2.8 Daihatsu or Isuzu

Hi all. Just looking for some opinions on this. Which works best in a land rover. Which is tougher and more reliable. Which one is more frugal as fuel economy is so important nowadays?.....

Cheers all.

Both decent but the di seems to be more popular and cheaper parts

Dr_evil said:

Both decent but the di seems to be more popular and cheaper parts

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Thanks Dr evil. Have you had personal experience of one or both and what sort of fuel mileage were you getting. Heard stories of 38-40 mpg from some people with isuzu's......

I've driven a series with the 3.1 in it but never driven a 2.8 although one of the guys I know runs about 3 of those engines with no issues in various landrovers he's got and loves them

A bit less electrics too on them. Robbh has one for sale or did have

Dr_evil said:

I've driven a series with the 3.1 in it but never driven a 2.8 although one of the guys I know runs about 3 of those engines with no issues in various landrovers he's got and loves them

A bit less electrics too on them. Robbh has one for sale or did have

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Thanks....I'm guessing from your first reply that what you meant by DI was direct injection. You refer to the 3.1 which is Isuzu and I know a couple of 3.1 powered landy's but the owners say poor fuel mileage of 22-23mpg.....The 2.8's seem to be the better all rounder and in some markets were fitted with timing gears as standard

Call out to Robbh do you have one for sale?.....

Nah daihatsu stupid iPhone doesn't like spelling it though

The 3.1 is nice and gutsy though especially in a series!

My pal has about 5 Daihatsu four tracks and all have good motors, they seem pretty reliable. If he ever gets his S3 challenge truck done he will probably put one of the motors in it. I've not heard good things on the Isuzu motors in the past. Also not sure of the tax bands, would a 2.8 be lower group than a 3.1 it's possibly different here.

Mate of mine had a 2.8turbo Isuzu and it was the most gutless heap of poop. Always ran hot, mpg was no better than a normal 200tdi. Stick with 200tdi or 300tdi. What is the reason you want to choose daihatsu or Suzy?

A guy I work with loves Fronteras, he has two both with the Isuzu 2.8.

One has done over 250k with very few problems. Only had a Turbo and clutch and he recently changed the back axle as it was getting noisy.

Good engines the 2.8 and ok in a Fronty, no idea what it would be like in a 'Fender, but power wise it's similar to a 300tdi on paper.

landyboots said:

Thanks....I'm guessing from your first reply that what you meant by DI was direct injection. You refer to the 3.1 which is Isuzu and I know a couple of 3.1 powered landy's but the owners say poor fuel mileage of 22-23mpg.....The 2.8's seem to be the better all rounder and in some markets were fitted with timing gears as standard

Call out to Robbh do you have one for sale?.....

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Did have but it went to the scrappy 3 days ago.

Plus it was only a 2.5.

Isuzu:
2.8 - superb lump, but getting rare; also expensive to fix 30+mpg
3.1 - doesn't like poor cooling, not as tough as the 2.8
3.9 - rare but awesome, try to get it with OE exhaust brake

Daihatsu 2.8 - okay. low on rev, loads of grunt, poor fuel economy - needs a 'cooler

Loads of information there guys. Thanks for all the inputs. Mate has an old 2 door range rover with a horrible old perkins in it and was just looking for options. He has a conversion plate which he can adapt to fit most motors so all inputs are welcome. The isuzu 2.8 seems to have a great reputation for durability/reliability and fuel economy. Just wanted to see could any of you guys give some heads up from your own experiences with this motor. I know they are getting old now so a rebuild might be the best way forward. In my opinion the 200/300tdi landy lumps are the best all round diesel engines ever. I know they are underpowered but if you don't need to tow a barge around all day long, they are the best compromise and are still going strong 25 years after first taking the 4x4 world by storm......Anyway, I've heard good things about the Daihatsu engine also so, It's about personal choice really.....

Cheers all.

We run a 2.8 Isuzu in the 101. You have to remember they came in a low and a high power version Ours is the higher power version and while it won't set the world on fire, it has plenty of torque and is returning 25+ mpg in the 101. We have nearly finished raising our gearing so it should be closer to 30mpg when it isn't revving it's tits off

As I mentioned before the Daihatsu lump lends it's self to an intercooler and is relatively tuneable

The 2.8 Isuzu lump will happily run without a waste gate and still stay reliable, so again is super tuneable. But I've not seen one that isn't in an LR product for a couple of years now

Have you thought about a Mazda 3.5SLT or a Nissan 3.5FD? Or maybe a Merc 3.0 Multivalve TD

i'm ashamed to admit many years ago I had a swb frontera with the 2.8 Isuzu.... fantastic engine and did manage just over 40mpg on steady motorway cruising ..

cheers steve

Nonimouse said:

As I mentioned before the Daihatsu lump lends it's self to an intercooler and is relatively tuneable

The 2.8 Isuzu lump will happily run without a waste gate and still stay reliable, so again is super tuneable. But I've not seen one that isn't in an LR product for a couple of years now

Have you thought about a Mazda 3.5SLT or a Nissan 3.5FD? Or maybe a Merc 3.0 Multivalve TD

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Good info there nonimouse. Yes, the Isuzu's are getting rare now. I think they are all getting exported to more valuable markets. My mate has considered the fd and has had a classic with the Mazda in it. Buckets of low down grunt but damn thirsty. The merc is generaly regarded as the best diesel engine ever made?.....The 200tdi has so much going for it in my opinion. Will run on SVO without any problems. Even at 100%. I remember the last one I had back in the winter of 2011. Hadn't got the glow plugs wired up and still fired up first flick of the key and it was only -16C.....I dont know of any Jap lump that would do that.....

The Mazda lump needs big batteries and a well maintained starter. The FD is usually very well mannered

The Merc 606 lump will rum on 100% SVO The NAD version of this lump is also very nice - 134+ bhp and revs like a banshee on speed but still pulls well from low down, A popular upgrade in G wagens. And yes that's no typo 134bhp and 155ft/lb with no turbo..
The turbo'd version is 174 bhp and 234 ft/lb - but can be worked hard at 500bhp+
Merc also did the OM602 5 cylinder in 2.9ltr - SsangYong used it in the Musso and the Korando so it's available at most good scrappies. Will run on 100%SVO. Great engine and about 130bhp