Fiat Ducato 2.3 litre multi jet advice - any good?!

[HectorM]

Hi everyone

 

I’m looking at a Fiat Dicato 2.3 litre multi jet tipper truck. In great condition 40,000 miles very clean.

 

Does anyone have any experience with these vans - be great to know if they are any good for towing chippers etc. 

 

Great site – really useful forums. Any help or advice much appreciated.

[Steve Bullman]

Hi Hector,

 

No experience with the new Ducato but did drive them years ago. They were mostly hassle free. The only thing that would really put me off for this trade is it being front wheel drive

[Mrblue5000]

Look up changing a timing belt on youtube for these, I think the labour alone is £1000. Mate of mine has a camper van version, engine is transverse and v. little room to work at it.

[Brad-bmtc]

What year is it? I had a 2004 Iveco daily which had a 2.3 multi jet fiat engine. It was smooth as silk and never wanted anything in the 5 years I had it, always started and pulled better than transits of the same age. If the rest of the truck was as good as the engine I would still have it now 

[doobin]

Only cost £300 labour do a timing belt change on my 2.3 Iveco daily recently. 

Edited December 9, 2020 by doobin

[Moose McAlpine]

34 minutes ago, doobin said:

Only cost £300 labour do a timing belt change on my 2.3 Iveco daily recently. 

The engine is fitted differently in the Ivecos, they're much easier to work on.

[marne]

They can run easily 300-400k miles and more, make sure they have the gutter under the hood, that leads water away from the timing belt, this issue is resolved in later years. If it's not there, you can buy the cheap upgrade kit. 

They litterally never rust, and tow well up to 2-2.5t. I pulled 3t several times but here it get's jerky, engine pulls fine but the handling is weird.

They have more room and payload than others, but it makes them wider too. 

Reverse gear is a little fast. Avoid the old automatic transmission, which is just a robot shifting a regular gear, problems waiting for you. 

Latest 9 speed autos seem to be the perfect choice, but the hand shifting is fine as well. 

Would buy another on the spot. 

 

[eggsarascal]

On 09/12/2020 at 19:19, Moose McAlpine said:

The engine is fitted differently in the Ivecos, they're much easier to work on.

 

On 09/12/2020 at 13:39, Mrblue5000 said:

Look up changing a timing belt on youtube for these, I think the labour alone is £1000. Mate of mine has a camper van version, engine is transverse and v. little room to work at it.

With quality belt, water pump, and tensioner about £600 inc 4 hours labour. The question gets asked on Motorhome, campervan forums more than, "how much is my very valuable Walnut tree worth?" on Arbtalk.

[Mrblue5000]

On 09/12/2020 at 19:19, Moose McAlpine said:

The engine is fitted differently in the Ivecos, they're much easier to work on.

Sorry, my bad, thought the campers were same layout.