Loads of cars and vans have used the 1.9 Eurodiesel engine for years and years. The fords, VWs, Audi. Skodas Saab Peugot, Citroen etc. Mitsubishi as well apparantly.
Look how many 1.9 Diesels there are under different bonnets, all the same engine. Peugeot design built by Ford. Very good engine. Offhand I don't know if VAG have ever made their own small diesel engines. When the market for small diesel cars and vans first started the manufacturers like VAG didn't take it seriously and thought it was a gimmick which to some extent it was. Peugeot had been making a good small diesel engine for some years so for the few diesel golfs they expected to sell each year it wasn't worth developing an engine of their own.
They must make only the basic engine though because all the ancillary stuff is different, very different.
Very soon we will be getting to the stage that all cars will have a smaller and smaller pool of engines because there are a lot more examples in the car world of cars with other makes of engine in them
Hi Vince
Having worked with the PSA group for years, I've never heard of VW using PSA engines TBH.
At one time taxation was all about engine size and anything over 2.0 litre was taxed higher than anything below it. So you will find lots of engines, all for different marques just fractionally under that 2 litre size.
With regard to VW they are very proud of the fact that they were the first manufacturer to market the common rail engine. They stuck to their concept and used the same 1.9 engine from 90hp to 153hp requirements (although we know that hp on a diesel engine means nothing - torque is the thing.)
PSA went in a different direction. They chose their 2 litre (1997cc to be exact) with the 90 & 110hp engine and went to the 2.2 for their 132hp engine.
Then Ford began looking for an engine partner. They had already dabbled with VW's Tdi in the Sharan. PSA on the other hand was worried that an engine partnership like this would make them less competitive. PSA also had such demand for the Hdi engines and were unable to produce them fast enough. We had backorders for cars and Vans with Hdi engines because of this. Ford had a spare plant (in Dagenham I believe) but they wanted the technology. Ideal bed fellows.
The partnership helped both, although Ford did try to keep their own engine program. They continued with the 1.8 converting it to common rail technology in the Tdci. In the Mondeo for example they used the same 2 litre Hdi Engine, but marketed it in the 130hp variant. They used this same engine in the Jag as well. (There are a few examples of the 110hp in the Mondeo still out there but not many.) Covering the engine up with plastic covers with the excuse of safety was easy to hide what is underneath.
Ford have played about with engine mapping and turbo boost to achieve other hp figures in their models giving the impression that these are not connected with PSA at all.
And this is the best bit. Most of the common rail technology used is supplied by Bosch Automotive, ie pumps, injectors etc. Bosch make these in two 'grades'. VW have always insisted on the top grade as they market their vehicles on quality German engineering.
PSA and Ford purchase the lower grade product as it's cheaper. They maintain that the cost saving outweighs any added failure rate. And in all due honesty, we see both Ford and PSA engines doing very high mileages without issue.
Using top German engineered product doesn't always guarantee that issues won't happen. VW were plagued with a fuel pump problems a couple of years back. It took them months to get the problem under control and most dealer's workshop parking was full of failed vehicles awaiting replacement pumps. My brother in law's Passatt was one of them and he had a hire car, courtesy of VW, for several months.
The diesel that we have at the pump has also changed over the years to meet new anti polution legislation. This has resulted in poorer lubrication properties of modern diesel, so many failures can be accredited to the diesel supply.
Of course, many of us mortals will never know exactly how much collusion between the manufacturers goes on - we had this discussion on floor pans recently on one of the forums, but whatever, they will keep most things as quiet as possible.
Spruce