For those folks out there with an Isuzu Trooper, what is your take on that vehicle? Do you like it? Powerful enough? Reliable? And I assume that it works fine on BD?

Thanks,
Sean

Hi Shaun, I have a 1998 Trooper, I am very pleased with it. Mine has the 3.1 turbo diesel engine (small in comparison with some of those engines in the USA) I have tried SVO it appears to run OK without modifications but I only use small amounts around 10% to Dino. But I think to do it right (we) you and me need to make Bio-D ourselves, initially using Tilly's famous Dr pepper method "Patent pending.

I bought my Trooper originally on advise from a guy at work who swore by them.

When I bought mine he sold his and bought a Landrover "I think he was taking the p-ss". But no matter I needed one as I have back problems and I also needed a good towing vehicle. I tow a caravan 27 hundred weight with reasonable ease. I'm told these will tow this weight at 80MPH on the motorway!! not that I would do that you understand.

Oh yes, were off to France with the caravan next Saturday for 9 days, the bloody thing had better be reliable, I'll let you know.

PS anyone taking caravan/Tent holiday in Europe I found a good company who will organise it all including ferries at very good rates.

Hope this helps, Keith

This message has been edited. Last edited by: keith j,

Keith J,
I would be most gratefull if you could give me the costs incolved in taking your trooper etc across the Channel, or are you going under it ?
I need to drive over to Greece soon and am costing the trip. Pity I can't just pull a tanker trailer full of bio and pump it to my car tank as needed.
regards
dva

Hi dva, the cost is £360, includes one overnight stay 40miles from cherbourg, eight nights in St Malo. Return, one overnight stay at the port (can't be doing with trying to fight my way to the port for 05.30 trip home).

The company is called select Sites,
Tele 01873-859544
www.select-site.com

Their insurance is cheap £70 for the outfit + two people, and thats for the super whatever that is. Other companies are asking more than twice that.

I found out later if we had sailed mid week the caravan goes free possible saving of £100? Cant be bothered to change it now.

Also I believe that the same applies for the tunnel?

Dont know if they arrange holidays in Geece

PS they also arrange Hotel and other accommodation

Good luck Keith

Sean: only 1986/87/early 88 Troopers were offered with a diesel engine in the US, and they're quite rare to find in running condition now. Rust has finished the ones who's 2.3 liter engines ran long enough. The early non-turbo engines were noted for frequent head gasket failures, more an indication of misjudging the market rather than an engine problem. 70hp and 70mph roads probably overstressed the engines. In '87/88 they offered the turbo-diesel, making about 80+hp, still marginal but a big improvement. The 2.3 non-turbo worked well enough in the P'up and Luv, but not the bigger Trooper.
The 86/87 tranny and transfercase is different from later years, requiring removal with the engine as a unit, if you follow the factory manual. There are other ways, but major engine work cannot be done with it in the vehicle (IFS and front dif are in the way). I rebuilt my engine, but it was one of the biggest PITAs of any vehicle I've ever worked on.
As for the overall vehicle performance though, it's comfortable, carries 5 people and equipment well, has been mechanically trouble-free (other than the engine already mentioned). Towing or general handling with weight in the back was scary until I added helper springs - any load that depresses the rear end changes the front alignment enough to cause handling problems.
Cornering problems weren't my biggest worry, even with the news reports of unusualy numbers of accidents. I figured it was a case of idiots driving a tall, boxy, high cg vehicle too fast, until I went around a corner and stepped on the brakes at the same time. Yikes!! The front end feel like it's tucking under the vehicle as the rear springs extend. The differences between the front and rear suspensions make that particular maneuver potentially dangerous.
Off-road performance is great except on really rough roads. Ice/snow handling is very good. Wheel travel is short compared to, well, practically anything, but clearance is excellant, and underbody rock protection is excellant. Cross-axle compliance is quite good, considering the limitations, thanks to the odd suspension arrangement front/rear, but that is also responsible for the cornering problems.
Nothing major (aside from engine) has gone wrong in 240,000 miles of pretty average driving. The gas engine returns 20-21 mpg highway, 6mpg in serious 4wd. The turbo diesel gets 26-27 highway, close to 20mpg in 4wd, and sounds very cool.
The wonderful Isuzu 2.8 diesel engine wasn't offered in a vehicle in the 'States, but it's readily available as an Agricultural power plant for irrigation pumps, generators, refrigeration power, etc, for about $5000 new. It would be an easy conversion for a later model Trooper.
Cheers,
JohnO
'64 Land Rover diesel, '87 Trooper gasser, '82 Mazda diesel, '87 Mazda SW (2ea), '77 TR7 (5ea), '71 Moto Guzzi, and too many more to list that aren't running at present.

Keith J,
Thanks for that. I should be able to do it cheaper as I am not taking a trailer. I already have my accomodation sorted so it is the cost of taking the car under or over the channel that I am really interested in. I also have a ferry trip from Pireaus to Paros once I get to the bottom of Greece.
regards
dva

OK dva, but if anyone else is interested I misled you slightly, the Insurance is included in the price.

Have good trip dont forget your sun block, it's hot over there (doesn't smell too good at times either)

good luck Keith

quote:

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Originally posted by dva:
Keith J,
Thanks for that. I should be able to do it cheaper as I am not taking a trailer. I already have my accomodation sorted so it is the cost of taking the car under or over the channel that I am really interested in. I also have a ferry trip from Pireaus to Paros once I get to the bottom of Greece.
regards
dva

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Thanks johno for the great response. But screw it ... I just got a 1994 Chevy Blazer with the 6.5 liter turbo diesel. I hope it solves all my problems. No Trooper needed.

Later,
Sean

hey sean, silver punk here i have a isuzu trooper and pu'p 86 model year both have turbo diesels and i am very impressed with both they are very reliable and brute engines. i had my isuzus for several years now and i have taken good care of them i don't run them on biodiesel so i can't say about there perfomance on that fuel but i know that they are very tempature critical engines and as always be shure that your oil and temp gauges work that is a must(never get aftermarket stick with oem) be shure you have a shroud for your cooling fan and a proper amount of oil going to your turbo also check your timing belt if you are unshure of miles on it replace it and record the miles and when doing repaires always follow the factory workshop manual also be shure your water sensor light cable is hooked up under your filter and the system works those engines struggle with water it's like looseing horse power hey if you have anything e-mail me silver punk

With regard to Trooper, be careful!

We were very happy with ours until the engine blew up last Thursday.

It turns out, from searching online, that the 3.0L engines have a problem - known about by Isuzu - with the turbo and the fuel injectors amongst other things.

The injectors allow diesel into the engine oil (the injectors are inside the cylander) and the engine revs itself into extinction (it still runs after switching off as we discovered!).

Certainly for us it looks like a long haul to try and get compensation from them (none of the multitude out there with similar engine extinction seem to have had any success, so not hopeful).

Apart from anything else, I would have serious doubts about a company that can't be bothered to recall vehicles with a problem that could kill you (we were stopping at lights, having come off a 70mph stretch of road).

No more Isuzu for us, I'm afraid

I had a n '86 pickup and now have an '86 trooper. The p'up ran fine on Bio and SVO. I sold it when I got an '86 trooper non-turbo. I'm running it on SVO right now with no problems. It needs more power, that I know. At this time I'm looking for a 2.8 turbo or 3.1 or 2 turbo Diesel for the extra power.

I have an 86 TD Troop here in the US. It has the 2.3l TD motor and runs great but is a little underpowered. I did a few things to give it better piwer but still have yet to up the boost to 15lbs, sinve 7 is stick, after calculations I should have about an extra 40BHP and more TQ. So, that being said, itll be exactly the ballance I want between reliability and power. I may sell it as I just got a cherry 89 but it needs a new motor. It has a 2.6l gas motor and I think now in these times since here in New Mexico the Diesel is a dollar a gallon more than gasoline, I may sell the TD and put a brand new motor in the gas one.

i know this is a old thread but ive got to have my say about isuzu. i ran isuzu trooper 3.1 td all summer on svo and for the last month ive been making bd and have no probs except i had to change my fuel filter but thats to be expected. they are great cars especialy the 3.1 td i recormend to anyone.