Trooper 3.1TD Vs Frontera 2.2 Dti

[BoxCleva]

Ok , just running something around in my head and wondered if anyone could fill in the blanks for me.

I'm looking at pro and cons of a Trooper 3.1 against a 2.2Dti.

The positives for the Trooper as I see it are the following:
Less fragile fuel pump
No DMF
Better towing vehicle
Possibility of running a WVO mix

Positives for the Frontera over the Trooper :
better MPG ?
better Performance ?

and it's here I need you to fill in the blanks please


Cheers

[Drift]

2.2DTI better refined and power, better on fuel.

3.1 (early version) basically the same as the 2.8 with a bit more low down grunt but a good bit more thirsty, though easier to work on than the fly by wire later version.

Isuzu brought out the Trooper 30td to get more refinement and power but they had the small issue of injectors seeing their backside and running on, on engine oil until something blew up (free recall though, top marks Isuzu).

[BoxCleva]

Does the 3.1 have the same issues as the 3.0 ?

[Drift]

Nope, totality different engines

[RatCav]

I am going to try and be as honest and unbiased as possible here

Trooper 3.1:
Good
After you have ripped the EGR's off and given it a bloody good service will return you up to 30mpg.
If an LWB could well carry more to to the larger boxy shape.
Parts are dirt cheap and avaiable from both Vauxhall and Isuzu if needed.
All Troopers and Montereys are the same. Made in the same factory and everything in Tokyo.
The "Import" Troopers that were oringinally sold in Japan and then imported over here tend to be in far better condition as they haven't been subjected to the salty roads we have.
Post 1995 Troopers had slightly more power.
No dodgy electronics, ECU's and the like ... just straight forward 12vdc.
You can slap a set of 31's on Frontera series A alloys and they wont rub even without lifting.
Lotus Editions have uprated front torsion bars, tougher leaf's and harder shocks i.e. they don't wallow as much.
Bad
Front/rear cross members and body mounts are the first place they rot, and have a tendancy to do so, but a weekend of wire brushing, rust preventative and a thick coat of hammerite or waxoly will sort it out. Many a Mk.II and Mk.III Trooper has found itself in the scrapper because of this.
Post 1995 Auto gearbox Import models have an electic fuel pump that is a pain when it goes wrong. All others use the tried and tested mechanical Bosch VE pump.
Pre 1995 Troopers had slightly less power.
The later SOTF models suffer the same issuse the Frontera SOTF system (perished vacuum pipes etc) Not a big issue, just annoying.


As for the 2.2 I will leave you to look on the forum. This is just from what I have learnt on the Trooper forums. Personally I wouldn't go for any Frontera unless it were a 2.3, 2.8, or 3.2 V6. It seems all the others have some fundamental flaw with them in one way or another i.e. 2.2 petrol blows headgaskets and manifolds with each season, the 2.5 is it which is fine but knowing my luck I would end up having to spend £1000 on a new fuel pump etc etc.

As said Just my opinion, and trying to be as honest as possible.

[BoxCleva]

Cheers RC , I was hoping you may pop up on this one.


Ok, so here's a hypothetical plan.

I get a '98 ish LWB 3.1 Trooper. Biggest downside that I can see is the MPG. However if I run it on a partial WVO mix (50/50 for example) I would more than recoup the extra MPG that the 2.2Dti advantage the Fronty has. The only other drawback for me is I really like the 4WD button on the dash. I know it's lazy, but I like it.

Hmmm, going to put some thought into this.

Thanks folks.

[Drift]

Auto hubs act almost the same but no vac lines and they are fine for laning, they just need good servicing and nothing over extreme.
At 98 you will get the fly by wire 3.1 and I think they have the SOFT system (needs confirming)

If your doing your own WVO its a messy business, I have de-waxed a fuel pump twice this winter on a Musso as it went so cold and that had a heater we fitted in line just before the pump.

[RatCav]

[BoxCleva]

[Drift]

I thought at the time he was on 50/50 but he admitted it was 25D/75WVO and £5 of petrol but I reckon at the temps we had in mid December 50/50 would have given the same issue.

[BoxCleva]

Even if I ran it 50/50 from March to October the savings would be huge though wouldn't they. Just need to look into the cost of the filtering kit.

[RatCav]

1998 Troopers have a lazy person 4wd button. You Frontera B owners nicked it for your Vauxhalls.

3.1's from what I have read will run on WVO, but it has to be properly filtered and seperated (as Drifty says). Also as Drifty says it can gank up when it gets chillier.

What is the average mpg of a 2.2DTi then?

[BoxCleva]

Dti - mix of driving low to mid 30's

[Drift]

Now here you hit the crux, budget for at least two fuel filters a year, three when you start, then 50, 10 and 1 micron filters to get animal fats out, big tanks and settle tanks and taps to drain water excess out and heaters to stop the oil gelling and solidifying, this is as basic as you can get as the better your filter system the better return, depending where you get your oil and what its been used for and how long you could get anything from 60 to 80 litres of usable WVO fuel from 100 litres, then take into account the cost of the fuel as many commercial companies pay around 20p a litre to remove WVO for recycling

[RatCav]

That does trump the Trooper then ... but not by much. Personally if I were offered the choice between a Mk.IIor Mk.III 3.1 Trooper and a 2.2 DTi I would go for the Trooper anyday ... purley for the reliabilty factor of the engine and to be honest its easy to squeeze a few more miles out of a tank as I proved with mine (its a 2.8 but I am getting 35 mpg now I have made a few changes and tweaks). If I wasn't worried about economy I would see which would come up first and buy a 3.2 V6 (used in both Trooper and Frontera). If I were offered a 3.1 Trooper or 2.8 Frontera I would go Frontera.

See I ain't biased after all

[BoxCleva]

Hmmm, I may do some calcs on what savings I'd get from new veg oil then. Less grief.

[Drift]

For the effort, new is not really worth the hassle, its pretty much £20 for 20l in Makro, then your filters cost, though you would save 30 per litre at the moment plus £10 or £15 on filters.

[RatCav]

New veg oil is by far better. Also look at chinese supermarkets and Lidl etc. They do bulk and its a lot cheaper. I have a buddy with a 2.4 TD Hilux pick-up. He noticed the difference just chucking a litre of New Veg oil in a tank. He said it seemed to clear everything out ... but then he also said it might of been his imagination, but diod some calculations and reckoned he gets 1-2 mpg more now.

[BoxCleva]

Based on my current mileage i'd save £13 a week with new veg oil x 40 warm weather weeks = £520 p.a. less fuel filter costs. Not too bad.

[Drift]

Veg oil will clean out your tank in no time, hence the regular fuel filter changes, I doubt it would give better miles per gallon as the calorific value will be lower than straight diesel.