The Sunday News
Motoring with Lovert Mafukure
A LOT of the cars that have come out of Japan are mainly cars that use petrol. A few come with diesel engines but diesel is not so common in Japan compared to other countries, especially those in Europe.
Diesel engines have an old reputation for being noisy, dirty and slow but that has changed overtime. So if you were to choose between a petrol engine and diesel engine, what would you choose? If your negative opinion on diesel engines is based on a car you drove ten or eleven years ago then it’s time to think again. I would choose a diesel if I had plenty money or a small petrol engine if I didn’t have that much money. You would ask why? Here is why.
Diesels
Fuel Economy
A diesel engine will give you the best fuel economy ever. If you do not want frequent trips to the pump and save money overtime then you should get yourself that diesel lump. The experts say diesel engines can deliver 30 percent more fuel efficiency than petrol. For that reason I’d go for diesel, it’s the next best option. It’s only that there are no cars that run on water otherwise I’d have one. It’s all about the cost factor, why should I pay more when I can pay less?
As of old, the idling rattle and noise from diesel engines is not a favourite for many. Newer Common Rail diesel engines, however, make less noise and perform almost just as good as their petrol counterparts if not better. New generation common rail diesel engines are fuel efficient and are quite powerful. When I say power I refer to hauling power. Diesel engines deliver more torque without really struggling that much. In the days gone by diesel engines would not really compete with petrol engines but now according to the new Audi test results their 3litre turbo diesel delivers considerably more torque than its petrol sister.
So another reason I would buy a diesel over a petrol engine is power, you get more power at low rev count on a diesel engine and gone are the days where they used to be noisy and slow . . . try driving a diesel 3 series BMW or a CDI Mercedes Benz even an Audi or new Nissan passenger cars and you will see what I mean. Newer diesel engines can be just as fast as petrol. In theory they cannot be as fast though because petrol just burns like a wildfire out of control while diesel is subtle and not so crafty. Technological advances have seen improvements that put diesel engines almost on par with petrol engines. So it could be an option worth looking at.
Durability
Like a Zimbabwean who is trying to make do like everyone else I would want a car that lasts forever, it’s impossible but at least till I grow some white hair. Diesel engines last longer than petrol engines if maintained well. Diesels are generally low revving engines and so they tend to last longer because they produce more power at low rev count. Diesel engines are also made with stronger blocks and pistons because they have to withstand high compression levels. So generally a diesel engine is made stronger than petrol, so another tick on the reasons I will choose a diesel powered car over petrol.
On the other hand, however, a diesel engine is more expensive to maintain than a petrol engine. The new generation common rail diesel engines are even more expensive to buy and to maintain. What makes them more expensive is the common rail setup. That setup can be a nightmare when it decides to give up and they tend to be very sensitive. Contaminated fuel can easily bugger up these babies and locally there are no workshops that can service or overhaul these common rail injectors, at least not that I know of in this part of the country.
With the increasing number of CRD engines coming into the country, one would think the machinery to fix them would be available too but the costs of buying the equipment is just prohibitive. Apart from servicing old injectors, one can buy new injectors but the cost also is just way out of many people’s reach. A thousand dollars or even two thousand dollars is not uncommon, that’s how much you will need for a set of this type of injectors. It makes one think hard. Most of us buy these used cars cheap, it wouldn’t make sense to buy a set of injectors for the same price you bought the car overseas . . . Those are the odds but look at it this way, it’s either you pay more on fuel or pay more later on in life when the need arises. So in a nutshell, routine diesel engine maintenance may cost almost the same as petrol engines but it can be potentially more expensive to repair a diesel engine should something go wrong like fuel contamination for example.
Petrol is a favourite for most of us. It’s cheap to buy, easy to maintain and cheap on parts. Some people are all about performance and speed. If you are one of those people then petrol is for you. As much as petrol engines cost less to buy and to maintain, fuel costs are higher with less efficiency, they are silent and do not produce much noise unless you are one of those noise maniacs who put free flow exhaust systems. Sometimes people tend to think that petrol is generally more powerful but don’t expect Buggatti Veyron experience unless you have some extras like a turbo charger or supercharger or a gig engine that’s always thirsty for more fuel. Petrol is also a favourite for many because the power output is good if you have a bigger engine and it makes acceleration speed a breeze. But and a big BUT . . . don’t think a Toyota Vitz will give you any of that nice experience. It’s just too small, only good for fuel econom, of course that is just my “two cents”.
When you have to decide to buy a petrol or diesel engine vehicle, remember with the new common rail diesel engines you have a lot of advantages which include more power, increased fuel efficiency, less noise and reduced soot. It’s definitely not the same old rattling soot coughing noise maker, it’s been refined and just a breeze to drive especially if you drive on the highway a lot. Sometimes a small petrol engine is good for town errands and diesel for the long expeditions. Till next time; Eat Sleep JDM.
Lovert Mafukure is a Japanese Imports consultant. For comments or questions regarding all Japanese imports and all Japanese motoring concerns. You can contact him on whatsapp +263772339938 or email [email protected]
Feedback from Readers
Good day Sir. What kind of plugs can be fitted on an Elgrand? My friend bought plugs and were fitted, its engine sound changed it was high when removed. Sound engine was normal. — 0775181566.
Change of sound seems to me like there was a misfire after changing plugs? Perhaps they are not the correct plugs or there is a faulty plug. Usually these cars come with platinum plugs designed to last about 100 000km or more and as such you may not need to replace them in the short run but maybe just regularly check and clean them.
Sir hope I find you well. Help me I recently bought a Nissan Sunny from Japan do I keep it on overdrive or what? — 0772774051.
Overdrive light should stay off, if it’s on, it means overdrive is not active and you will use more fuel. Overdrive allows you to use higher gears and keep the rev count lower. You will need it off maybe when overtaking or driving on steep or hilly roads.
For how many minutes should I keep my car running after it has been stationary for a long time. — 0779973435.
When you start up your car whether every morning or after a while, give the engine a chance to pump oil to all the vital components and to warm up a bit before you drive off. Most cars that have an ECU start with a high rev count which decreases gradually. Its advisable to leave your car for a minute or so till the rev counter drops. Just driving off will reduce the life of your engine by increasing wear and tear.
