The new Gazelle brand with a Cummins diesel engine was presented in 2010, and in 2011 reviews from owners appeared. In three or four years, the car took its rightful place on the Russian market. It is interesting to compare the first impressions of the new model and later ones, reflecting the experience of long-term use.
The engine installed on the new Gazelle was developed by the world famous American company Cummins. Its power is 120 hp, the mileage between major repairs is 500 thousand km, the assembly is Chinese. It is the behavior of this engine that is most often discussed on forums today.
Advantages of a Gazelle car with a Cummins diesel engine
The first reviews of the Gazelle with the Kamens diesel engine were very critical. Professionals and car enthusiasts noted, first of all, the increase in price of the model compared to the previous version.
The Gazelle-Kamens minibus has earned disapproval due to its insufficiently comfortable interior and poor sound insulation. Many motorists reacted negatively to the replacement of the domestic 406 engine with the American Kamens.
Radical car experts said that the Gazelle was in demand due to its low price, availability of spare parts and a good 406 engine, that is, because of what the new model lacks. From this they concluded that there would be no demand for a new modification of the car.
However, the pessimistic forecasts did not come true. The new diesel Gazelle travels along the roads of Russia in the guise of trucks, minibuses, vans, mobile workshops, etc.
The comfort of the interior of minibuses has ceased to be a subject of discussion, the topic has quickly exhausted itself, and, in essence, this parameter is at a completely acceptable level.
However, the operation of the engine receives endless discussions and comments.
Advantages of using a Cummins engine on a Gazelle
The Cummins engines installed in the Gazelle are designed in America and manufactured at a plant in China. Thanks to their installation, the reliability and service life of vehicles increases. At the same time, the engine resource is up to 500 thousand kilometers.
Fuel costs when using diesel are reduced by approximately 30-35%, therefore the total operating cost of the vehicle is reduced by 20%.
The Cummins engine is designed in such a way that it meets all modern environmental requirements, while having a minimally complicated design. High engine dynamics are ensured by torque and correctly selected gear ratios. This allows the motor to operate even in the most extreme conditions without experiencing extreme loads.
In connection with the introduction of the Cummins engine into the Gazelle design, many of its parts have also undergone modernization, and now the vehicle includes:
- reinforced transmission and gearbox;
- upgraded steering, electrical equipment, clutch, exhaust system, etc.
It optimized the gear ratios in the gearbox and drive axle, and the cooling system was adapted to the operating characteristics of the diesel engine.
The Gazelle Business also comes with an option such as cruise control.
Judging by the description, the car turned out to be quite good, but it is difficult to judge the quality and operation of the car only from these data. Real reviews about the Kamens engine on the Gazelle can come to the rescue, in which the owners of these cars share their experience and valuable information for beginners.
Gasoline or diesel "Gazelle"
The dispute about which engine was better was resolved during operation. For the area of use of the Gazelle, diesel is preferable. This was shown by sales dynamics: 80% of Gazelles in use are equipped with a Cummins diesel engine, reviews of which have become positive and friendly.
Most owners of diesel cars note the endurance of the engine and its good service life. A mileage of 500 thousand km between repairs is not a theory, but a reality. For gasoline engines, such a mileage without repair is rather an exception. Diesel Gazelles are cheaper to operate.
At first, the Chinese assembly was an unimportant recommendation for the engine. Products from China are the living embodiment of the slogan “cheap and cheerful.” But experienced motorists argued that this does not apply to the Cummins engine, made using approved technology, in compliance with all quality standards, tested at various stages of production.
An engine made by Chinese workers at an American factory is no worse than an American one, even more American than in America, experts joked
Owner reviews about the n 14 motor
The Cummins n 14 engine is used on heavy-duty tractors. Considering this specificity of the motor, it has not become widespread in Russia, since in our country, transportation over significant distances, unlike the States, is carried out primarily by rail.
However, from the few available reviews, one can conclude that the diesel n 14 is highly efficient and has a long service life. Thus, the owners themselves often call it an “immortal” engine.
There are some complaints about the operation of the motor. Particularly noteworthy is the comment about the violation of the tightness of the lighter covers. At the same time, the owner of the car complained about lubricant leaks found on the left side of the power unit. After replacing the seals, the oil leak stopped.
There are also reviews of a slightly different nature about the Cummins 14 engine. From time to time there is indignation about the reduction in its operating capacity. Usually, as owners write, such malfunctions are a consequence of wear of the cylinder-piston group. After carrying out the appropriate repair work, the engine power returns to its nominal value.
Should I add oil to fuel with a Cummins diesel?
And yet problems arise during operation, especially in winter. A popular topic for discussion on forums is the problem of clean fuel. Drivers note with annoyance the presence of water in diesel fuel. Such an impurity disrupts the operation of the engine. The origin of water in diesel fuel is moisture condensation in the fuel tank.
Some drivers try to improve engine performance by adding oil to the fuel. Is such a measure justified? Experts say: this should not be done. Once upon a time, when using two-stroke internal combustion engines, this made sense, but for modern engines, the oil in the engine is just carbon deposits and soot.
It is proposed to improve engine performance in another way - warm up the fuel filters, fuel intakes, drain the sediment from the filter, add special additives to the fuel that eliminate water from the fuel tank
Spare parts and fuel for the Gazelle car with Cummins diesel engine
An inexhaustible topic for discussion is original and fake spare parts. The problem is, motorists note, that they are often impossible to distinguish from each other.
Fuel filters must be original to protect the injectors, experienced people say. They are objected to: original filters do not save you from troubles. This means it’s a fake, say enthusiasts of the original filters.
In essence, the same can be said about other spare parts, but it is filters that are most often suspected of being unoriginal, due to annoying injector failures associated with expensive repairs.
Most drivers tend to attribute problems that arise to low-quality fuels and lubricants. Buy fuel only from reliable dealers, car owners urge each other.
But this is not a panacea, others note. It is enough to buy fuel at a gas station of a different company than always, and the engine knocks, the injectors become clogged, and other troubles occur.
The problem of the quality of fuel and lubricants really exists, but most of the troubles attributed to fuel occur in the cold season - this is the opinion of experienced people. Diesel fuel thickens in the cold.
Cummins diesel engines are very demanding on fuel quality. Despite the simplicity of Cummins fuel systems, they require some maintenance. But not every driver will be able to do this on their own.A competent approach to the maintenance and repair of the Cummins 2.8 engine can provide all the conditions so that it can reveal all the capabilities that the designers have built into it. Read about engine repair in this article.
Different batches of fuel react differently to lower temperatures. Winter diesel fuel is produced for use in winter. If the temperature is below -35°C, then arctic fuel is needed.
The problem is that at normal temperatures, neither the color nor the smell of winter and summer fuel differ. If the temperature fluctuates significantly during the day, the wrong type of fuel can do a bad job: at a certain point, the fuel will turn into a jelly-like mass.
Timely transition from summer to winter diesel fuel and vice versa is an important condition for flawless engine operation. In addition, the fuel system must be warmed up while parked.
Craftsmen advise: if there is no diesel fuel in the winter, add 10% kerosene to the summer one. However, not everyone agrees with the benefits of this measure.
Common reviews about the performance of Cummins engines
Most owners of vehicles powered by Kamens power plants note the following features:
- the engine runs smoothly and balanced, almost like a gasoline engine;
- when installing Cummins, costs for fuels and lubricants are sharply reduced;
- Stable operation at low speeds allows you to “forget” such an expression as “the engine has stalled.”
Smooth operation is noted on all models of engines from this company operating in Russia. However, there are also reviews indicating the noise of Cummins engines - basically, as it turns out, such an uncharacteristic phenomenon indicates the presence of a malfunction.
When repairing Kamens isf 3.8, first of all, you should pay attention to the decrease in power indicators, which are a consequence of a decrease in compression inside the working cylinders.The main sign of engine overheating and the appearance of steam in the cooling system is spontaneous shutdown of the heater. Read about engine overheating and methods to eliminate it here.
For example, in reviews of the Cummins ISF 3.8, the disadvantages usually include the relatively high cost (compared to domestic designs) of the engines themselves, as well as their original spare parts. However, this drawback is very conditional, because The service life of American engines is much higher than that of ours.
So during his “life” the American will have time to work off the excess in value. An imported engine will have to be repaired much less frequently, and therefore the cost of spare parts will be lower. And given the high fuel efficiency of Cummens engines, reviews about the quick payback of the engine become quite logical.
Injectors and batteries for Gazelle with Cummins diesel
“I bought a diesel Gazelle - save money for injectors,” the owners of diesel cars from the Gorky Automobile Plant note with annoyance. Indeed, malfunction of the injectors is one of the main reasons for contacting a car service center.
However, this problem does not happen with all engines. Many car owners note the long-term trouble-free operation of injectors, as well as all car systems in general.
The battery for a diesel engine must provide high starting current. This is especially important in winter. Viscous diesel fuel will not ignite with enough current to start a gasoline engine.
The oil capacity of a Kamens engine depends on the type of engine, the number of cylinders and the type of oil pan. An insufficient amount of oil leads to a decrease in pressure and deterioration of the lubrication system, which entails accelerated wear of engine mechanisms.
In this article we will try to figure out how the GAZ Valdai model was transformed after these cars with the CUMMINS ISF3.8 diesel engine began to be produced, and what is the fuel consumption of the Valdai with a Cummins engine.
Therefore, to operate a diesel Gazelle in winter, new batteries are needed; it is recommended to change them no later than after three years. In case of winter problems with the engine, they are sometimes eliminated by replacing the battery.
The electrolyte level must be high. Commentators on the forums note: a battery removed from a diesel Gazelle due to its unusability can work well in a car with a gasoline engine.
Reviews from GAZelle owners with a Cummins isf 2.8 engine.
Relatively recently appeared on our market, the 2.8-liter diesel isf has already managed to win the trust of many GAZelle drivers.
However, there are many dissatisfied owners. For example, many people complain about the lack of glow plugs in this engine. Instead, a heating coil is provided in the intake manifold. However, isf 2.8 owners living in northern regions, where temperatures of -40 degrees remain almost throughout the winter, indicate that it is not enough to start the engine in such conditions.
According to motorists, the engine oil recommended by the manufacturer is also not suitable for use in winter.
The plastic sump of the Cummins isf 2.8 engine also causes a lot of criticism. Reviews from owners indicate that this is an absolutely ill-thought-out detail. Fragile plastic is in no way intended for driving on our roads.
And given the fact that the oil receiver pipe is an integral part of this solid pan, then, even with minor damage, air plugs that are “deadly” for the engine may appear in the oil lines.
There are also negative reviews about the Cummins cylinder-piston group. Among owners of cars with this engine, premature wear of the upper compression rings causes particular dissatisfaction. This malfunction is fraught with destruction of the ring inside the working cylinder, which leads to the appearance of deep scratches on its walls.
Cummins winter maintenance
Many problems can be avoided if, on the eve of cold weather, you give the Gazelle into the hands of car service specialists. The list of measures to prepare a car for winter is extensive, and the car owner does not always know all the intricacies of this procedure. If he knows, he can cope with the preparations for winter on his own.
It is necessary to drain the sediment from the filter and tank, check the electrolyte level in the battery, clean the terminals so as not to overheat under high current loads, check the glow plugs...
However, recommendations on forums may have an advisory voice. To properly operate the vehicle, you must carefully read the accompanying documentation.
Compliance with operating rules, regular preventive maintenance, good preparation of the car for the winter season - these measures can extend the service life of the car for years, as all motorist experts believe.
Recently, when drivers have become more familiar with the new Gazelles, most of them agree that a Gazelle with a Cummins diesel engine is a great boon. This is exactly what the reviews that are available in large numbers on various Internet forums indicate.
