Fiat 3ltr diesel engine 2009, thoughts (1 Viewer)

[SteveandSueJ]

Hi, about to buy a 2009 Rapido, FIAT with auto gearbox, 3 ltr diesel engine. Just checking any issues I should be aware of with the engine? Good or bad points please. Any ideas on fuel consumption? I do spain regularly, motorways around 60mph and do not boot it... any thoughts would be welcome... thx in advance.

 

[f6c]

Had the 3ltr Manual engine in my 138 Carthago very Quick. Would pull a House Down

 

[SteveandSueJ]

Had the 3ltr Manual engine in my 138 Carthago very Quick. Would pull a House Down

Pulling me and the missus to spain and back would be enough..!!, thx for reply.

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[dunnah01]

We have a 2011 3.0l Comfortmatic which I think is the same thing. Great setup, engine pulls like a train and is bulletproof. Comfortmatic gear selector system seems to be a mystery to most garages but gearbox itself is also bulletproof.
We get 32mpg at a constant 56mph or 28mpg on non-toll routes around Europe

 

[SteveandSueJ]

We have a 2011 3.0l Comfortmatic which I think is the same thing. Great setup, engine pulls like a train and is bulletproof. Comfortmatic gear selector system seems to be a mystery to most garages but gearbox itself is also bulletproof.
We get 32mpg at a constant 56mph or 28mpg on non-toll routes around Europe

Brilliant... yes I think mine would be the same... very pleased to hear that. Lots of negative around the comformatic auto box but glad yours is good good fuel consumption also which I was concerned about being used to a 6m 100bhp diesel peugeot... much appreciated reply.. thx.

 

[dunnah01]

Brilliant... yes I think mine would be the same... very pleased to hear that. Lots of negative around the comformatic auto box but glad yours is good good fuel consumption also which I was concerned about being used to a 6m 100bhp diesel peugeot... much appreciated reply.. thx.

Ours is also a Rapido and is very well put together

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[Detnor]

Worked well for us, strong and secure. It is a heavy lump, made our van a bit nose down, corrected with up rated springs. The air filter housing fasteners were pretty useless, needed replacing with coach bolts.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Chain cam as well, so no belts to change every 5 years. Great engine

 

[SteveandSueJ]

Worked well for us, strong and secure. It is a heavy lump, made our van a bit nose down, corrected with up rated springs. The air filter housing fasteners were pretty useless, needed replacing with coach bolts.

Ahh heard about that. Is it mainly an issue only at service time??

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[Just smiffy]

We have a 2011 3.0l Comfortmatic which I think is the same thing. Great setup, engine pulls like a train and is bulletproof. Comfortmatic gear selector system seems to be a mystery to most garages but gearbox itself is also bulletproof.
We get 32mpg at a constant 56mph or 28mpg on non-toll routes around Europe

Brilliant... yes I think mine would be the same... very pleased to hear that. Lots of negative around the comformatic auto box but glad yours is good good fuel consumption also which I was concerned about being used to a 6m 100bhp diesel peugeot... much appreciated reply.. thx.

I have the same as dunnah01 and my experience is the same too I have a PVC with 128,000 miles and still drives like a beauty ..

 

[SteveandSueJ]

I have the same as dunnah01 and my experience is the same too I have a PVC with 128,000 miles and still drives like a beauty ..

Fantastic... what would your mpg be as an average??

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Fantastic... what would your mpg be as an average??

I got about 25 pulling a 4 tonne motorhome

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[RedFrame]

We had one, they're absolutely fantastic....., until they go wrong.

On a PVC or coach built, they are practically impossible to work on as there is absolutely no room in the engine bay.

Personally I wouldn't go near one again.

Cheers
Red.

 

[97243]

Hi, about to buy a 2009 Rapido, FIAT with auto gearbox, 3 ltr diesel engine. Just checking any issues I should be aware of with the engine? Good or bad points please. Any ideas on fuel consumption? I do spain regularly, motorways around 60mph and do not boot it... any thoughts would be welcome... thx in advance.

We started last year with a 2003 Laika Ducato 2.8 true auto and that was a lovely drive, but have moved on to a 2008 2.2 Merc based Esterel (top of the range Rapido). There is absolutely no comparison and have to suggest that the Merc based Rapidos 2.2 or 3.0 are something to aspire to. Proper auto box as well.

 

[Just smiffy]

Fantastic... what would your mpg be as an average??

Cruise at 60 is my sweet spot for 30mpg, when I’m poodling around it can go up… but average around 28mpg..

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[Littlewheels]

I had Comformatic on a couple of MH’s including a 7.5T one, no problem.

 

[Mr B]

Ours is the 180bhp one… comfortmatic. Pulling our 4600 kg Rapido.. it averages 500–550 miles on a full tank.. and I am truly happy with it. Don’t drive it like a go cart, just drive it like the home on wheels it is.
As someone else has commented on this forum, because of the extra weight the combination of a 3 litre engine and the robotic gear box,, the front end does sag a bit and tends to bang and crash about whenever you hit a pot hole etc.. but I’ve upgraded the front struts to VB ones and it’s made a great big difference in the ride quality.
Buy it and enjoy it

 

[SteveandSueJ]

Ours is the 180bhp one… comfortmatic. Pulling our 4600 kg Rapido.. it averages 500–550 miles on a full tank.. and I am truly happy with it. Don’t drive it like a go cart, just drive it like the home on wheels it is.
As someone else has commented on this forum, because of the extra weight the combination of a 3 litre engine and the robotic gear box,, the front end does sag a bit and tends to bang and crash about whenever you hit a pot hole etc.. but I’ve upgraded the front struts to VB ones and it’s made a great big difference in the ride quality.
Buy it and enjoy it

Thank you...

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[tony_g]

We had a 2009 Laika Rexosline with this engine. Officially, it's an Iveco isn't it?. Access under the bonnet was a pig but pulled like a mule with a fire under its tail.
Just kept going and going. Laughed at engine warning lights with mucky fuel stirred up by rutted roads in Morocco and turned in a respectable 30mpg. I miss it!

 

[EuroTrotters]

Great engine, avoid the faux auto.

Comfortmatic/agile/sprintshift/shiftmatic.. none of them are true torque converter automatic gearboxes. They are modified robotised manual gearboxes.

All problematic and that’s why they are no longer manufactured .

Best engines were

2.7 5 cylinder Mercedes and 3.0 litre fiat.

3 litre mercedes V6, awesome when working . Nightmare reliability

 

[Bobby dazzler]

Best engine for me has been the 2.9 MK1 sprinter engine just keeps plodding on

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[EuroTrotters]

Best engine for me has been the 2.9 MK1 sprinter engine just keeps plodding on

Yea, that one was almost bulletproof too. So many still around.

The good thing about that model year was they were only mated to manual or GTronic true autos