Undecided between new or old diesel

[Hugues]

Hi everyone, new here, been reading for a while.
Planning to overland from Europe into central and south east asia when I retire next year.
Been looking at the campervan to meet my needs.
Clearly I see the Land Cruiser is seldom questioned.
I wish I can find a non-diesel van, but there are very few, only a few expensive Land Cruisers.
So easier to find a diesel van.
But I'm undecided about the fuel.
The car will be registered in Switzerland, which aligns pretty much with EU regulations.
I read it's better to use an older diesel engine which will be less prone to issues with various quality of diesel along the road.
But to register an old diesel in Switzerland, it's becoming expensive and they are slowly banned from some cities in Europe.
Not that I will travel in these cities much, but I do get back to Switzerland once in a while and will pay my registration fee here, which will become expensive, and who knows, might be banned from registration one day in Switzerland ? And surely losing resale value.
So the best from this point of view is to buy a new diesel with adBlue, they are offered everywhere now.
But am I really going to have issues to fine proper diesel in some countries ? and the required adBlue liquid ?
And what if I run out of adBlue liquid, the dealer says i can't really bring along extra cans, it's sensitive to cold and heat.
Undecided.

[murg]

Hi there,

2 quick thoughts:

1) you won't find any AdBlue infrastructure in the Stans or India. I guess you can Bring it with you INSIDE the van.

2) Why don't you buy an old Diesel van, a cheap one and sell it once you've returned? Maybe even sell it in Asia and fly back?

We've been in the region 2019. We have Met a few travellers from Switzerland, some of them with huge campervans (7 nettes and more).

[PeterM]

Hi,

two more things to consider:
1) the problem is not only the AdBlue, but the Diesel particulate filter DPF.
This already exists in older cars. Euro 5.
The thing will clog with bad diesel

2) The DPF will also clog if you drive a lot about 2500m ! An absolute no-go.

A real option is to remove the whole DPF/Ad blue stuff if you leave Switzerland.
Just an empty tube instead of the DPF and a software change to disable AdBlue.
No one will notice
If you are back, just put it in back.

You will find a lot of "tuners" that will help you to remove the DPF.
(of course, allowed only for use on private areas

[Hugues]

thanks for your input guys.
Maybe I go then with an old diesel, like a Mercedes Sprinter.
I found a few non-diesel Sprinter too. Your thoughts on a non-diesel van vs old diesel ?

[royalenfield]

another consideration, petrol is cheap and readily available in CA. why not an old peetrol van.. they are cheaper, not sought after, they require little maintainance, don't free or lose power at altitude,etc

a Toyota Hiace 2.0 or 2.7 petrol uses 10-12 liters per 100km. a diesel 8-9.

very popular are MB sprinter and MB 410/310 vans (petrol and diesel), Hyundai Starex (everywhere on GBAO/Tajikistan) and Toyota Hiace. or Mistsubishi Delica petrol (or L300/L400).

in CH it's easier than elsewhere to get a petrol van. and cheap.

[royalenfield]

i speak from experieence having driven a petrol land cruiser from Geneva to Bishek, Uzbekistan and Pamir Highway

[Hugues]

Hey guys, what do you think about this bad boy for overlanding in CS and SE Asia ?
Sprinter 314 , 1998 petrol engine with 18'000 km on it, automatic transmission (not sprintshift), about 25'000 usd
The body is pretty clean for a 24 years old car, inside too.
VIN info here: https://www.lastvin.com/vin/987L0ElN33kAN1Kkp
Planning to get a nice raised suspension with large AT wheels, bull bar, inverter for 3 kw output...I'm planning to build the interior myself.
It as 220V installed, although not sure yet how many amps i can pull out of it, I will see that when i check the van, later this week normally.
No aircon though,
Any feed-back welcomed.

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[Koen]

Hi H,
Nice van, also looking for overland van for central asia but watched many videos about converting myself but it's hard.
Always expect longer building time even if you are good at it.
I'm looking for a old van that needs just a little bit done on it.

But go for it if it feels good, but make a decent planning.

[Beat M.]

Hi Hugues,
Interesting post.
My car is regsiterred in CH too and I'm planing to go to CA myselft.
I was going through the same questions like you, old diesel, new diesel/ad blue and opted finally for fuel: MB G500 of 2010. Fuel does not freeze, not loose power and the G is old enough to accept "bad" fuel.
Beyond the engine issue, what I came accross with some overlanders is that the car may not be registerred at all in particular when you travel out of EU/CH where the green card (now white card) is not valid anyway. When entering a new country you simply do a country insurane.
Bon voyage,
Beat

[Hugues]

Cool!
Welcomed to the MB club as I did buy the Sprinter I posted about above, my build channel here :
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA_n ... EHDxds26X5

When are you planning your big trip out of EUR?
Mine should be in 2023 hopefully