Are short town trips bad for DID?

[David V]

Hi all.

Our family is on the lookout for another Pajero.

After reading many posts it seems the DID is great for medium to long trips, but if used in town on many short trips it may not be great. Could anyone verify this for me.

I'm really leaning toward a NP or newer manual diesel as I have heard so many great reviews etc. My potential problem is that my work involves multiple town trips anywhere from 4kms to 15kms up to 10 times a day - this includes taking kids to school and back as well.

My wife and I, and boys, are very happy with the Pajero and really want another one. Looking at diesel as we may get a caravan in the near future.

Any thoughts would be apreciated.

Thanks

David

[MTN-KAT]

In a word "YES".
They are more problematic in that they get more carboned/sooted up. After all they are a sooty engine to begin with. Came from an industrial background where they run all day, happily. Dealers in the UK advise new car buyers not to buy diesel if they do mostly short trips.
The emissions from modern petrol engines is less toxic than diesel. Don't see clouds of black smoke emitted from petrol engine under acceleration but even new diesels do this. Oil burners they are. To make matters worse the quality of diesel in Aus is poor or so I have read.
The Chinese SUV brand HAVAL was to be all diesel but were switched to petrol at the last minute due to global rejection of diesel powered cars in the city. India, Paris, London etc have moved in this direction so for a global vehicle manufacturer like HAVAL who want to sell vehicles globally have decided the future is petrol, especially now with 8 speed autos and turbos to go. The HAVAL H9 is a good example with 2 litre petrol engine and got in the top ten 4x4 list second year in a row.
Alternatives for you? Your right in the era where the world was told diesel will save the planet (how that flew I will never understand) so the petrol engine got dropped for a few years but it's back. You could look at a 3.8 litre V6 but expect higher fuel consumption than the current 3.5 litre you are feeding. Considering you plan to tow a caravan (which the 3.8 V6 will do) you buy diesel knowing there will be desooting (is that a word?) expenses, and if the diesel motor ever dies they are three times as expensive to repair over the petrol. Turbos and diesel pumps cost thousands each too but not so on the 3.8 V6 petrol. OOOH I can hear the diesel guns being cocked now. It's best you make your choice with eyes wide open. Cheers.

[NTBenny]

Shots fired, shots fired. Damn these petrol lovers. Jokes.

From what I've read diesels with a DPF block up if only being driven on short trips. If you do go diesel then try to get one with no DPF.

Benny.

[Having Fun]

We have had an auto 3.8 petrol NP for 3 years & a manual 2.5L turbo diesel Ute for 8 years.



The Ute short trips most days. Never does a long trip unless we're on holiday in it. No soot issues as yet. I have not blocked the EGR.


The NP is a great car, far more comfortable & drive-able than the Ute. But when it tows a caravan the fuel usage makes my eyes water!

[NFT5]

In a word "YES".
They are more problematic in that they get more carboned/sooted up.

Oh? Where?

My Pajero does short trips of around 4km each way to and from work each day.

After 5 years it is no sootier than when new in the intake manifold. The exhaust doesn't seem any sootier than any other and it only blows clouds of black smoke when I plant the foot and put it under load - just like it did when new.

As for engine wear, oil does get changed more regularly than required in the book servicing, recognising that this is a more "severe" application.

The one thing that does happen is that the battery doesn't get enough time with engine running to fully charge. This means that it needs periodic connection to a charger to keep it topped up. I haven't noticed any soot in the battery.

[KiwiNTPajero]

It has long been the case that diesels are much more happy with longer runs.I rarely do less than 25 ks at a time. and prolly 10 to 15 mins of that are at 100 kms .hr.

[Plez]

I haven't noticed any soot in the battery.

I laughed at that a lot more than I should have

[Pajshomoneroguntero]

A little soot about the thread though after the flaming

[littleriver]

Mazda just released the Cx8 diesel.. Thinks diesel will be around a lot longer then some are forecasting ...

..

[Nab]

I wouldn't worry about the soot issue. I had my NP 3.2 for over 5 years, did lots of short trips in between the big trips towing the camper, it drove the same when I sold it as it did when I sold it.


One issue withe the NP 3.2 is the injector pump issue. While not super common, a few on this forum have failed and you are up for around a $6k repair bill unless you can get a good secondhand one. I would go for a NT onwards if you can.

[Seigried]

I do short trips almost all the time. Having said that both of the cars get a good run on the weekends etc

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[David V]

Thanks everyone for your answers. Still undecided.

Thinking maybe I will go for a cheaper older Pajero 3.5 manual and recon the engine if needed. Just don’t have the cash for anything over $12000 at the moment - kids school fees too exy.

Thanks

David

[rykiel575]

I sold my pajero 3.2 and am now running petrol. The diesel would take a long time to get up to temp and when i drove it to the station itd still be not up to temp..

No good.

[erad]

For what it is worth, my NW diesel takes at least 20 km of travel at 100 km/h on fairly flat country before it reaches 85 Deg C. Short runs are a no no for me - we use out Outlander as a shopping trolley and the Pajero for longer trips, although of late the Outie has been used for some longer (1000+ km) trips. But I much prefer the Pajero anyway...

[Dicko1]

For what it is worth, my NW diesel takes at least 20 km of travel at 100 km/h on fairly flat country before it reaches 85 Deg C. Short runs are a no no for me - we use out Outlander as a shopping trolley and the Pajero for longer trips, although of late the Outie has been used for some longer (1000+ km) trips. But I much prefer the Pajero anyway...

You must be driving in very cold conditions. My NW Paj takes about 8 klms of 60-80 klm/hr driving to get to 87. Around 26 degrees outside. Friends Nw also takes the same time.