The engines turbodiesel They had their golden age back in the late 90s and during the first decade of the 21st century. They were unbeatable, they monopolized everything, even in competition, but their evolution came from afar, from a long time ago. The diesel engine is almost as old as the combustion engine, but its particular conception has always left it a little behind in terms of performance and ease of use until Audi began to market the TDI, which forced all the others to evolve. quickly.
When the TDI appeared, the turbodiesel engine was not invented, and furthermore, it arrived four years after Perkins launched an engine with similar technology, and three years after FIAT presented the Croma TD id, which also had a similar configuration. The TDI was only an incident in the evolution of turbodiesel engines, which had already been offered for a long time in the different ranges of the most important models, such as the Opel Kadett 1.5 TD. This version of the Kadett is one of the most forgotten, but it represented an important step in the adoption of diesel engines by the German firm, since it was when they began to use engines of Isuzu origin – diesel engines, of course.
Mentioning the first Audi TDI is relevant because they appeared on the market at the same time as this variant of the legendary Kadett: in 1989. Opel had diesel engines that, according to the specialized press of the time, were clumsy, noisy and to top it off , its power was limited, and as the evolution of diesel-powered engines seemed like it would take on an important role in the coming years, the Germans partnered with Isuzu, which was also part of General Motors, a situation that made things much easier.
The engine fitted to the Kadett 1.5 TD was first seen in the Corsa Diesel and then in the Corsa Turbodiesel. It was a four-cylinder with 1,488 cubic centimeters that boasted hydraulic tappets, a two-valve cylinder head and an overhead camshaft. In the naturally aspirated versions it only reached 50 HP, which went up to 67 HP in the case of the turbocharged versions, although for the Opel Kadett an intercooler was added, which allowed the power to increase a little more, up to 72 HP at 4,600 revolutions, while the torque increased to 145 Nm at 2,400 revolutions. It was a long-stroke engine – 76 x 82 millimeters for piston diameter and stroke – but capable of turning at a high speed for a diesel – especially one from the late 80s – and reaching its maximum speed of 171 km/h. has 4,300 revolutions.
The figures boasted by the Opel Kadett 1.5 TD were considered good for a turbodiesel in those years. He completed the 400 meters with a standing start in 19.02 seconds, while the kilometer was reached in 35.13 seconds. After accelerating from a standstill in 14.13 seconds, it was already traveling at 100 km/h – these are figures published by Autopista magazine in its test of the Kadett 1.5 TD in 1989.
2023-10-21 05:14:45
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