Which engine is best and less hassle for 3500kg moho?

[Cemmy074]

Still looking moho but most private seller asking more than dealer price. And I just confused with new engines. 2.2-2.3-3.0 fiats, merc 2.1 and 2.2-2.4 transit, my old one had 2.8jtd... I don't want to suffer with pulling and don't want endless problem and not good mechanics around me. Any feedback will help. Thank you

 

[Guigsy]

not really bother coz i am not living or go ulez area

It wasn't long ago that pretty much the whole of the Greater Manchester, including the motorways to get past it, were going to be in a CAZ.

 

[bigwood]

Having driven older Transits for work over meany years and owned a Transit PVC and the current 55 plate motorhome the latest Transit isn’t for me. The idea of a cheap to run and reliable engine was a plus point for Ford until modern technology and emissions regulations seems to killed that idea.
The 2.4 engine is no flyer and holds back on hills but keeping the speed down to 60/65 it gives us 400 miles to a tank of fuel. Enjoying the journey and seeing the scenery is more important these days.
Having said that last service included glow plugs that needed changing. The parts were cheap but the labour was painful on the pocket.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

I’d avoid the 2.0ltr Ford diesel engine because of the wet belt issues, otherwise I’d have any of them.

 

[L' Hobo]

Still looking moho but most private seller asking more than dealer price. And I just confused with new engines. 2.2-2.3-3.0 fiats, merc 2.1 and 2.2-2.4 transit, my old one had 2.8jtd... I don't want to suffer with pulling and don't want endless problem and not good mechanics around me. Any feedback will help. Thank you

Stick with an old engine that is numerous and can be fixed without a computer.

The money you save will allow you to get taxis into, and return from, any ULEZ's.

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[PaulW2]

Motorhomes on average do lower mileage than cars and I think all the modern engines are perfectly adequate. How often do modern engines cause problems, and if they do how different are the failure rates of different engines? I think it's much of a muchness.

One quirky thing I would be sceptical of is the auto-manual gearbox type. I had an Iveco Agile auto which I wouldn't want again.

 

[L' Hobo]

It wasn't long ago that pretty much the whole of the Greater Manchester, including the motorways to get past it, were going to be in a CAZ.

Sorry, cannot see ANY major motorways being in a CAZ without a major alternative in my lifetime, the Trucking lobby would not allow it and IF they went on strike the country would close down!

 

[Richard n Ann]

When Reform gets in they'll scrap the net zero plans anyway and we'll be FREE again Less than 5 years of unpleasantness to go

 

[robnchris]

i thought 2.2 belt 2.3 is chain drive

Nope 2.3 is a belt, Had ours changed last year, once we had done 8K we had the engine remapped now it's a fabulous vehicle to drive sits at around 28mpg on the motorway at legal speed, manual gearbox and touching wood no problems we average about 4k a year, change the oil and filter every year and fuel filter every two years.

 

[Puddleduck]

If it has tyres and an engine it's going to be trouble sooner or later!!

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[CazPaul]

….at the moment, only at the moment! All they need to do is change their legislation.

But they will then change areas to electric only you can’t wish your life away thinking what might be.

 

[john@32100]

My Google navigation said the route it had planned through France last month included an emission zone. I just selected OK so the warning went away I've got the sticker in the windscreen (forgot what it's called now, yellow No. 2 )

Crit air

 

[Guigsy]

Sorry, cannot see ANY major motorways being in a CAZ without a major alternative in my lifetime, the Trucking lobby would not allow it and IF they went on strike the country would close down!

They were very close to going ahead. The project was only cancelled because it was late.

Why would trucking care? The lobby is owned by the big firms that all run relatively new fleets. If anything, it would reduce their competition and they could do a bit of green washing at the same time.

 

[Kups]

Ours is a Fiat 2.3L 160BHP with a manual box + cruise control. Euro 6 with Ad Blu.

Much better than the 120BHP standard.

Prefer the manual gearbox as it give control on downhill but the converse is having to change down on hills.

 

[L' Hobo]

They were very close to going ahead. The project was only cancelled because it was late.

Why would trucking care? The lobby is owned by the big firms that all run relatively new fleets. If anything, it would reduce their competition and they could do a bit of green washing at the same time.

I wonder why it was late?

Coaches going into London now, ALL have to be ULEZ compliant, the main people who have benefitted are the coach companies OUTSIDE London who can buy nearly knew Coaches at knock down price that will never go into London.

You believe what you want, I don't think I will change my opinion but I might have done had the Authorities included the M25, they could have made a fortune!

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[Guigsy]

I wonder why it was late?

Partly because they needed thousands of ANPR cameras. The Birmingham scheme was struggling to procure the meer dozens they needed due to supply chain issues.

 

[gerry mcg]

I’d personally avoid a Euro5 diesel now as they are becoming persona non grata in more and more places - get a Euro6 motor - Unfortunately that rules out the Fiat 3L and you gave to get the Fiat 2.3L.
We have an early Euro6 150hp 2.3L Euro 6 and it does not have and blue, but has a timing belt rather than a chain.
That said, it pulls very well

 

[TrudeandDall]

Bit of a sweeping comment Lenny, Our MK8 Tranny hasn't missed a beat in nearly 5 years. Secret is to get Ford to service them every year rather than every two and Ford have now changed the belt life specs so they're changed earlier. They also changed the oil specs June 2021 for vans built after that. It's now 5W - 30 rather than the 0W - 30 I have in mine.

The 140 Fiat is naff, Ok I suppose in a 3500kg but you'd need the 9 speed on it if you planned on towing, as you say the 180 9 speed is the way to go but not everyone can afford the near on extra £7 grand to have the two.

I have a feeling though that the OP is looking at something a little older. That for me would mean looking for an MJII 150, I'd not go near a Puma powered moho.

I'm looking forward to trying both the new 8 speeds.

Bit of a contradiction when you say the 140 is naff but okay in 3500 kg van - which is the size that the OP asked about. What makes the 140 naff?

 

[Guigsy]

They also changed the oil specs June 2021 for vans built after that. It's now 5W - 30 rather than the 0W - 30 I have in mine.

The issue was that very specific oil had to be used to prevent the belt from turning to mush and blocking the oil system. You can't use any old 5W-30... but not many garages take notice. They'll use whatever is in the bulk tank.

 

[Pausim]

The 140 Fiat is naff,

The new Fiat 2.2 140 is far from naff and very well suited to the size of vehicle it is intended for. I really enjoy driving mine, what experience do you have on which to base this adverse comment?

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[CAB96]

It wasn't long ago that pretty much the whole of the Greater Manchester, including the motorways to get past it, were going to be in a CAZ.

It excluded the motorways.

But not the A57/A628 at the end of the M67!

 

[L' Hobo]

Partly because they needed thousands of ANPR cameras. The Birmingham scheme was struggling to procure the meer dozens they needed due to supply chain issues.

Well that was the press release?

 

[B-JandBella]

As with any engine on any vehicle, if you look after it well it will run for 100's of thousands of miles.
Just give it lot's of LOVE!

 

[swemmy666]

When Reform gets in they'll scrap the net zero plans anyway and we'll be FREE again Less than 5 years of unpleasantness to go

and how long afterwards will the first "camp" open?

 

[gus-lopez]

i thought 2.2 belt 2.3 is chain drive

Other way around

My Google navigation said the route it had planned through France last month included an emission zone. I just selected OK so the warning went away I've got the sticker in the windscreen (forgot what it's called now, yellow No. 2 )

That is all I do.
My 2,2tdci transit is on 305,000 kms. good as gold

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[Freo]

i thought 2.2 belt 2.3 is chain drive

As far as I know, the Fiat 2.3L is defo a cam belt drive. Dunno about the 2.2, though.

 

[swemmy666]

" yellow No. 2 "

best change your diet!

 

[Pausim]

As far as I know, the Fiat 2.3L is defo a cam belt drive. Dunno about the 2.2, though.

The new Fiat 2.2 litre is a toothed timing belt.
Edit. Needs replacing at 5 years or 3 years in tough use conditions.

 

[Jonno1103]

The new Fiat 2.2 140 is far from naff and very well suited to the size of vehicle it is intended for. I really enjoy driving mine, what experience do you have on which to base this adverse comment?

Too much experience. Is it manual or auto? This would determine whether it has 350Nm or 380Nm. Which in any van users book is poor for a 2.2. It's had the life strangled out of it to reach E6 Final standards. A 140 with AT is great at 3500kg, not the manual.

Even the 180 bolted to a MT box only has 380Nm, do you really want that combo tugging your 5000kg tag axle?

The MJIII has proved so popular that Stellantis dropped both the 120 & 160 soon after launch and will be inveiling a new engine for 2025 & and a new auto gearbox.

It's why Ducato van sales have plummeted and why now Stellantis group all of their van sales - Fiat, Peugeot, GM & Toyota together in order to make their figures look half decent.

They are the 3rd most expensive base vehicle out there, for that I want more... and I don't mean dashboard toys and convenience gadgets such as electronic handbrakes and tyre pressure sensors.

 

[TonyEmm]

Is it common to find that unit on a van plated at 3,500 kg?

Our Rapido 7095df is 3.0lt, no adblue, no cambelt and was plated at 3,500kgs.
I’ve uprated it to 3,700kgs at DVLA, (needs a C1 licence) but VED is down to £165..

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[L' Hobo]

Our Rapido 7095df is 3.0lt, no adblue, no cambelt and was plated at 3,500kgs.
I’ve uprated it to 3,700kgs at DVLA, (needs a C1 licence) but VED is down to £165..

But as a PHGV, doesn't it cost you commercial rates if you stray into London £100 per day, instead of the £12.50 if registered as a Motorcaravan?
Sorry for going off thread but everyone points out the benefits of PHGV but none of the downside.