2.8 or 3litre

Mike the oldnut

Mike the oldnut

Joined
Apr 11, 2023
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TA21 9HX, UK
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95,159
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just looking
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Hi again funsters, Well the LHD versus RHD would appear to have said that LHD is no problem, and if most of your miles are in Europe, then LHD is the way to go. So, given that I appear to be heading in the direction of a Burstner 821 as it has the size and 'stuff' we want without being OTT, the Frankia is still an option, but hen and teeth comes to mind. So you experienced folk, which engine? 2.8 or 3L, personally, not having a cam belt would appear to be a big plus, but hey, what is your opinion and perhaps more importantly, your experience?
We should also ask, manual, or the auto gearbox? now given the 'auto' is only a robot operated version of the manual, this might lead you to think that the box itself should be more reliable and perhaps more fuel efficient than a full auto (slushbox type) the more modern ones are out of my reach.
What say you folk?
 
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2.8 is probably only 127hp unless it’s LHD then could be 147hp. Then again, might have been remapped.
After having a Burstner tag with the 2.8jtd it is very underpowered.
 
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the 2.8 is a strong plodding engine, but once you have had a 3.0 or the newer high output engine, you won't want to go back. The comfortmatic can be a cursed box to some and excellent to others. I look at the advice of those that have had expensive issues with the comfortmatic and would choose the manual
 
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I've had 2 3 litre vans 2009 and 2012 both were 160 hp, pretty sure the 180 hp version came later, one on 4.5 tonne van and the other 3850, performance was better than adequate.
As to mpg a normal all round figure of 23 mpg was what I found over 6 years of ownership, keep to French speed limits which when owned was 90 Kph for most roads, consumption checked on fill to fill and Kms recorded, not on instrument panel figures.
 
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eurajohn said:
I've had 2 3 litre vans 2009 and 2012 both were 160 hp, pretty sure the 180 hp version came later, one on 4.5 tonne van and the other 3850, performance was better than adequate.
As to mpg a normal all round figure of 23 mpg was what I found over 6 years of ownership, keep to French speed limits which when owned was 90 Kph for most roads, consumption checked on fill to fill and Kms recorded, not on instrument panel figures.
Click to expand...

That’s interesting as it’s pretty close to the 22mpg average I get from the 2.8jtd on a 5300Kg van.

Ian

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Gaston aires said:
Ours is 2016. I tend to keep in cruise around 60 mph and high 20s mpg. I run at around 4 tons.
Very pleased.
Phil
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I am looking at 2008 so probably not the 180hp version, wonder if the it is worth doing the ecu? For mpg rather than more hp, although an upgrade will probably give you more hp, it is then about the right foot!
 
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Mike the oldnut said:
Hi again funsters, Well the LHD versus RHD would appear to have said that LHD is no problem, and if most of your miles are in Europe, then LHD is the way to go. So, given that I appear to be heading in the direction of a Burstner 821 as it has the size and 'stuff' we want without being OTT, the Frankia is still an option, but hen and teeth comes to mind. So you experienced folk, which engine? 2.8 or 3L, personally, not having a cam belt would appear to be a big plus, but hey, what is your opinion and perhaps more importantly, your experience?
We should also ask, manual, or the auto gearbox? now given the 'auto' is only a robot operated version of the manual, this might lead you to think that the box itself should be more reliable and perhaps more fuel efficient than a full auto (slushbox type) the more modern ones are out of my reach.
What say you folk?
Click to expand...
I have had both 2.8 and 3.0 litre fiats, there is no comparison the 3.0 litre is much better and it is not just the 30 bhp more, it is the torque as well.

The other thing is that if you have the 3 litre then by definition that means it will be on the X250 or later chassis platform which is an advance on the older X244 which housed the 2.8.

Don't get me wrong that 2.8 jtd is a workhorse but the 3 litre is better and will return better MPG as well.

My experience is from a Hymer B644 (2.8) running at 3850Kg and a Niesmann Arto (3.0) at just under 4000Kg.

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Mike the oldnut said:
Hi Phil, even an early 2008? 180hp?
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The earlier 3 litres were 160hp, later ones tweaked to 180hp. The tweak seemed to gain a bit more induction noise. The 2.8 was OK but the 3 litre was better and stronger.

Definitely a manual, comfortmatic is a ticking time bomb, lots of posts on here and other forums.
 
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Hi
Well had a 3 litre in a 4ton Aclass fabulous performance 23mpg with absolute steady right foot computer said 27mpg. It was a 160bhp noway can you get 28plus out of a 3.0 litre. Ran with a friend together for two weeks he has the new 180bhp I’ve got the new 150bhp he’s 5ton tag I’m 4.5ton every full tank I was about 20 litres less !! Both fully loaded
 
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Tude said:
Hi
Well had a 3 litre in a 4ton Aclass fabulous performance 23mpg with absolute steady right foot computer said 27mpg. It was a 160bhp noway can you get 28plus out of a 3.0 litre. Ran with a friend together for two weeks he has the new 180bhp I’ve got the new 150bhp he’s 5ton tag I’m 4.5ton every full tank I was about 20 litres less !! Both fully loaded
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You wuzz robbed!

Went down to the bottom of Spain/Portugal last year and on the way down to Seville we were getting close to 30mpg and, overall we got just under 28mpg and that was with working out the fuel/distance.
 
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Emmit said:
You wuzz robbed!

Went down to the bottom of Spain/Portugal last year and on the way down to Seville we were getting close to 30mph and, overall we got just under 28mph and that was with working out the fuel/distance.
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What is the weight of your rig? It makes a difference!

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Tude said:
Hi
Well had a 3 litre in a 4ton Aclass fabulous performance 23mpg with absolute steady right foot computer said 27mpg. It was a 160bhp noway can you get 28plus out of a 3.0 litre. Ran with a friend together for two weeks he has the new 180bhp I’ve got the new 150bhp he’s 5ton tag I’m 4.5ton every full tank I was about 20 litres less !! Both fully loaded
Click to expand...
Our 3.0l 160bhp Comfortmatic will easily do low to mid 30's with cruise control set to lorry speed on the motorways. It falls to high 20's on the A/B roads or Route Nationales in France. We run at about 3.75t on a 4.25t chassis.
 
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Before we had the chain driven 4.25T 3Lt Burstner A Class Comfortmatic (which I tend to drive as a manual)
we had a Hobby 2.8Lt Manual at 3.7T with a 130bhp cambelted with upped power.
The Hobby started at 25mpg but after the tuneup I got it to 27mpg.

The Burstner is better at hills, better off the mark and has power to spare and I get 27mpg without trying (that doesn't happen often, it's genetic!)
 
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Mike the oldnut said:
Hi again funsters, Well the LHD versus RHD would appear to have said that LHD is no problem, and if most of your miles are in Europe, then LHD is the way to go. So, given that I appear to be heading in the direction of a Burstner 821 as it has the size and 'stuff' we want without being OTT, the Frankia is still an option, but hen and teeth comes to mind. So you experienced folk, which engine? 2.8 or 3L, personally, not having a cam belt would appear to be a big plus, but hey, what is your opinion and perhaps more importantly, your experience?
We should also ask, manual, or the auto gearbox? now given the 'auto' is only a robot operated version of the manual, this might lead you to think that the box itself should be more reliable and perhaps more fuel efficient than a full auto (slushbox type) the more modern ones are out of my reach.
What say you folk?
Click to expand...
We have an old (1994) merc 310d with an FFB body and the engine is 2.9 with an chain timer, it rattles a bit and therefore a little more noise but take the hearing aids out an it sounds ok. The gearbox is automatic and it is a left hand drive. This setup is fine and works for us. We do though live in the South of France and therefore LHD is easier.
 
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Mike the oldnut said:
What is the weight of your rig? It makes a difference!
Click to expand...
Started life at 4t. Got reduced to 3.5t (they must have been nudists) and when we got it, had it upped to 4.25t.

Anyone who knows us knows that we carry the British Library in the garage, selling books for Prostate Cancer UK.
We are NEVER empty.
 
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Emmit said:
You wuzz robbed!

Went down to the bottom of Spain/Portugal last year and on the way down to Seville we were getting close to 30mpg and, overall we got just under 28mpg and that was with working out the fuel/distance.
Click to expand...
I bet it didn’t do that on the way back unless it’s a pvc van
 
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