Diesel engine for the field without modifications

Serial versions of the Niva all-wheel drive SUV (Lada 4×4) are traditionally found on CIS roads exclusively with a gasoline engine, although the manufacturer has made attempts to install a diesel internal combustion engine on this model. For this reason, one of the topics related to the popular jeep is the ability to independently install a diesel engine on the Niva.

We also recommend reading the article about affordable diesel tuning. From this article you will learn how to independently increase the power of a diesel engine by installing a special module called a tuning box.

On serious SUVs, a diesel engine, especially in a simple naturally aspirated version, is a more preferable option compared to a gasoline unit. Such a motor has many obvious advantages:

the high torque of a diesel engine at low speeds is indispensable for an off-road vehicle;
a diesel engine consumes much less fuel, which is important when driving off-road;
requirements for the quality of diesel fuel are noticeably reduced if atmospheric diesel is used;
the longer service life of a diesel engine before major repairs allows such an engine to be used actively and for a long time;

The main disadvantage is the vulnerability of high-precision diesel fuel equipment, as well as the complexity and high cost of subsequent repairs. In the power supply system of a diesel engine, fuel injection pumps and diesel injectors often fail. The presence of turbocharging (turbodiesel) can also cause certain difficulties during operation, since the condition of the turbine strongly depends on the quality of the fuel and diesel engine oil.

What diesel engines did AvtoVAZ install on the Niva?

AvtoVAZ saw the need to install a diesel engine on the VAZ 2121, so it made several attempts to modernize its popular SUV. After trial and error, the company was able to place a Peugeot XUD-9SD diesel engine under the hood of the car. From 1999 to 2007, such a diesel Niva with the VAZ 21215 index was only exported.

Most recently, the plant produced a prototype Niva with a second generation Fiat 1.3 16v MultiJet diesel engine. It took a lot of effort and modification to place it in the engine compartment. It is not known how the tests ended and whether this modification of the SUV will go into mass production.

Features of installing a diesel engine on a VAZ 2121

If the manufacturer does not provide the opportunity to buy a Niva with a diesel engine, then craftsmen will appear who will install it with their own hands. So, which diesel engine is suitable for the VAZ 2121? Here are the most popular models:

Peugeot XUD-9SD (1.9 l, about 70 hp) together with Fiat Polonez gearbox.
Peugeot XUD 11 with Fiat Polonez gearbox.
Toyota 3C (79 hp) or 3ST (100 hp) together with Toyota Noah gearbox.
Motor from Volkswagen Vento.
And many others.

To install a diesel engine, a large number of modifications will be required. The simplest and most common way of such tuning is to use the engine that was installed for export versions of the SUV (XUD-9SD). Its installation requires the least amount of changes to the machine design. It has a good location of the oil intake (in the front, not in the center or rear), the oil filter (on the front left, like the Niva) and attachment points to the body. In addition, it is easy to find spare parts for this engine model. The approximate procedure is as follows:

Engine mounts fit from Niva 21215.
The gearbox bell and the box itself fit well from Fiat Polonez.
Rework the pan, oil intake, flywheel, exhaust system, etc.
The easiest way is to complete all the modifications according to the documents.

In other words, no diesel engine can be installed instead of a gasoline engine without modifications. What do you think, is it necessary to change the Niva’s internal combustion engine to a diesel one? If yes, which one and why? Let us remind you that you can improve off-road performance in an easier way, for example, by installing mud tires.

When in 2009 it became known that a batch of Chevrolet Niva diesels were to go on sale, there was some optimism among domestic car enthusiasts about this, because for an SUV, a diesel engine is more appropriate than a gasoline one. But quite a lot of time has passed, and for some reason this model has not become widespread. Let's try to understand the reasons for this.

Let us immediately note that the author of this project was not GM-AvtoVAZ, but located in Togliatti and specializing in Niva tuning. GM-AvtoVAZ only allowed to release this car under the sign of its brand, and even then with difficulty. And as it turned out, it was in vain.

This is one of the reasons for the unpopularity of the new diesel Chevrolet Niva, since a large number of motorists are far from enthusiastic about the products of this company.

Let's take a look at the technical characteristics of this machine. In fact, it differs from the regular gasoline Chevrolet Niva only with a new diesel engine. Here are the technical characteristics of the Niva Chevrolet Diesel:

volume is 1.9 liters;
turbocharged engine power 120 hp. With. without it - 100 horsepower;
the maximum torque is 195 Nm and is achieved at 2600 rpm.

Niva Chevrolet Diesel is all-wheel drive , it is possible to disable the rear axle. The front hubs are not adjustable. Instead of crosspieces, the cardan transmission is equipped with CV joints. The Japanese kindly provided a gearbox for the diesel Niva. Power steering can be considered a functional plus, as can the built-in air conditioner.

But still, many Chevrolet Niva (DIESEL-TURBO) owners are dissatisfied with the car. Some of them say that the sound of a running engine makes you feel as if you are driving a combine or tractor. Manufacturers counter with the fact that, in fact, a diesel engine is no louder than a gasoline engine, and this feeling arises due to the fact that the vibration frequency of the new engine and the human voice are almost the same. Because of this, the sound of his work is perceived “brighter”.

Our person also did not like the gearbox, because it has a rather short stroke. Also, many are saddened by the need to wait about five seconds each time they turn on the ignition until the Check engine light turns off, and only then start the engine. During this pause, the glow plugs begin their work.

But the most significant drawback is definitely the price of the machine. For a brand new Chevrolet Niva (DIESEL-TURBO) you will have to pay 597 thousand rubles .

After all, if you do the math, it’s worth investing a little more money, and you can buy a foreign SUV that will definitely surpass the Niva in quality, characteristics and functionality. And for 600 thousand you can buy a used SUV in acceptable condition.

We install a diesel engine on a Chevrolet Niva ourselves

The idea of installing a diesel engine on a Chevrolet Niva was not new at the time the model described in the article was released. After all, this type of engine really has a number of advantages, namely:

fuel consumption per 100 km is 7.5 liters;
for a gasoline engine this figure is around 12 liters;
increased traction at low speeds provides the SUV with higher cross-country ability.

Engines Peugeot XUD9, XUD9A, XUD9SD, XUD9TE

Peugeot diesel engines are considered among the best. The French automaker offers a large selection of cars with this power unit. They are characterized by endurance, quality, power and good maintainability. One of the popular Peugeot diesel engines are various modifications of the XUD9 series.

The assembly of the first engines of this series began in 1982 and continued until 2005. They were assembled at several factories at once, and installed not only on cars of the French concern, but also on products of other automakers. Engines of this series could be found on Peugeot 305/306/309/405 models, Expert, Partner, as well as on products from other manufacturers. The French Peugeot began using the engine in 1982 and used it until 1998. The XUD9 was also purchased, for example, by CITROEN for its BX, Berlingo, Xantia and Xsara models from 1982 to 2005. FIAT purchased the engine for the Scudo from 1996 to 1998, and ROVER for the 200 from 1989 to 1995. FSO installed this powertrain in its Polonez from 1992 to 1997, and TALBOT installed it in its Horizon from 1982 to 1987. But the most interesting and remarkable thing is that even the domestic auto giant LADA also used a French engine to equip the Niva between 1993 and 1998.

ATTENTION! A completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption has been found! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also didn’t believe it until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline! Read more". This is the first engine model from which all other developments and modifications came.

It was first demonstrated and began to be used on French cars in 1982. At that time, it was one of the brightest and best developments in diesel engines. At the same time, subsequent modifications allowed the engine to remain relevant and in demand over a long period of time. Its main advantages were reliability and long service life. Most owners of cars with this engine note that it can easily travel 500 thousand kilometers before major repairs without serious breakdowns

This is the first engine model from which all other developments and modifications came. It was first demonstrated and began to be used on French cars in 1982. At that time, it was one of the brightest and best developments in diesel engines. At the same time, subsequent modifications allowed the engine to remain relevant and in demand over a long period of time. Its main advantages were reliability and long service life. Most owners of cars with this engine note that it can easily travel 500 thousand kilometers before major repairs without serious breakdowns.

However, it also has some disadvantages. For example, many car owners do not like the low location of the expansion tank - this makes servicing the car very difficult and makes it inconvenient. The second nuance is the cylinder head gasket, which breaks through any decrease in the antifreeze level. As it turned out, the main disadvantage of the engine was that every hundred thousand kilometers it requires expensive valve clearance adjustments. It is important to timely replace the fuel filter, otherwise the injection pump will need to be repaired. The peculiarity of replacing a fuel filter is that its expensive glass often breaks easily during the process. Another disadvantage of the engine is that at long runs there have been cases of pre-chambers falling out into the cylinders.

The unit has the following characteristics:

Engine capacity in cubic centimeters	1868
Fuel/consumption liters per 100 kilometers	Diesel/6.9
Supply system	Prechambers
Horsepower	71
Cylinder block/head	Cast iron R4/aluminum 8v
Stroke/Bore in millimeters	88/83
Compression ratio	23,5
Torque at rpm	125/2500
Maximum power at rpm	71/4600
Engine Features	Four cylinders, in-line, two valves per cylinder, timing belt drive

The Peugeot company installed this engine on:

Partner minivan from 1996 to 2002;
J5;
Ranch;
Partner Space;
Mk;
205;
305/Mk/Break;
309/Mk

In addition, the motor was used on the following cars:

CITROEN – BX/Break;
ROVER – 200;
SUZUKI – Samurai/Sierra;
TALBOT - Horizon;

The engine uses 5W-40 oil and fills 4.5 liters. Belongs to the environmental class EURO1/2. The approximate resource is about 500 thousand kilometers.

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Bottom line

Modifying a Niva with a diesel unit is permissible; just remember to register the changes according to the law in order to avoid troubles. It is better to modify the above units, they have been tested and their installation will be simpler and cheaper than others. Plus, they're guaranteed to fit. By choosing the specified boxes, you will avoid problems of compatibility of the motor with the chassis, which increases the service life of both units.

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Diesel for Niva: solving problems of self-installation

Passenger cars and SUVs with diesel engines are very popular abroad. For us, the idea of equipping a car with such an engine did not take root for a long time. Only recently UAZ SUVs with such an engine began to arrive on the automobile market.

And yet there have been attempts to make an SUV with a diesel engine. One example of such a car was the diesel Niva. This VAZ Niva 2121 model was exported and had an index of 21215.

Equipping a car with a diesel unit has a number of positive qualities. These engines are significantly more economical than gasoline-powered units and are less demanding on fuel quality. They have good traction performance at low engine speeds. The diesel engine has a longer service life, which allows it to be used longer without major repairs.

The main disadvantage of these engines is the complexity and high cost of repairing the fuel system, since a number of units use parts with high precision processing.

Factory Niva with a diesel unit

Initially, the developers attempted to install 2121 domestically produced diesel engines on the Niva. This diesel engine had a combustion chamber volume of 1.5 liters and was turbocharged. But the idea of a domestic diesel engine for the Niva failed. The reason for this was its low power. Niva 2121 with this engine was not capable of efficiently covering off-road conditions.

There were attempts to install domestic diesel engines on the Niva, the volume of which was increased to 1.08.9 liters. Moreover, they were installed on the Niva 2121 in both 3-door and 5-door bodies. But these were experimental models that never made it into mass production.

The way out of the situation was to install a foreign-made model. As a diesel engine, the Niva began to be equipped with a Peugeot engine with the factory index XUD-9SD. It was quite common and was installed on many cars.

Diesel engine

The main advantage of this diesel engine was excellent traction at low speeds, which allowed the car to easily overcome off-road conditions and dirt. At the same time, the Peugeot diesel unit was reliable and had good maintainability.

The maximum speed for the Niva 2121 with a Peugeot engine was set at 120 km/h. But the dynamics during acceleration were not up to par. The speedometer showed a speed of 100 km/h only after 25 seconds. But this indicator is not so important, since for the Niva 2121 high cross-country ability is much more important than speed characteristics.

Niva 2121, on which a diesel unit from Peugeot was installed, was produced until 2009, after which its production ceased. Since the Niva diesel was an export option, it is rarely seen here. Those cars that can be seen on our roads are most often re-exported.

Additional nuances

Some components and parts are replaced with stronger analogues in the chassis of the car. For normal diesel start-up on Niva in winter, devices are installed that heat diesel fuel.

A suitable replacement diesel engine is the French imported Peugeot xud9sd engine. Its fasteners almost coincide with the domestic power plant. The mounting pins almost perfectly match the holes and diameters for the mounting bolts, which will significantly simplify the replacement of a domestic gasoline engine with an imported analogue that runs on diesel fuel.

Among Japanese diesel engines, power units with the Toyota 3c/ct index are promising. Depending on the purpose, they are produced with a power of 90 and 100 horsepower.

Self-installation of a Peugeot engine

There are also Nivas on which the owners install diesel engines themselves, or they turn to specialized service stations that replace engines.

This diesel engine is the easiest to install on a car, since the mounting points on the XUD-9SD are exactly the same as on the original gasoline engine. It is worth considering that in addition to replacing the engine itself, some modifications have to be made. There is also the possibility of installing the XUD 11 power unit, produced by the same Peugeot, on the Niva instead of the XUD-9SD.

In addition to the engine itself, the gearbox will also need to be changed. This is due to the fact that the original VAZ gearbox will not be able to withstand the loads that the diesel unit will create on it. Instead of a VAZ gearbox, a Fiat Polonaise gearbox is often installed. It is used because the same XUD-9SD unit was installed on the Polonaise. The clutch housing is also installed together with the gearbox.

In addition, owners who convert the Niva to the XUD-9SD diesel engine also additionally change the front mounting supports of the unit. The pallet also undergoes transformations. The exhaust system will also need to be redone. To ensure additional reliability of front-wheel drive elements, some parts are replaced with similar ones from Chevrolet Niva.

To ensure proper cooling of the power plant, the standard radiator is often replaced with a radiator from a Gazelle. At the same time, the rubber pipes are also changed. It wouldn't hurt to install a diesel fuel heating system in winter.

After all these alterations and modifications, documentation will be required at the State Traffic Inspectorate.

Flaws

Vibration at speed 80-90 km;
Unreliable timing tensioner design;
Ignition module;
The fuel pump is noisy;
Low torque;
Long stroke of the gear lever;
When the timing chain breaks, the valves bend;
Vibration of the gear lever;
Poor dynamics on the highway due to insufficient power.

PS. Dear Nivovody! I look forward to your comments, questions and feedback on the problems that have arisen, weaknesses and shortcomings during the operation, maintenance and repair of the VAZ 21213 engine.

Niva engines have excellent technical characteristics and have proven themselves to be quite reliable power units. At the same time, it should be understood that, like all other VAZ power units, they are not without drawbacks.

The disadvantages of this motor include:

increased noise;
tendency to vibration;
increased oil consumption.

Such problems often appear after a mileage of 100,000 kilometers. Car owners need to closely monitor the condition of the cooling system.

Which engine is suitable for a Niva from a foreign car without modifications?

To improve the performance of your car, you can install a Niva engine from a foreign car without modifications. The VAZ-2121 has long been considered one of the best domestic cars both in terms of engine power and driving performance. But now this car model has become outdated, and many motorists are trying to somehow improve it. What engine should be installed as an analogue to the 1.7 liter petrol injection engine?

Compatibility

There are several manufacturers whose engines can be used as donors for installing a diesel engine on a Chevrolet Niva:

Production versions of the Niva all-wheel drive SUV (Lada 4×4) are traditionally found on CIS roads exclusively with a gasoline engine, although the manufacturer tried to install a diesel internal combustion engine on this model. For this reason, one of the topics associated with the popular jeep is the ability to independently install a diesel engine on the Niva.

Replacement problem

The fact is that to replace the engine on a VAZ-2121, you can choose almost a dozen different engines, but they are all from foreign cars. But the main problem is that you will have to do some additional work during installation, for example, install or change fasteners, add new parts. Because of this, it is not so easy to find a budget replacement option. The choice is significantly narrowed down to just a few options. For an engine to be suitable for installation, it must meet several conditions:

Which engine should you consider first?

Preparatory work

You need to start by completely disassembling the flywheel, since it is important to adjust the elements related to the starter, or more precisely to its gear. The flywheel is updated due to the fact that the crown is replaced. Do not forget that when it comes to changes of this kind in a car, they are all carried out directly with regard to the engine itself. In this regard, there is a lack of checkpoint adjustments. To properly connect it to the future engine, an additional component is required, which is an adapter plate. It is available for purchase, but many specialists make it themselves. In some cases, another connection method is used. This way the motor block can be directly fixed to the gearbox. Quite often, drivers use just this method, since, from the point of view of practical application, it is considered stronger and, accordingly, more reliable.

Improved Niva

The injector installed on the Niva, although it reduces fuel consumption, is still not the most economical option in urban conditions with traffic jams and other delays. On the highway and during long trips outside the city, this is not felt so much, since the car works without stops and downtime. Due to the unprofitability of cars in urban environments, drivers are thinking about a good and effective replacement for the old injection-type engine in their car. The best option would be a diesel engine for the Niva. It has approximately the same power characteristics, but its fuel consumption is comparatively lower. Also, diesel is less capricious in terms of fuel quality. What options from this category of motors are worth detailed consideration?

In fact, this is the only option that suits all parameters.

Specifications

As noted above, due to its outdated design, the VAZ-341 has low performance compared to analogues of those times. Its power is 54 hp. With. at 4600 rpm, torque - 92 Nm at 2300 rpm. That is, even in terms of the second indicator it is inferior to a gasoline engine (103 Nm for the VAZ-21043). Greater torque at low speeds is ensured by a different performance graph and a reduced gear ratio.

Version 3413 is derated to 32 hp. With. at 3000 rpm.

Naturally, the 1.8 liter VAZ diesel is more productive: the technical characteristics are 65 liters. With. at 4600 rpm and 114 Nm at 2500 rpm.

The turbocharged version develops 80 hp. With. at 4600 rpm and 147 Nm at 2500 rpm.

Modified options

Since it is not always possible to supply an engine of a certain foreign car, it is worth considering imported production options that require a little modification:

The first candidate will again be the French engine from Peugeot XUD 11 series. Since the power of this unit is higher than that of the previous model, some changes will need to be made to the design of the Niva - replacing the gearbox. An acceptable option is a gearbox from Fiat Polonez. In addition, a good solution would be to replace the front supports of the power plant fasteners, pan and exhaust system. It is also worth replacing the drive elements with similar parts from the Chevrolet Niva.

NIVA Diesel with Peugeot engine

A Niva with a diesel engine is no longer a dream - it’s a reality. You can touch it with your hands and take a picture. You can even ride it if you're lucky.

PSM has long and successfully offered everyone “a wide range of diesel, gasoline, and liquefied gas engines with power from 20 to 200 hp.” The Volzhsky Automobile Plant has long been looking for a diesel engine that would fit perfectly into a VAZ car. And although PSM’s proposal was not the only one. The choice fell on this company. Why? We asked Vladimir Trofimov, deputy technical director of the Lada-Export joint-stock company, to answer this question - a company created, according to him, to work out all modifications of the VAZ car that the market requires, but cannot be made on the Volzhsky Automobile Plant's production line.

The choice of PSM engines is not at all accidental. This company is well known and reputable. It is a branch of the Peugeot-Citroen Automobile group, which has two divisions - Peugeot and Citroen, which produce cars of the same name.

PSM engines, especially diesel ones, are known throughout the world as the most economical and environmentally friendly. They have a very well-developed design of the exhaust emissions reduction system, eliminating the need to install additional catalysts, neutralizers and other devices. That is, this engine is environmentally friendly. It is sold on the French market under the “green” brand, and therefore its installation on our car immediately eliminates the toxicity problem. And this, as you know, is now the most relevant in the European market, especially for VAZ.

The second argument in favor of choosing a partner was the following circumstances: PSM is the world's leading manufacturer of diesel engines: the company produces 800 thousand engines per year. This is a leader, everyone focuses on him, and working with him has allowed us to reach a level that does not raise any doubts among customers either about the quality of engines or about the capabilities of cars with these engines.

The fact is that PSM is precisely designed to adapt its engines to any brand of car. It supplies engines to Rover and many European and Italian brands produced in small quantities, including all-wheel drive ones. And the company’s policy, like the policy of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant, is to work directly with designers, without an intermediary.

Latest improvements

After restyling, the car began to make less noise. Rubber-metal bushings were replaced, and the entire transfer case was modernized. Externally, the car has also changed. Block headlights with elegant fog lights, modified optics using new lenses that allow even distribution of light.

If you rely on the description of the innovations, you can find out that the side mirrors were not only increased in size - they were added with electric drive and heating. The designers equipped the power steering with a fluid cooling system, which will significantly improve its performance, especially in off-road conditions. Generator belts have become more durable.

A beautiful body kit and a new radiator grille undoubtedly benefited the field. They gave the car European restraint; nobility and confidence appeared in the forms.

Earlier models had polypropylene bumpers installed. This material became very fragile in the cold, any blow ended in a crack. When updating the 2022 model, it was decided to add rubber to polypropylene, which significantly improved the “endurance” of the bumpers.

The rear of the body also looks very noble. The glass on the tailgate is created in a very original manner: on the driver’s side it is narrower than on the passenger’s side. It’s difficult to understand what the authors were guided by, but it adds originality to the car.

The trunk door opens to the side and can be locked in three positions. Niva owners are familiar with this and are not surprised. I would like to note one feature: the hinges on the car door are not visible. It's beautiful, stylish and looks decent. The body is made very well, the gaps are uniform and small everywhere. Reviews have shown that the manufacturability of the body has pleased many automotive market experts.

The full-size spare wheel is mounted on the trunk door, thereby significantly saving space inside. The luggage compartment volume is 320 liters with a permissible cargo weight of 450 kg. It's not much, but it's quite enough. The depth of the trunk can be adjusted by folding the rear seats. Another “quirk” of the developers is that there is a tool bag in the luggage compartment.