The TUD5 installation in the Mk 2 106 was almost perfect - optimal gearing, low weight, reasonable drag and a Bosch mechanical fuel system. We have one in the family which is still running well at 166k miles with no engine attention other than maintenance. It gives similar economy to yours.

I have always respected FIAT as petrol engine producers but have found their dealer representation and other aspects of vehicle detailing to be fundamentally lacking. Consequently, as fuel became dearer and our "fleet" became exclusively diesel, this maker didn't get a look in.

Diesel engine (and especially fuel system) design is very specialised and few makers get it right. My experience suggests that only the French and the Germans can produce good passenger car diesel engines with PSA and VW at the top of the list. Even these makers have produced some "lemons" (2.0 axial PD anyone?) and careful Internet research is needed. Ford seem to mess up the applications engieering of PSA designs and the Japanese produce European fuel systems under licence and don't always get it right.

It's a minefield, but if the FIAT fails to meet its stipulated performance figures, take it back.

659.

Edited by 659FBE on 17/12/2012 at 12:27

Well maybe things are looking up. On its second tankful it's done 66mpg. So I think I'd better just stop moaning. But it does make you wonder what all this technology really achieves. More money for the dealership I guess, and lower CO2 emissions. But the official combined for the 106 (the old test protocols) was only about 55mpg, and in real life it was far better than that. Everyone i've asked who actually bothers to measure their newer cars' mpg finds that they are always worse than the claimed value. Maybe the EU fixes the test protocol to make its carbon emissions look better.

Thanks craig-pd130, that sounds like a good plan. And leaks in that tract wouldn't show up as any sort of OBD readable fault I guess since no electronic components would know about it. I'll check it.

While I'm on here, can anyone recommend a useful OBD fault code reader that would be able to reset the service interval indicator on the panda? I would like to carry on doing my own servicing and oil changes, but don't want to take it to a Fiat dealer to have the indicator reset, as it tells you to in the Haynes manual I just bought.

Also, the Haynes says you can't jack it up anywhere other than the normal wheel-changing jacking points, and as usual that you shouldn't get uinderneath without putting it on stands. How does one reconcile those two instructions? I used to jack up the front of the 106 on the front frame where bottom wishbones attached, and at the back with a bit of "chassis" above where spare wheel stowed, and it told you this in the haynes. Perhaps i'm supposed to ask my fiat dealer if they'll rent out their 4 post lift.

Of course I'm not just a moaning old git.