I bought a Mazda Capella not long ago planning to convert it to run off Waste Vegetable Oil (as I believe many people in Australia have done) and have since found out that the engine needs some work (it hasn't been converted to WVO yet).

It runs ok for short trips in the city but it isn't up to scratch and needs a bit of work which I just don't have the time for.

I bought it to get to and from my property in the country but it really doesn't like those long hauls or hills in its current condition. Given I just got the property, I really need something immediately that will get me back and forth, rather than spending a few months tinkering with this one. I will be sorry to sell it as it is a very practical diesel and the body is in amazingly good shape. It even has fold out, backwards facing seats in the boot (with regulation seat belts) so it is a 7 seater!

I will be honest with you, my mechanic thinks that it will be in the ball park of $2k for the parts to get it running nicely, but I am sure there is someone out there who wants a practical diesel such as this who has the time and inclination to fix it up. I would really prefer not to have to scrap it as it is such a nice little car and would make a damn good project for someone, plus it is so rare to find a diesel car (rather than 4WD) with such low KM. I am happy to provide a list of items from the mechanic to any interested parties.

It has a roadworthy certificate which is valid until the 3rd of January 2008.

Also, please note that it is a Japanese import, but I managed to get comprehensive insurance for it from Justcar for $600 which isn't too bad.

Some of the specs:

Transmission: Automatic
Body Type: Wagon
Colour: Maroon
Engine: Diesel 2.0L with supercharger
Stereo: Tape Player
Kilometers: 155,000
Registration to February 08
RWC: to 3 January 2008
Location: Inner city, Melbourne, VIC, Aus
Tyres: Near New
Features: Electric everything (windows, rear vision mirrors etc) - running off a separate battery, roof rack, 2 spare tires.

Cost: Make me an offer!

Binary,
Can you please describe the issues with the engine of this car.

The main failure of these engines is the supercharger boost limiting mechanism, which is a shaft thru the exhaust side of the 'charger.

This results in impressively poor performance. If the supercharger is removed from the engine and the boost limiting shaft freed up (possibly with new bushes) and its operation checked, then reinstalled, you will find that the performance of this engine is quite lively.

There are other issues which can also affect the engine power output, including an air hose disconnected on the IP, only injection correct fuel for non-boost operation.

Regards,
Tony (I had one for 4 years, 3 years running on used cooking oil.)

Thanks for this information Tony.

That is interesting to learn that the supercharger can be removed. Did this cost a lot to get done or have any other repercussions? I am thinking that if it is relatively easy to do it may be worth a shot. It would certainly make engine maintenance a lot easier I should think.

In terms of the issues, I found out this morning that quite a few of them should have been picked up by the roadworthy that was provided when I bought the car, and that I will be able to get them fixed at the expense of the mechanic who did the roadworthy. These are an oil leak (sump), water leak (thermostat housing), rear oil leak, new wiper blades, stem seals and blowing black smoke on acceleration.

The additional issues that will need addressing are:

• Bottom Radiator Hose Swolen
• Possible dirty injectors
• Possible injector pump problem
• Decarbonise intake and engine

The intake manifold will ALWAYS be black because of the high amount of exhaust gas in the intake air (function of the supercharger).

On my Capella, after losing coolant and stuffing up the head, I bought an imported supercharged engine from Japan. I installed it and it went like the clappers. I checked the boost pressure and it was boosting over 14psi, sometimes peaking at 20 psi, whenever above 1000 rpm under load. As a result, the head bolts at the cam belt end of the engine stretched, causing significant oil leaks at that end of the engine. I found that the boost limiter was siezed at the full boost position.

Perhaps you should try setting yours to give about half boost? Do not set it to give full boost as that would cause the same issues as I had.

I had removedthe supercharger whilst in the car as I thought that I had a bearing problem in it (loud squealing from supercharger) but it turned out to be a belt too loose, as the supercharger spun freely when I had it off.