Dr. Dre wrote:samdoe wrote:Dr dre am not discouraging you but please check with your mechanic about European diesel engine vehicles. They seem to have a problem with injector pumps a few months after a few kilometres on our roads. I have seen a few audis and vw at the garage with this same problem. Our diesel is too dirty for these vehicles. A pal imported a BMW X5 diesel engine ex uk and never uses it outside Nairobi as it can bring issues along the way For The Same Problem.
Good advice. Does it mean ex-Japan vehicles(where most Kenyans source from)run smoothly with our fuel?
That they do. In fact many reviews (South African especially) sing praises to the Toyota Prado for its ability to run on what the call Africa's "sludge diesel" and withstand dust.
The truth is, fuel that comes here is not purified to extremely high levels like happens in Europe, leaving Sulphur and other undesirable chemicals in. That is cause Europe has strict emissions controls and the Japanese are just fuel perfectionists. Again due to these emissions controls, European diesels are built with a lot of sensors so that the electronic engine management systems can work. Over here, impure fuel and dust affects those sensors and engines start acting up. Japanese are not too crazy about all this sensor business so they build hardier models.
That being said, regular and top notch service should help. Not all diesels conk out, my boss has a Touareg going for 6 years now and he says he had no problems. Many who experience problems either i) are reckless or leave the car to rot ii) get a unit that had lived a hard life in Europe and hadn't got parts serviced and replaced properly:
I see many Touaregs around these days. Even ones that have been on Kenyan roads 4 or 5 years. That probably says that the model, with care, can withstand our fuel challenges more often than not. In any case, the heart wants what the heart wants. You will not be happy with a Japanese diesel
This fuel thing is a risk you will just have to take.
Still. Dont take a Touareg to Rhino Charge, hire a Prado instead. Good luck.
Disclosure: I am not a mechanic, just a car enthusiast who asks other owners their experience and reads a lot.