Diesel buying advice

[gchild]

Been on the look out for a honda FR-V for a while now.

Seen a 2.2 diesel version on a 2006 plate with 54k on the clock. Seems like a lot of miles for the year to me, but told diesel engines are bullet proof and this is nothing! Is this the general consensus regarding diesel engines?

Any advice on what to look out for when viewing the car to avoid costly trouble?

 

[Stratman]

All common-rail Diesel engines (which this one will be) use electronic fuel injection systems similar to those used by petrol engines. However, the common rail versions use an extremely high fuel pressure (30,000 psi ) to feed individual ECU controlled injectors. These injectors can be very expensive to replace (the MB variety is about £300) and they can and do go wrong.

As for 'bullet proof', if that means 'withstand all kinds of abuse and neglect' then no, they are not bullet proof. If they are serviced appropriately with particular attention paid to oil and filter changes then they can go on for hundreds of thousands of miles.

 

[Mr Jadefox]

I don't think anyone would be particually concerned with that sort of mileage, in fact people often see a high mileage in a shorter (rather than over a longer period) to be a good thing as it has probably spent its life cruisnig on motorways rather than lots of little 'around-town' journeys.

As Stratman says, if people completely neglect a car that's a different story, but as this one will just be finishing it's warranty, one would assume its been regualry serviced by a dealer up to this point? In that case, the mileage is really of no concern on a decent deisel engine.

A lot would actually view 54,000 as being quite low for a car (albeit not for the age of the car).

 

[chord]

Check what is due in the next service, it may well need a cambelt change(don't know if it has a belt or a chain) between 60-80k which will be expensive. As others have said, diesel engines will last and 54 is not much at all, it's all the consumables you ahve to check, but things such as injectors and turbos can and will go wrong as the mileage get's higher.

 

[GH421]

The Honda 2.2 Diesel engine is a solid lump. Be wary of oil consumption however as these things are renound for burning oil. You will need to check the engine oil every week. Make sure the service history has been up do date.

Other than that engine wise you'll love it. Good midrange torque. Be cautious however, the claimed manufacturers MPG figures are a little OTT. You'll average 40-48mpg. Not the High 50's as they say.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

I read on one forum that the exhaust manifold is a weak area and fails around the 75k mark...

 

[gchild]

Hi, the salesman told me that the car has three service stamps at honda garages - the last one done at 37k miles. The 4th year service is due now, and the car is on 54k, so 17k later which seems a lot between services.

The dealer said they will service it to 'Honda standard' and put any issues they find right.

Are there any common signs to look out for that may show engine abuse?

 

[wemorgan]

I read on one forum that the exhaust manifold is a weak area and fails around the 75k mark...

Mate with a 2004 Honda Accord with the same 2.2 engine had a cracked manifold at 75k miles, though this was replaced goodwill by Honda. Otherwise it's been very reliable and as a passenger I think it's also quite refined.

I thought servicing was every 12k..........maybe that's petrols only.

Personally I'd negotiate a better price and use the savings to have it serviced at Honda.........this will help with any future goodwill claims you may have to make