Diesel beats my V6 on every score

[edwardmk]

Originally Posted by MissMoppet

I've always treated the V6 as my fun car as it replaced a Stag, and I only use it around town. However yesterday I thought it deserved a decent run so we took it on a 200 mile round motorway trip. (mpg 35.3; diesel would have been maybe 42mpg on a similar run).


Dave

My ZTT just delivered 22mpg. I consistently get 25mpg on similar runs with the V8. Clearly need to investigate. V8 has done 70k and the ZTT 140k. The Viz motors were upgraded. Any suggestions for low hanging fruit

[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by victorgte

Had my Scimitar GTE for 13 years with that engine. Best of both with low down grunt and it would rev happily when pushed. Lovely to drive as a manual with overdrive. Yes I miss it.

Yep I had a Scimitar with the Essex V6 lump back in the day. Cracking engine and a relatively light car - went very well together.

[Pueblo_Boy]

My neighbour just treated himself to a one year old BMW 3 series with a 2 litre diesel engine. I blithely mentioned to him "I see it has the same engine as my Tourer!" I think his is the 4 wheel drive M sport...0-62mph in under 7 seconds, 8 speed auto gearbox, and still returns over 50mpg!

Not quite the same engine as mine then...

[SD1too]

For KV6 owners who are worried about the performance of their engines, it's not only a case of fitting new VIS actuators. There are actually four things to check which affect engine response dramatically:

1. One or both VIS actuators faulty. This is the easy one which everyone tackles.
2. The balance flap sticks, usually in the mid position, causing poor mid range response and hill climbing. It requires easing using fine abrasive paper.
3. The power valve linkage can become disconnected from the actuator drive (possibly due to a failed or previously incorrectly fitted actuator, it's not inherently unreliable).
4. Blocked crankcase breather. There's a pinhole restriction in the cam cover of each bank which becomes blocked with carbon. The RH cover requires much dismantling to access which makes it one of those jobs which owners will do another day.

If all four of these items are attended to, your KV6 will perform superbly and put a huge smile on your face.

Simon

[macafee2]

what about the sound of a V6, this has to be better then a Diesel?

macafee2

[minty2]

The 2.5 V6 needs revving to get the best out of it and the automatic usually insists on changing up too early (even in sport mode) making acceleration a bit of a struggle at times, unless you shift manually or boot it. I don't know about the Diesel, but on the V6, the gearbox also habitually locks at around 68 MPH in Drive just when you don't want it to, so on motorways, I often don't let it go above 4th until I've reached 70-75. For sheer smoothness and ease of driving though, it beats the Diesel auto IMO. The V6's fuel consumption, admittedly, is far poorer; I never push mine and I rarely get much better than an average 28 MPG all round (mixed urban and motorway). I think both engines would definitely benefit from being married to a more modern automatic gearbox.

Originally Posted by MissMoppet

I've possibly been fortunate in being able to run a Tourer diesel (remapped 160; 135Kmiles) for the last 7 years plus a V6 2.5 (90K). They are both in fine fettle, both autos, and have almost identical specs, though the Tourer doesn't have the TV. (Come to think of it the V6 doesn't either).
I've always treated the V6 as my fun car as it replaced a Stag, and I only use it around town. However yesterday I thought it deserved a decent run so we took it on a 200 mile round motorway trip. (mpg 35.3; diesel would have been maybe 42mpg on a similar run).

Sadly I found it a poor second as at 70mph - and a smidgeon possibly beyond - it just seemed hard work (Yes the VIS motors are working) whereas the Tourer just eats up the miles and always seems eager to push on with little effort and particularly in Sports mode, will happily zoom off.
So if I were starting all over again I just wouldn't bother with a V6, just plump for a re-mapped diesel, and enjoy a far more satisfying drive.


Dave

[SideValve]

Definitely something amiss if you are running out of puff at 70.
I usually take it pretty steady but on the odd occasion I've had the opportunity it actually seems to really get into its stride as the revs get up above 3k.

[ADO282]

Mine is quite happy at speeds at or around the NSL, but I bet the exhaust note hasn't factored into the comparison with the diesel...........because the V6 wins over that every time........


They are simply different, diesels are all about torque, whereas V6 are all about smooth delivery of power in a statesmanlike fashion.

[roverbarmy]

I drive very steadily (ex HGV and hearse driver!) but on the odd occasions that I have let the old girl (V6 auto) have her head (Oops!) she growls like a lioness, kicks me in the pants and gives most Euroboxes a run for their money. I have done all the bits as advised above by the way! Sport mode makes it sound even better (how do I know that?).

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by minty2

The 2.5 V6 needs revving to get the best out of it and the automatic usually insists on changing up too early (even in sport mode) making acceleration a bit of a struggle at times ....

Hi David,

Once you've carried out the maintenance I described in post no. 14 you'll notice a transformation. Remember also that the automatic gearbox is (allegedly) "adaptive".

Simon