power suggestions

Hi all i've just changed from a mondeo tddi to a 97 300 tdi discovery, just took the disco away with the caravan for the first time and think i need to up the power a bit, i've given it a good service and done the egr blank, but any other suggestions would be welcomed thanks all

paz1 said:

Hi all i've just changed from a mondeo tddi to a 97 300 tdi discovery, just took the disco away with the caravan for the first time and think i need to up the power a bit, i've given it a good service and done the egr blank, but any other suggestions would be welcomed thanks all

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Assuming it still has a cat in the exhaust downpipe, change it for one without a cat - part no. ESR2297 about £18 from Paddocks.

Easy job to change, jack up the chassis (not the axle) to give more working room.

Will not negatively affect mot.

The other thing to considor is that your Mondeo had about 115bhp from memory, 2 wheel drive and weighed about 1400kgs (depending on model) so a power to weight ratio of 82bhp/ton - whereas your Discovery has 111bhp, permanent 4 wheel drive (so lots more energy-sapping friction), weighs approx 2100kgs and has a power to weight ratio of 52bhp/ton.

In other words it WILL be slower, but they are good towing cars never the less, just slower.

Tweak the fuel pump
Tweak the Turbo
Fine tune the timing
fine tune the tappets
Add a bigger intercooler
replace air filter, fuel filter, clean sedimentor, fit new lift pump
Add silicone hoses
Clean out induction plenum.
decat your exhaust pipe
take off the fan
fit smaller diameter wheels
Drill out thousands of holes in your caravan to reduce weight.

ALthough i still have my Mondeo, i bought the '94 300tdi to pull a 1500kg trailer, it IS slower but will pull it all day without raising a finger, its a good slogging motor and i have now got used to driving everywhere at trailer towing speeds, i now use the Disco more than the mondy as i find driving at 60 far more relaxing than bombing around at 70-80 in the mondy.

I have removed the cat which gave a massive boost in usable power, my egr was gone when i bought it. Full service of course and timing belt etc.

I asked the same question when i first got her and later realised i was wrong to compare the two, its like chalk and cheese.

One thing to check is to slap on a boost gauge to verify the operation of the turbo.

Dave