efficient really.

The 1.4 was alloy block with liners, with too many problems to mention mainly porus castings, holes in castings and the block warping and liners sinking meaning constant blown head gaskets.  It also ran hot and warped stuff if not carefull.  Otherwise never seen any wear eg cranks bores etc and never seen anything 'broken', 100k blocks look like new if a few oil changes are done.

The 1.5 is a iron block, but with a different head design.

I am making an iron block 1.4, it should go like a 1.4 should (using a gti petrol block - they are all the same blocks petrol for diesel - just peugeot never used the iron version till the 1.5) but will have no head gasket problems.

I am thinking of making it 'interesting' and possibly a track day/fun road car as they are a lot of fun to drive and weigh 700kg.

If I made it fast, 150hp would be my goal, that will give a 0-60 of 5.5 seconds.  It is 54hp standard (but that is no turbo).  The petrol 100+hp versions take turbos no problems so I am tempted to say the internals will take it.

Question is, can I find a turbo that will boost at low levels but still give the required 30psi I need for 150hp (did some calculations).  I was thinking a vnt15 may give some sort of boost about 2000rpm on my 1.4 and handle the 150hp?  I would be running a good exhaust and a big intercooler.  Second question is can I replace the bosch pump with a turbo version and can I get it 'tuned' to cope with the turbo?

As for inside the engine, I was thinking of enlarging the pre-combustion chambers and having them, the valves/chambers etc and top of piston coated with ceramic or similar.  I'm not worried about it being a bit cranky starting in the cold, it's not a production car and if it ran well on the road that would be worth the trade off.

I can answer questions about the engine and car, but I have not seriously modded an idi engine so I thought I'd get some advice for you.  It's not a million miles removed from your engines, belt drive solid lifters ohc 2 valve per cyl well made good output just a touch smaller at 1360cc.  It also has the bosch rotary pump (non turbo version, I have a new turbo one for a 1.9td that would physically fit).

Also maybe some better injectors could work?

I'd love your comments!

Regards, Greg.

[Baxter]

I think VW used the TU Diesels in the Polo in Europe, we didn't get them in the UK.
Also, Nissan used the TU Diesel in their K11 Micra (or March in Japan)

[greg123]

And Rover in the 100 1.5 diesel, previously the Metro with the 1.4.  And the Peugeot 106 and Citroen Saxo (1.5 only).  Oh yes, the C15d Visa based car derived Citroen van.

But the question is, what can I DO to it......  Will a VNT15 spool on it... etc

[greg123]

Bump - no opinions?  No one have some calculations to see if a VNT 15 would spool okay?

Greg.

[TomB]

I'm sorry I can't make any suggestions, but I'd be really interested to learn how you get on.  For the evening job, I drive a 1.5D AX and it's an awesome little go-kart around town.  Part of me was seriously considering the addition of a turbo as a project before I got the GTD.
Good luck with it,
Tom

[Mark(The Miser)UK]

Hi Greg
My father has a near mint 1990 AX. On a run he'll hit well into the 80's mpg. It is the TUD3  or is it the 5 oh shucks. Any way it drives like it has a turbo. I can't believe the amout of cement he can stack in it (almost as much as my mk2 passat! However there is a fault that it has had for nearly 2 years now.  Driving along it suddenly surges. It does it at any speed/ loaded or empty cruising or otherwise. It never smokes (mini runaway type effect)I suspect its an internal spring issue. Peugeout engineers have never heard of this problem  (with no smoke of course).
Better than a 'Smart' car for economy and they love the parcel shelf on the front which most cars these days lack. Turboing would be interesting :twisted:  I have this itch to put one of my vw1'6TD engines into one of those mk1/2 Polo's. What does one of those weigh? 800kg? I'm sure that'll go like the old Renault 5 Gordino's....
Cheers
Mark