Re: Swapping a diesel into a 5k question

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.pl>]

At 08:22 4.12.98 -0500, Chris Bishop wrote:

>When you say "TDI" are you referring to a 5k turbo diesel? TDI engines (as
>far as I know) are the *new* diesel engines with electronically enhanced
>injection systems. 

The electronic controls are not the most important feature of TDI engines.
"DI" here stands for "direct injection" - the fuel is injected directly
into the combustion chamber, unlike traditional diesel engines, which had
additional injection chamber. This results in much higher output while at
the same time greatly reducing fuel consumption. The idea of direct
injection is not new, such engines were used in trucks in the past, the
problem was high emissions and excessive noise and vibration. Thanks to
wide use of electronics Audi was able to solve those problems and in 1990
they introduced world's first car with TDI motor - it was 44-chassis audi
100 with 120hp 2.5l I5 engine.

>To the best of my knowledge,. VW/Audi does not make a
>"TDI" I5 engine. They make the 1.9 litre TDI 4cyl, and a V6 TDI. 

They don't make it any longer - but they did from 1990 to 1997. All I5 TDIs
have 2.5l displacement. First it had 120hp and 265Nm of torque (1990 only),
then 115hp with the same torque, then - after istalling variable vane turbo
- 140hp and 295Nm of torque. It was used in C4 Audi 100, also available
with quattro. Unfortunately, none of them were imported into USA, but they
are pretty popular in Europe. Many Americans think that TDI is a VW
invention - wrong! It was exclusively developed by Audi.

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)