96 1.9 TDi low power problems

[dexterbuzz]

Just picked up a very cheap '96 Toledo with the 1.9 TDi engine.

It is drastically low on power under 2000 revs. After 2K it gets a move on OK, till 4000 when it's all gone again.

Is this usual or is something amiss?

I guess it's going to need an air/fuel/oil filter change and have some injector cleaner run thru it, but is there anything else that I should be looking at?

Many thanks for any opinions/advice

 

[Muttley]

Sounds pretty normal. That early it will be the TDI 90 engine, 90 BHp, with a wastegate turbo. The turbo won't deliver much boost below 2k, and all diesels run out of power between 4 and 5 K.

 

[dexterbuzz]

cheers dude

Would that account for it revving slowly? When you rev the engine it seems to rev so slowly, like a really old agricultural diesel. Is this usual for this car?

 

[Muttley]

Not sure what you mean by revving slowly. You can't get more power out of a diesel by increasing the revs like you can a petrol engine, the combustion process is different and all that happens is you get a lot of smoke out of the back, and lower power. Best power in the TDI 90 is between 2000 and 4000 rpm.

 

[dexterbuzz]

I've had/got other diesel cars and you normally get a fairly quick response when you press the throttle, i.e. press the throttle and the engine will rev.

With this, it's like press the throttle and there's a distinct lag before the engine will rev and the revs rise very slowly.

I'll have to go find someone that's got a similar one so I can compare!

 

[Muttley]

OK, well that's not right. Turbo wastegate not closing or EGR not closing completely would be my guesses? Doesn't sound like a boost leak, that would get worse as revs rise.

 

[ToledoRaj]

Is it the same if you disconnect the MAF? It sound like what my polo tdi was doing and it was the MAF