Umm, Is It Normal....

[Mark Piercy]

if your worried about internal coolant leaks, start with a compression test and then have the coolant system checked.
do you have to top up the coolant?

 

[Grrrrrr]

I think we've already covered replacement engine could be anything. I think you need to trace where and what that replacement was. I think there might have been some sort of mark on the block or some way to tell if it was top-hatted at the factory but @Saint.V8 or @MrGorsky will know for sure.

 

[Doo]

if your worried about internal coolant leaks, start with a compression test and then have the coolant system checked.
do you have to top up the coolant?

No, not since I stopped the throttle body leaking. But I started thinking about that hose that blew... It was fairly spectacular!!

But this engine was replaced and has about 27k on it so I'm hoping it was one of their upgraded jobs as it came from LR under warranty.

I noticed the tips of my new exhausts are getting sooty and she's barely done fifty miles so now the cogs are meshing, it points to a plug or two, but why? I seem to recall they were NGK and not cheap

I'll try to get them out today, but my arm is next to useless with no sideways strength. I might manage... I'll report back

 

[Wazzajnr]

FWIW, I don't think it's your engine. I also don't think this is ignition related. I still think this is more to do with fuelling issues. The problem is that fuelling issues will cause the symptoms you're going to look for on the plugs.
It would be interesting to see a scope trace of the injectors pulse width when the problem occurs but that's not an easy thing to do.
It might be worth getting it to a tuning specialist with a 4 wheel rolling road.
Such a shame for a relatively young engine to not be running as well as it could.
Can you still get those gunson tuning plugs with the window in them?

If it's idling out of gear and you blip the throttle, does it splutter then or is it only when you're in gear?

 

[Doo]

Only in gear under load when pulling away from stop and only once warmed up. Cold I can look at the pedal and she's sweet. Once hot, I have to plant it a bit and soon as she's rolling I can tickle it again. Touch the throttle in N or P and there's no hint of misfire!?

But sooty exhausts point to running rich and I've noticed I've gone from 18.7mpg running around town to 16.5mpg. This is very recently.

 

[Doo]

Is it possible the temp sensor could cause this? It fits with sooty exhaust and using more fuel than normal and the misfire could be it's getting too much fuel & not enough air which is fixed when I rev it (allow more air in)...

A normal car I would simply plug in a code reader and see what the sensors are saying

Why'd they have to make it such a dick to read??

Ah well, I bought a Berlingo to run around in and use for shite jobs and short runs...It's a van they made into a car! Does that make it a car-a-van

 

[Wazzajnr]

This all suggests too much go juice to me.
Weeping injector maybe?
Like I said, it would be nice to see a scope trace of the injector pulses, then it would be obvious if the ECU were commanding too much.
Checking the plugs might highlight if it's one cylinder or all.
By the way, my tailpipe was black very soon after fitting but I don't think it's running particularly rich. It still has a bit of a flat spot in the middle of the range but fine at set off. Almost opposite of what you have really.
Only other thing I can think of is temp sender giving bogus info to the ECU although I think it's common with the temp gauge (but not certain)
I'm pretty sure, something is putting it at the wrong place on the fuel map when setting off and dumping too much fuel in there.

 

[Wazzajnr]

Looks like we were both thinking the same thing at the same time!
For temp sender reading, you might get away with a standard OBDII tool as I think that's one thing that would be covered by the OBDII standard.

 

[Doo]

Aye, looks like a trip to Hamish to plug into his massive brain

It's stopped raining so I may try the plugs now...