Which engine is best and less hassle for 3500kg moho? (17 Viewers)

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Jun 12, 2022
11
2
Blackburn, UK
Funster No
89,224
MH
Ducato
Exp
Newbie
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
 
May 7, 2016
7,979
13,600
West Sussex
Funster No
42,951
MH
Malibu Van 640 LE K
Exp
Since 2003
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.
The 8 speed auto gearbox is new for 2025 but the engine is the same 2.2l Multijet 3 in the current Series 9 with the 9 speed box.
 
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Feb 14, 2021
4,219
9,539
Milton Keynes, UK
Funster No
79,219
MH
Burstner Lyseo 727G
Exp
3 years 30,000 miles UK and Europe.. Campsites and off Grid.
Strange thread this. We are comparing engines from widely different ages from a old 2.8/3.0 litres to brand new 2.2's. Confusion between old 2.2's and new 2.2's. Surely you wouldn't base buying a motorhome on an engine.

Age/budget/layout should come first and then see what the engine options are within that.
 
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Sep 26, 2019
332
486
Funster No
64,755
MH
AutoSleeper Broadway
Exp
Since 2013
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
Had my 3L, cam chain for 10 years now, and I love it. Lots of power and just about 30mpg on a good day.
 
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68c

Oct 22, 2019
1,936
3,037
Southampton
Funster No
65,959
MH
2001 Pilote 270
Exp
Since 2004
Watson and Lovelock and their " Daisy World' theory in 1983, proposed a climate change model based on white and black daisies. White reflect the sun and cool the planet, black the opposite. White daisies like the heat, and of course the black ones prefer cold. By thriving or not they control the planet' temperature. To a degree!

Humans raise the temperature, water level rises, civilisation collapses so less humans, less fires, more clouds from larger oceans reflect the sun so planet cools. Humans thrive again and........

Just needs regular destruction of civilisation or a more intelligent top species and all is well.
 
Upvote 0
Jan 9, 2014
194
379
Scotland
Funster No
29,628
MH
Rapido 803F
Exp
Since 2006
Had my 3L, cam chain for 10 years now, and I love it. Lots of power and just about 30mpg on a good day.
Jeez, I got just under 19mpg from the 3L Ducato X250 I had. It did run well, it has to be said, but greedy.
(I did manage to get just over 20mpg in Spain and Portugal due to the lower speed limits.) 😏
 
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Mar 26, 2021
116
99
Worcestershire, UK
Funster No
80,001
MH
Burstner A645 Active
I had some problems routing my way across France to Dieppe from Switzerland last week avoiding both toll roads and emissions zones. Fortunately my Garmin Camper SatNav was up to the task and asked me did I want to avoid them which, being in a 2007 van, I did. it told me that it was impossible to avoid EMZs in the outskirts of Paris but could route me via Rheims. So I chose that option. The route was a stop/start torture and quite unpleasant. So I would most definitely appreciate a Euro 6 engine but have no plans to shell out the significant sums for me to upgrade atm.

P.S. For anybody else with the same dilemma (but with a Swiss vignette which is the only bit of road paying I do) I will in future take the toll free German motorway from Basel to North of Strasbourg (or just maybe the toll free bit of the French A35) then cut across to Luxembourg then dive across from somewhere south of Charleroi in Belgium to Dieppe. Looks like a long way round but the roads will be toll free, speedy and free of emissions zones.
not forgetting that fuel is quite a lot cheaper in Luxemburg too!

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Sep 12, 2021
29
35
Funster No
84,131
MH
T708sl
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
I have had a 2.3l ducato engine and a 3l ducato engine. The 3l wins hands down. More powerful, more economical and much less gear changing. W and n cam belt to change.
 
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Dec 18, 2022
98
117
Funster No
92,940
MH
Autotrail
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.
The thing that really surprised me about the 9 speed is how well it does downhill engine braking; handy as I'm towing. The one time I'dprefer a manual is pulling out on roundabouts where I like to be able to go 'boyracer' for a mo.
 
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Dec 2, 2019
4,690
10,444
South Lincolnshire
Funster No
67,140
MH
Rapido 7065+
Exp
Broken most bits now
Jeez, I got just under 19mpg from the 3L Ducato X250 I had. It did run well, it has to be said, but greedy.
(I did manage to get just over 20mpg in Spain and Portugal due to the lower speed limits.) 😏
😱 Must of had a fault or you drive like a Beemer owner. Just completed about 3500 miles around Italy France etc and averaged 29.3mpg without using toll roads.
 
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Dec 18, 2022
98
117
Funster No
92,940
MH
Autotrail
Watson and Lovelock and their " Daisy World' theory in 1983, proposed a climate change model based on white and black daisies. White reflect the sun and cool the planet, black the opposite. White daisies like the heat, and of course the black ones prefer cold. By thriving or not they control the planet' temperature. To a degree!

Humans raise the temperature, water level rises, civilisation collapses so less humans, less fires, more clouds from larger oceans reflect the sun so planet cools. Humans thrive again and........

Just needs regular destruction of civilisation or a more intelligent top species and all is well.
It may have already happened. Or at least science can be sure it hasn't
 
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Aug 30, 2022
79
48
Funster No
90,969
MH
Chausson 640 Titaniu
Exp
Since 2018
I would only buy a van that had a camchain and did not have Adblue.
Am I correct thinking that if not Adblue it won’t meet any ULEZ requirements in any cities charging and the several considering it? Don’t all Euro V1 motors run with Adblue as a necessity, unless it’s petrol of course but that’d be a pretty rare thing in any sizeable Moho

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Aug 30, 2022
79
48
Funster No
90,969
MH
Chausson 640 Titaniu
Exp
Since 2018
i ll go for dealer ,when i asked to private seller for hab check they always giving some excuse , and to be honest going to dealer looks like cheaper than private sellers ,, and after all thinking it has only 2 layout type left on list and one is ford engine other is fiat.. fiat sitting position higher than fords and but 90% use ducato engine,, just lately i saw many ford engine moho for sale ,, just wanted to know ppls ideas ,, tnx
Done close on 20k in 5 years in Ford 170bhp with proper auto box (not any comfortmatic or similar), it’s averaged 29.2 from new on a 4.4T Moho. There’s lots of manufacturers not using Ford both manual and auto, just check late 2018-2019 that they’ve had the injectors replaced under warranty on those covered by recalls- it wasn’t all of them btw
 
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May 7, 2016
7,979
13,600
West Sussex
Funster No
42,951
MH
Malibu Van 640 LE K
Exp
Since 2003
Am I correct thinking that if not Adblue it won’t meet any ULEZ requirements in any cities charging and the several considering it? Don’t all Euro V1 motors run with Adblue as a necessity, unless it’s petrol of course but that’d be a pretty rare thing in any sizeable Moho
The ULEZ and other emissions zones seem to exempt all Euro 6 engines. Euro 6 was obtainable without AdBlue until 2019 when proper testing was introduced. The Euro 6 standard didn’t change in 2019, they just introduced new tests that showed up the questionability of the non AdBlue diesel systems.
 
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May 7, 2016
7,979
13,600
West Sussex
Funster No
42,951
MH
Malibu Van 640 LE K
Exp
Since 2003
Upvote 0
Jan 17, 2014
1,453
2,772
Wellington, Telford, Shropshire
Funster No
29,731
MH
Van Conversion
Exp
Since 1977
I would only buy a van that had a camchain and did not have Adblue.
Sounds like a plan but I'm afraid the days of no Adblue are on their way out. BUT there was a VW engine that has no belts or chains and no Adblue, I owned one, it was a 2.5litre five cylinder and it was great. Ancillaries were either gear driven or via Gates couplings.

I'm currently driving a 2023 MAN TGE (VW Crafter in disguise) with a 2 litre 177ps 8 speed auto. The auto is a conventional torque converter box not the VW DSG and it drives beautifully. The engine has a belt driven cam and etc. which now has a change mileage of over 100,000 miles although I doubt I will trust it for that long.
 
Last edited:
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Nov 25, 2021
49
27
Funster No
85,598
MH
Adria Campervan
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
I have a 2.8 Jtd (2004) which I’m sure has a cam belt.

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Sep 26, 2019
332
486
Funster No
64,755
MH
AutoSleeper Broadway
Exp
Since 2013
I would have to buy second hand to get the engine I wanted.

That and it would probably be Euro V

Mercedes 3 litre V6

I’ve had two of the Euro IV versions. Brilliant engine but for the glow plug issues
I don't have any experience of this engine. However Mercedes 3l V6 sounds to me like a good choice.
 
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Feb 14, 2021
4,219
9,539
Milton Keynes, UK
Funster No
79,219
MH
Burstner Lyseo 727G
Exp
3 years 30,000 miles UK and Europe.. Campsites and off Grid.
I was just pointing out that not all 2.2l Ducatos have a chain. Mine doesn’t.

You are all comparing apples with pears here! There was a 2.2 Fiat engine in the 2000's and there is a new 2.2 engine in current Flats. They are not the same by a long chalk!!!
 
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Feb 5, 2024
234
421
Funster No
101,061
MH
Etrusco CV540 DB
I have the new 2.2l engine with 9 speed auto in my Fiat Ducato based PVC. It is the top of the range 180 hp variant and now that it is run in with over 8k miles on the clock it performs brilliantly. Plenty of power for brisk overtakes of trucks and other slower vehicles on rural roads in Spain, and powers up the steep gradients on some of the French and Spanish motorways without losing speed. A real pleasure to drive. On motorway stints at 70-80 mph it is getting 24-25 mpg and 27-29 on slower roads. Could probably do better if I was not exploiting the performance quite so much!

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Jan 27, 2018
2,856
2,297
Northampton
Funster No
52,151
MH
Rapido & Bongone
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.
Remapped which engine and vintage ? IM looking for someone with a mapped twin egr and thier experience so far.
 
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