S80: Engine what to check when buying a 2.0 diesel ?

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) have been front runners in diesel engine development for cars and I'd not be too deprecating about their engines. I ran Peugeot 406 Coupes for 16 years and friends in the Coupe Club who ran the 2.2 HDi version maintained that the engine punched above its weight and was virtually bullet proof. Some of the tuned examples would blow my mildly tuned 3 litre V6 away even though they only had 4 pots. I never had one myself, but I'd take the word of a 406 coupe enthusiast as gospel!

I don't disagree with anything you're saying but they're made to be cheap and easy to fix... Volvo engines are better engineered, if more complicated.

I actually think the 2.0D suits the older (04-10) V50/S40 platform quite well, provided it is well maintained, but in the heavier V70 it's under powered and doesn't suit that car.

[Tatsfield]

And I accept what you say. It was just that T5R92011 took a no holds barred critical approach towards PSA diesels that I felt was overly harsh in the way in which it was presented.

[Potski]

[QUOTE=Tannaton;2590932]I don't disagree with anything you're saying but they're made to be cheap and easy to fix... Volvo engines are better engineered, if more complicated.

Of course, there is a school of thought that says less complicated and easier to fix is actually a smart way to go. Complication is generally your enemy in the long term.

And lets not forget that French engineers are often a very pragmatic bunch that can come up with superb, simple (Which isn't the same as 'cheap') and easy to fix solutions that will stand up to incredible abuse without failing - Citroen 2CV anyone?

Complicated engineering solutions can look pretty silly (WW2 Panther/Tiger v's T34/Sherman