Just bought an Astra estate with the Isuzu TD engine. However, it's REALLY sluggish - ie can barely rev more than 3000, fails to keep up with even granny traffic and on the motorway flatout it refuses to go an ounce above 80.

Has anyone with diesel experience ever heard of this?

I'm new to all this diesel stuff, but could it be any of these:

1) I've heard the cat/exhaust on these can become clogged if it doesn't get a blast/long run for a long time - leading to really bad performance. Anyone heard of this? If so, what is the cure?

2) Do diesels get a lot slower if they've missed some services? I have a suspicion the car has missed some, but I've no idea if that should make a difference.

3) Can fuel additives/injector cleaners make a difference?

4) Anything else!?

Would greatly appreciate your advice from any diesel fans out there....

It might be worth using some injector cleaner. When you start it from cold, does it start more or less on the button?

Nath

Yup, starts immediately no problem - and no smoke out the back either. Only problem is the severe lack of power!

Ive seen this before, stick some injector cleaner in, best buy in bulk though as it'll only cure it for a while.

However, you have got to remember that this engine is old technology as it was used in the older Astra's and Cavaliers, from memory I think they are about 75bhp, which isn't alot in an Astra Estate...

Cheers,
Grant

Well, found out what it was! Got pretty dangerous for a while, top speed went down to 50 and by the day I booked it into the garage 35mph!

I had of course had all the filters changed, but the Vauxhall main dealer found that part of the fuel filter housing had a misplaced seal that was blocking off the fuel supply.

Seals sorted and power restored.

Thanks guys!

Just got to hope the engine didnt damaged through running lean now :)

The introduction of doubt :)