Is Common Rail Technology THAT Good???

**corbon44** · June 26th, 2005 11:35 AM

Just want to get the opinion of those with Common-Rail Diesel engine-powered rides - be it Troopers, Innovas, or Benzes - to share their impressions in terms of performance, noise/vibration level, and fuel economy. Especially fuel economy!

CRD fuel economy is supposed to range around 44 mpg (18km/li) for a 2.5 li to a 3.0 li displacement engine (well that's what most brochures claim) combined for both city and hiway driving. Just want to know first-hand from owners if there's any truth to this.

Thanks!

**BlueBimmer** · June 26th, 2005 11:41 AM

well on paper they have higher power output and better fuel consumption compared to normal direct injection diesels. only disadvantage is the injector fouling up coz of our dirty diesel.

**Innova_Boy** · June 26th, 2005 12:12 PM

Well for Innovas and Hilux...the max you can get is around 12-14km/L only base on user experiences here..

On Power/Torque side, it's the best there is so far and it wont let you down in uphill even overtaking power..

On it's efficiency considering our diesels here.. can never tell this early.. lets wait for 2 more years to predict the outcome..

my 0.02

WBR,

**mbt** · June 26th, 2005 04:56 PM

claimed fuel economy figures are very often very different from real-world driving. there are many factors that influence fuel economy, and not just the engine size: gearing (and hence revs), driving style, and especially traffic. even the EPA fuel economy figures in the US are most useful only as a point of comparison between different car models (because the EPA test is highly standarized and repeatable)... but it does not mean that the EPA is guaranteeing that owners will get the same fuel economy figures as they got in their testing.

the manufacturer can run the vehicle at 60 km/h with a huge truck in front of it (to cut air resistance) with the aircon off, with the wipers removed, with the side mirrors folded in, with duct tape covering panel gaps, with the tires at a very high pressure (for reduced rolling resistance) and with the tranny in neutral and claim that it gets 20 km/L.

as a rule, don't believe claims in the brochure.

**paj4x4** · June 26th, 2005 06:00 PM

Besides the claimed better fuel consumption I've read somewhere that a key benefit of CRDI technology is the fact that the incidence of getting clogged injectors (due to the poor quality of diesel fuel) will substantially decrease.

**ECG** · June 27th, 2005 06:51 AM

i heard CRD engines are beyond the repair capabilities of an ordinary mechanic/auto shop. it has to be in the "casa".

**j_avonni** · June 27th, 2005 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by Innova_Boy

Well for Innovas and Hilux...the max you can get is around 12-14km/L only base on user experiences here..

On Power/Torque side, it's the best there is so far and it wont let you down in uphill even overtaking power..

On it's efficiency considering our diesels here.. can never tell this early.. lets wait for 2 more years to predict the outcome..

my 0.02

WBR,

Since, this is a new tech, all we have are just claims. So, as Innova Boy suggests, let's wait for 2 years, or even a year, kung ano ang performance ng CRD.

**jaeger** · June 27th, 2005 10:54 AM

Most of the knowledge we have on CRDI's are what's available on the net.

It's true that CRDI's are finicky on fuel cleanliness that's why they put in two (2) fuel filters on the new Hi-lux Vigo's 3.0Li. (a pre-filter & a main filter). Shell Phils. Helpdesk/Hotline says you need at least 2-micron fuel filtration capability on CRDI's or else the tiny solenoid switches on each of the injectors will trip when the dirt on our diesel gets stuck on the injector valves. The tolerances are just too fine.

Isuzu says that there's already 3-generations of CRDI engines; and brags that they are already at 3rd-Gen. CRDI technology. Isuzu bases this on common rail injection pressure :
1st-Gen CRDI : up to 135 megapascal injection pressure (first Troopers)
2nd-Gen CRDI : up to 165 megapascal injection pressure (Toyota D-4D)
3rd-Gen CRDI : up to 180 megapascal injection pressure (Alterra)

Toyota-Europe has a good knowledge base on their D-4D CRDI engines, check out these links :

http://www.toyota-europe.com/technol...ines/d_4d.html
http://www.toyota-europe.com/technol..._177_dcat.html
http://www.toyota-europe.com/technol...ines/dcat.html
http://www.toyota-europe.com/technol...ines/dpnr.html

As far as European CRDIs go, they are already hitting 50Kw (or 68hp) per liter of engine displacement. Thus for a 2.5 li. CRDI engine, the MB/BMW/Audi engines are already giving out 170hp of power. The Japanese are lagging behind here. Toyota's new 3.0li. CRDI on the Hi-lux is giving out 163hp, and the Europeans are laughing coz. to them, this engine displacement should already be giving out 204hp and not just 163hp!

Food for thought.

**Josh0027** · June 27th, 2005 11:08 AM

As far as nababasa ko kasi, deterrent ang fuel natin dito. Madumi kasi...

**mazdamazda** · June 27th, 2005 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by jaeger

As far as European CRDIs go, they are already hitting 50Kw (or 68hp) per liter of engine displacement. Thus for a 2.5 li. CRDI engine, the MB/BMW/Audi engines are already giving out 170hp of power.

The engine found in the BMW 120d is already hitting 81hp / L.

Imagine... the 120d has almost the same power output as that of the Fortuner 3.0L D4D!