passat bluemotion 1.6

[oli]

hi was looking at the passat bluemotion a couple of months ago

it was the 2.L diesel and it only had a max pull of 1200kg,which is so light it would of been useless for pulling most vans

now they are bringing a new 1.6 L diesel out that has max pull of 1400kg

is it me or does this not add up

 

[Lutz]

No, it's not a contradiction. It could very well be that the 2 litre has cooling problems which severely limit the maximum permissible towload and that these problems simply do not exist with another engine, like the 1.6. It probably has nothing to do with power output of the respective engines.

 

[Morganic]

My wife has a new Golf with the 1.6 engine. From a performance point of view its gutless below 2000 revs so a heavier car like the Passat I think would struggle with this engine.

My 1.9 Skoda Octavia with the same bhp as the Golf, puts in the shade.

 

[Carl-GreyhoundsrUs]

Oli, having discussed the issue of the Passat Bluemotion with VW (UK) very recently as we are in the process of putting together a new car list, I have been assured that the performance of the 1.6 exceeds that of the 2.0. Its down to gearing and other tweeks that they have made. They have introduced the 1.6 as the emissions are much lower, meaning less tax for the company car driver (and of course because its better for the environment).

 

[Glenn_5132962]

These so called blue & green cars from various manufacturers are really just tweaked versions of the standard cars sold at an inflated price. On paper they are more economical & emit less C02 mainly through changes to the gear ratio's, tyres & in some cases deletion of power sapping kit like aircon. The way a manufactures measures c02 is in a lab controlled standard test. In real life these cars are probably no more efficient, & because of the gearing may well be useless at towing & might be awful to drive.

 

[Lutz]

Some 'Eco' versions of Vauxhall/Opel models have part of the radiator grille blanked off, which would have resulted in a serious engine cooling problem if the towloads were not reduced accordingly.

The same applies to LPG conversions as well, by the way

 

[oli]

hi thanks for all your repleys,its a new company car so will let you all know how it does when i get it

 

[emmerson2]

Sorry Lutz, I don't understand your comment re LPG. I've towed with LPG power for 12 years now and never had any problems.

What should I be worrying about?

 

[Lutz]

I'm not saying that all LPG conversions will result in a lower towload limit, but they can if components are added which adversely affect cooling airflow within the engine compartment or raise internal component temperatures.

Without doing a lot of searching I have found one example:

The Zafira 1.6 which normally has a 1000kg towload limit has this reduced to only 400kg after a (factory-fitted) gas conversion. I know neither of these two variants will be particularly appealing as towcars anyway, but it just serves to show as an example.

 

[emmerson2]

Lutz, I've not yet seen any LPG conversion which has any impact on the cooling system. The only connection between the two is that the vapouriser is linked into the heater hoses to provide heat to vapourise the gas quicker.

Why Vauxhall should make this distinction I know not, except perhaps that some LPG kits allegedly reduce power, which might be noticeable on this small engine. All my LPG cars have been in excess of 3.5 litres, so any power loss is undetectable on the road.Interesting, though.

 

[Lutz]

Maybe that is the reason, yes. The conversion reduces the power of the example in question from 103 to 93PS.

 

[Lutz]

Maybe that is the reason, yes. The conversion reduces the power of the example in question from 103 to 93PS.

However, whether a 10% reduction in power output alone can account for an over 50% reduction in towload is doubtful.

 

[emmerson2]

However, whether a 10% reduction in power output alone can account for an over 50% reduction in towload is doubtful.

Yes, strange that. Is it perhaps a case of the manufacturer covering his back, just in case of complaints?

 

[Lutz]

However, whether a 10% reduction in power output alone can account for an over 50% reduction in towload is doubtful.

That, on the other hand, is unlikely as the same model with the 1.6 turbo engine does not suffer from a similar reduction in towload when converted to gas.