To overhaul or not to overhaul

[petergouvias]

I have 1999 disco 2 with 156000 kms TD5, my machanic is sayin that my engine is low on compression and is blowing throuh the turbo-intercooler and back into th cylinders. He also reckons that the cold starting problem i am having is symptomatic of this condition, he recommends an overhaul, he would, wouldn't he? Is he right, if he is there are two jobs he can do, an in-chassis job-R15000, of out-of-chassis-R45000 (read out-of-pocket, or up my anus). He sez that because LR don't produce over-size pistons the bolck needs to be sleaved which requires quite a bit of engineering. Can anyone give some solid advice?

 

[mondo]

Get a second opinion !

156k kms is not anywhere near the life expectancy fer that engine unless ofcourse yer been runnin it on combination of veg oil and grindin paste !

 

[petergouvias]

Well I only bought the chariot 6 months ago, could there be another reason for those symtoms, and if the previous was useing toothpaste instead of oil, which route would u take to extend the engines life?

 

[discobasher]

I would get a second opinion aswell. Sounds a bit iffy to me but I dont kow the TD5 engine. Phone an independant in your area and explain your issues.

 

[PASTMASTER]

I would get a second opinion aswell. Sounds a bit iffy to me but I dont kow the TD5 engine. Phone an independant in your area and explain your issues.

If it really is as bad as he says, I'd have thought a recon or even a second-hand engine would be cheaper and quicker. Certainly get a second opinion before you proceed. On the other hand a cheap fix won't be as good as a full rebuild by a good mechanic. The way prices are going, there may not be much difference between repairing it and buying another car. Bearing in mind that you can swap over any good bits like tyres and sell the old one on to someone who either likes a challenge or doesn't know any better. I recently had a cracked head replaced, but my mechanic was quite clear that it was only worth doing it if I intended to keep the car for a while.

 

[[email protected]]

Judging by the fact your are quoting repair costs in Rands, you must be in South Africa. Where abouts? I would definately get a second opinion. Try British 4x4 in Pretoria, I've found them to be very helpful.

 

[mondo]

I have 1999 disco 2 with 156000 kms TD5, my machanic is sayin that my engine is low on compression and is blowing throuh the turbo-intercooler and back into th cylinders.

Ask him what he means "egzactly " and get him to show you compression readings.

The only thing i can think he means is HG gone or the manifolds bustid

the intercoolers the big radiator next to the cooling rad and thats its purpose "blow air thro it and into the cylinders" Then do a search on here and give the EGR a good clean out!

I still recon hes tryin t rip yer off !

 

[petergouvias]

Fanks for all the replies

I am in Cape Town, and yes i need to get a second opinion and maybe have a compression test done somewhere else.

Just another point, he replaced the EGR with a straight pipe?? he sezs its not required, he also said that the oil was leaking out the EGR and dripping on my alternator (the actual reason i needed a mechanic in the firat place). So what does the EGR do anyway??The car seems to be riding ok, though tough starting still is a problem, I have read a few threads which seem to indicate it may be a fueling problem.

 

[thebiglad]

Fanks for all the replies

I am in Cape Town, and yes i need to get a second opinion and maybe have a compression test done somewhere else.

Just another point, he replaced the EGR with a straight pipe?? he sezs its not required, he also said that the oil was leaking out the EGR and dripping on my alternator (the actual reason i needed a mechanic in the firat place). So what does the EGR do anyway??The car seems to be riding ok, though tough starting still is a problem, I have read a few threads which seem to indicate it may be a fueling problem.

Hi Peter, the EGR valve is LR's way of meeting certain exhaust emission regs, it stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation and under certain conditions, it re-routes exhaust gasses back into the engine.

It always was a piece of Ford crap engineering even when it worked correctly, but over time the valve can jam open thereby letting the exhaust back into the engine permanently - not good.

Your mechanic was right to suggest getting rid of it, that's what most of us do here, but I don't understand what problem(s) you are trying to solve.

LR diesel engines, when looked after properly are good for 3-400,000kms without rebuild, so I would be interested to know what it it that's going so badly wrong as to need this rebuild/replacement????

There are all sorts of electronickery in Td5 that can a.muck you up & b. be sorted out and back to good running relatively easily.

Does your guy has the up-to-date electronic test gear to interrogate the engine??

Cheers
Dave

 

[petergouvias]

Ah Dave, a Landy owner and biker, cheers mate!!

It is the mechanics suggestion that the engine is on its way out, the reasons he gave me are

1. The engine breather is allowing oil throught the air-intake, thru the turbo and intercooler, thru what used to be the egr back into the engine. Thats what he sez antway
2. He also sez that cause i am lacking cylinder pressure, the motor only fires once there is enough diesel in the cylinder to increase compression enough to allow it to start. (made sense when he said it, but now haveing doubts)
3. He said he did a compression test, but i didn't see the results. (will get another done just to check)

 

[thebiglad]

Ah Dave, a Landy owner and biker, cheers mate!!

It is the mechanics suggestion that the engine is on its way out, the reasons he gave me are

1. The engine breather is allowing oil throught the air-intake, on the face of it that's normal thru the turbo and intercooler, thru what used to be the egr back into the engine. Thats what he sez antway
2. He also sez that cause i am lacking cylinder pressure, the motor only fires once there is enough diesel in the cylinder to increase compression enough to allow it to start. (made sense when he said it, but now haveing doubts) Am I sensing correctly that there is a starting problem?3. He said he did a compression test, but i didn't see the results. (will get another done just to check)

Hi Peter, what is the problem with your car - why did you send it to this mechanic in the first place. What is it doing/not doing that it should do?

Td5's must be looked after by someone with the correct computer test equipment. A lot of the guys here have bought them so they can validate what the garages are saying and/or fix it themselves. If I were you I would be starting to think about this so that you can do the checks yourself. The equipment is not that expensive and could save you a packet.

If we can start from the beginning, maybe we can help you AND save some money.

Cheers
Dave

 

[petergouvias]

Dave

The reason i took the car in was because the alternator packed in, the reason given to me that the alternator packed in was that oil was soaking it. That oil was coming from the egr unit. Now the machnic is saying that the reason oil was coming out of the egr unit was because there is crank-case pressure pushing oil out the breather?? and making its way to the egr unit.

The cold starting problem has been present since i bought the car, recently my battery gave up and has prompted me to look for the reason for the starting problem, my mechanic says it is the one and the same problem, ie lack of compression is cause the motor to start with difficulty.

 

[thebiglad]

Dave

The reason i took the car in was because the alternator packed in, the reason given to me that the alternator packed in was that oil was soaking it. That oil was coming from the egr unit. Now the machnic is saying that the reason oil was coming out of the egr unit was because there is crank-case pressure pushing oil out the breather?? and making its way to the egr unit.

The cold starting problem has been present since i bought the car, recently my battery gave up and has prompted me to look for the reason for the starting problem, my mechanic says it is the one and the same problem, ie lack of compression is cause the motor to start with difficulty.

This is sounding increasingly wrong to me !!

Does this man/garage have computer test equipment to interrogate the electronic systems? If he doesn't, he is not qualified/resourced to work on a Td5.

I would seriously considor going elsewhere.

This sounds like an arse-about-face way of dealing with a starting problem.. Your choice of course

 

[Captain Caveman]

If the battery was not charging properly then starting would become difficult. Now that you have change the alternator (and the battery?) does it now start OK?

 

[si67]

food for thought but an EGR valve dont use or have oil in it, it is operated by vacuum and opens a valve to pass exhaust gas, so this could not be the source of engine oil which killed the alternator