Technical Oil Pump / Cambelt issues with 2022 - 2024 2.2 Engines

[nightmarefleet]

Hello,

We run a fleet of Fiat Ducatos (currently 40) with 10 more on order.

Our 2019 - 2021 Fiats are the 2.3 engine which runs great, lots in or around 200k miles. Minor issues around dirty EGR's and DPF's but burning resolves and ultrasonic baths fix it.

Our 2.2 engine Fiats are another story. We offer nationwide deliveries and have run into constant issues with every single one of them.

We believe the issue relates to faulty oil pumps which causes the engine to cease, we've had a few with snapped cambelts but I believe this is related to the oil pressure problem with the engine not turning.

When I say a few we've had the following

2022 - 6 out of 6 needing new engines around the 60k miles range due to destroying themselves due to no oil pressure. 2 of the new 5 engines have failed outside of the 100k warranty and now off the road for good. 1 of the 6 was diagnosed with a snapped cambelt. Others had holes in the block and were wrecked.
2023 - Out of 6, 2 which came in one batch both snapped their cambelts within 24 hours of each other. One was already in with oil pressure issues and needs a new engine. One has had a replaced engine with a snapped cambelt. Leaving 2 out of 6 on the road both are under the dreaded 60k miles mark but are ticking time bombs.
2024 - We've got 11, all running currently around the 30k - 40k mileage range

We run oil changes + oil filter every 7.5k miles, air filter and fuel filter every 30k. Has anyone experienced this level of failure or has any thoughts?

Our biggest concern is we're going to have to sell all these vans before the 100k mark so we don't have them fail a second time like some of the 2022 vans. The engine clearly is not fit for purpose running in a LGV rather than a car.

Also we have 2025 vans on order, does anyone know is it the same van as far as I can see the

2022 - https://www.fiatprofessional.fi/wp-...1/Uusi-Ducato-VAN-tekniset-tiedot-01-2022.pdf
2024 - https://www.fiatprofessional.lt/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ducato-MY24-technical-data.pdf
2025 - https://www.fiatprofessional.com/uk/commercial-vehicles-pricelist

All have the same 2.2 engine (2184cc (83.8 x 99)). Though the dealer has confirmed to us that the 2025 engine should have a physical dipstick which would mean its slightly different.

Is anyone else experiencing the same issues?

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

Very informative post, will probably warn other potential buyers about how unreliable the modern diesel engines are. Thanks for sharing (from a diesel hater )

 

[Jockstrap]

Interesting rather than informative, in my book. No diesel lover, but hate is a tad strong.
The OP notes a return for 2025 vans without full engine spec? More a reflection on the competition rather than reliability of the Fiat modern diesel. Reliability is subjective, and
satisfaction a consequence of expectation

 

[Abarthmultijet]

The 2.3 diesel has an oil pick up who is fixed to the oil pump with bolts. The 2.2 has an sump with the oil pick up build in. It bolts to the engine and the oil pomp with an rubber washer. Those washers often fail resulting in air sucked by the oil pump and losing pressure.

Also most modern engines have a variable oil pump, controlled by the ecu. The pressure is set pretty low to lower emissions (less force required by pump, less friction) a engine ecu tuner can set the oil pressure higher, to a normal level.

There are modification kits available to skip the rubber washer bit on the oil pump.

 

[theoneandonly]

@nightmarefleet have you had any 2017 -19 twin egr models? If so how was thier reliability? With your mileages i would expect any problems eg with EGR cooler to be mopped up in warrenty period.

 

[nightmarefleet]

@theoneandonly we only had 2 I believe in that period, they were the 2 first vans we bought. One is over 200k miles and still running, it has an engine management light on all the time but runs fine.

The other one had a coolant leak last year and engine was ruined. Think it did about 170k miles. Never had any issues with the dual EGR's.

 

[Reg 65]

@theoneandonly we only had 2 I believe in that period, they were the 2 first vans we bought. One is over 200k miles and still running, it has an engine management light on all the time but runs fine.

The other one had a coolant leak last year and engine was ruined. Think it did about 170k miles. Never had any issues with the dual EGR's.

Thanks for the reply
Good to know not everybody has trouble with the Dual EGR (or automatic gearbox)
But is the engine management light not an MOT fail?

 

[nightmarefleet]

It is, but we can clear error codes in house, and its an intermittent fault so when not heading for MOT its always on.