Rob's DIESEL VW Polo Build thread

[Arragonis]

I'll be watching for the Grill Block, something I want to do on my VRS at some point.

Not sure about lowering. I know it will improve FE but I wonder about the insurance needing to know and no doubt raiding your wallet for an extra few quid, and also speed humps. We have ones round here that are just slightly smaller than the Pyramids. At the moment my ride height is quite high so I can straddle most of them without having to slow too much but the lowered roy bacers round here have to slow, stop, crawl, roar off and then repeat this 10 times to get to the end of my street.

Does your tank have the little vent thing in the side near the nozzle ? Pushing that during filling gets an extra gallon or so in. My latest 600+ tanks came from careful filling, although my average is (or was) creeping up quite well.

[320touring]

excellent to see that other folk in the uk are thinking similar ideas
I'm currently looking for a diesel vw/skoda/seat for ecomodding.
I was initially looking at an octavia with tdi or sdi lump, but this polo saloon seems positive too.
Is the sdi lump in the octavia the same as this polo?

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by 320touring

Is the sdi lump in the octavia the same as this polo?

I believe this is the older pre-DI IDI 1.9D unit. The IDI was also in the Skoda Felicia and SEAT Ibiza.

The SDI is also very good but beware this model as I think there was an issue with the Mk1 Octavia SDI in the gearbox area and it can be tricky to find a replacement, although I think the 1.6 Petrol gearbox was the same but is just as rare.

[robchalmers]

Yep the polo SDI and Octavia SDI got the same 63bhp torque monster straight diesel and long geared 'box. The Octy has a slight advantage on cabin space. You can pick up ex-taxi Octy SDI's which should just about be bedded in (100+thousand miles) pretty cheap!

edit: only the very early straight diesel Octy's ran the umwelt diesel (cracking engine ) but as stated for some unknown reason they dumped the VW diesel box to commonise it. it didn't like the idea of living off torque and when it was update to the PD-IDI they opened there arms to the VW 'box. most

[320touring]

i'm not too keen on an sdi in an octavia..i know it sips fuel and has plenty torque-but i dont think i'd be able to avoid thrashing it.

Moreover i think the octavia estates were only available in tdi form?
The cordoba vario is probably a good shout too-decent space but a bit amaller and more nimble.

Whats the best tdi engine code to look for, and do i want to avoid pd lumps?
Are there any easy id tricks to identify different tdi lumps?

Thanks

Neil

[Arragonis]

Cordoba Vario TDI is an ace car. Did 50K in 6 months in one as a company hack, the rear is quite useful in size too. The salloon ones seem to be a bit quieter at the rear, maybe less boom and echo...

[robchalmers]

You WANT a PD lump, they are the best to have, the earlier umwelts are good to but PDs either turbo (TDI) or Non-turbo (SDI) are better on fuel and emissons.

basically the umwelt is a mechanically fuel pump/injection system and the PD is a more advanced injection set-up

[320touring]

Originally Posted by robchalmers

You WANT a PD lump, they are the best to have, the earlier umwelts are good to but PDs either turbo (TDI) or Non-turbo (SDI) are better on fuel and emissons.

basically the umwelt is a mechanically fuel pump/injection system and the PD is a more advanced injection set-up

can the pd lump hack any veg oil action?
Do the pd lumps have specific engine codes?
How good are the factory maps in general-do they sacrifice some mpg and timing for dealing with poorer fuel?

Thanks for the advice!

[robchalmers]

PDs Don't like veggie sadly, alledgely Umwelts do but I'm too chicken to try it!

the maps are pretty good there is some fudging so that it can run on peruvian jungle juice but not to much, but there are some places now that can 'hone' a map into euro spec derv.

not too clued up on engine codes there were quite alot

with 90,95,100,105,110,115,130,150bhp turbo all had sub-versions, best probably checking on a specialist veedub forum

[320touring]

Cheers-started my own thread to avoid dragging yours off topic.

Pity re the veg. May have to look at mk2 golfs and older passats.

Good luck with the polo-i'll be keeping an eye on your adventures!