300 Tdi Rebuild

neilly said:

Good news, More miles than I do in my 90 in two years...LOL.

Is the reduction in oil usage due to the replacement turbo?

Cheers

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TBH I don't really know, neilly. It was certainly passing a lot of oil and the performance of the Landy is awesome since I put the replacement on. I'll take the IC pipe to inlet manifold off tomorrow and see how much oil is in there. So, it must be a canny bit down to the turbo and possibly down to getting run in. Just not sure in what proportion.
I'm dead chuffed it's still not used any oil in two weeks though! I don't think it has really sunk in cos I was fairly disappointed about how much it was using, to be honest. It's a learning curve though.

Thanks for following, gents. I think I might have a bloody good engine again

The new Dayco belt is still squeaking, so decided to try the Gates belt. Thought I'd put a picture on to show the difference.

The Gates is a harder, shinier material so hopefully will slide rather than squeak. Time will tell.

Ok, here's another oil update. After 3 weeks and two days of the Mrs drive to work and other driving about, the oil is half way between the notches on the dipstick.

It started bang on the top notch. The Mrs averages 250 miles in a week (5 days) and the Landy will do a little few more at the weekend. So, it would have covered approx 850 miles in that time. It took exactly 400ml of oil to get it back to the top of the notch. That's 2125miles/litre of oil. I'm sure someone mentioned Land Rovers quoted oil consumption for the 300Tdi, I'll have to look for it unless someone knows.
Anyway, I'm happy with that and also hopeful that it will steadily get a bit better too.

A week and a bit now, for the Gate's belt, and it hasn't started squeaking yet.

Well, not such a happy bunny this weekend. Here's an update in the latest engine running in/oil consumption saga.
Had a busy weekend in the Landy having driven to Inverness to take part in a 150 mile charity rally around Loch Ness.
Style of driving must have a significant affect on oil consumption.
Friday night drove non stop to Inverness, about 250miles. On Saturday did the 150 mile tour around Loch Ness and surrounding hills (glorious )
Sunday drove back via Perth. Total mileage over the weekend was about 750 miles. Plus 5 days work travel (250 miles) since last top up gives a total of 1000 miles.
It's just taken 1.1 litres to top it up. Was obviously counting my chickens before they hatched last week.

So................from feeling very pleased with over 2000miles/litre last week, this last top up has shown less than 1000miles/litre. I'm just recording things for future reference. However, If anyone is reading this then any thoughts about the varying consumption would be welcomed.

Unfortuntely I'm not in a position to advise with much confidence, although perhaps it's time to take a look at the bores???

I would like to say thank you for all your posts (and JM's) and pictures - I'll be rebuilding a 300tdi from scratch either this year or early next year, and this thread will help considerably. You've done a great job too.

Good luck finding the source of your issue!

Sting Ray said:

Unfortuntely I'm not in a position to advise with much confidence, although perhaps it's time to take a look at the bores???

I would like to say thank you for all your posts (and JM's) and pictures - I'll be rebuilding a 300tdi from scratch either this year or early next year, and this thread will help considerably. You've done a great job too.

Good luck finding the source of your issue!

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Cheers, Sting Ray. I hope the thread is of use when you do yours. I lapsed on measuring the oil top ups. Mainly because I couldn't be bothered to go in to the kitchen, from the garage, get the Pyrex measuring jug and carefully measure it out. Then properly clean the jug to go back in the kitchen. The oil consumption has continued to go down I reckon. However, last weekend I started measuring the oil again and start a list to record it. It may well be the bores due to the honing not being deep enough. I suspect the valve guides though as I didn't replace them. Good luck with yours.

Al2O3 said:

Cheers, Sting Ray. I hope the thread is of use when you do yours. I lapsed on measuring the oil top ups. Mainly because I couldn't be bothered to go in to the kitchen, from the garage, get the Pyrex measuring jug and carefully measure it out. Then properly clean the jug to go back in the kitchen. The oil consumption has continued to go down I reckon. However, last weekend I started measuring the oil again and start a list to record it. It may well be the bores due to the honing not being deep enough. I suspect the valve guides though as I didn't replace them. Good luck with yours.

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This is not specifically about your engine but having don't many rebuilds on Volvo Cummins and Scania engines over the years some of them have gulped oil for 20k miles before settling and stopping using any at all,some never used any from day one and one in particular (a daf)I was on the verge of taking out and doing again as was using 5 litres a day! suddenly decided to not do it any more after a goodthrashing for about 200 miles.

Just one thought,can yours breathe easily? Is there a bit too much crankcase pressure forcing all the vapours out and there fore loosing a little oil all the time

Joemac434 said:

This is not specifically about your engine but having don't many rebuilds on Volvo Cummins and Scania engines over the years some of them have gulped oil for 20k miles before settling and stopping using any at all,some never used any from day one and one in particular (a daf)I was on the verge of taking out and doing again as was using 5 litres a day! suddenly decided to not do it any more after a goodthrashing for about 200 miles.

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That's interesting to know. My local LR Inde said give it 10k+ so we'll see. Out shopping at the mo will check level when I get home.

Joemac434 said:

Just one thought,can yours breathe easily? Is there a bit too much crankcase pressure forcing all the vapours out and there fore loosing a little oil all the time

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Yes, its breathing fine. Cheers.

Al2O3 said:

Yes, its breathing fine. Cheers.

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Good,just sometimes with a rebuild you'll get a lot of crap in the system at initial start up and it'll upset the breathers/ any egr valves etc.One thing I would say is don't be afraid now and then to give it some high revs for a few minutes at a time just to chuck out any sticky stuff that might bulid up,it won't hurt it

Joemac434 said:

Good,just sometimes with a rebuild you'll get a lot of crap in the system at initial start up and it'll upset the breathers/ any egr valves etc.One thing I would say is don't be afraid now and then to give it some high revs for a few minutes at a time just to chuck out any sticky stuff that might bulid up,it won't hurt it

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Absolutely. Did a lot of research about the why's and wherefores of 'running in'. It's had some long hard drives and high revs at times
EDIT
Home from shops now, but had rugby on record so will do oil tomorrow

Al2O3 said:

Absolutely. Did a lot of research about the why's and wherefores of 'running in'. It's had some long hard drives and high revs at times
EDIT
Home from shops now, but had rugby on record so will do oil tomorrow

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You obviously know what you're doing so illI shut up interfering,just wanted to reassure you it's not unusual to have fairly high oil usage after a rebuild.Hope it keeps going well for you

Joemac434 said:

You obviously know what you're doing so illI shut up interfering,just wanted to reassure you it's not unusual to have fairly high oil usage after a rebuild.Hope it keeps going well for you

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Don't be daft. All contributions welcomed cos you can always increase your knowledge by learning from others' experience. Cheers.

Have slowly read through near on the whole 50 pages, sounds like a cracking job you've done with the 90 there Al2O3

My only curiosity is what oil are you topping her up with currently / has she been enjoying after the first change?

Goc3k said:

Have slowly read through near on the whole 50 pages, sounds like a cracking job you've done with the 90 there Al2O3

My only curiosity is what oil are you topping her up with currently / has she been enjoying after the first change?

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I'm using 10W40 semi-synthetic. Just topped it up to half way between dip stick markers, using a measuring jug. Took 850ml and it's only done 276 miles since I topped it up last weekend. That's 325 miles per litre of oil. Pretty desperate, I reckon.

That is indeed some guzzling, even for the initial miles. You've checked all the easy stuff... makes for a tricky "what do I do next" scenario.

Seems you were very methodical lubing and assembling as you went, and it sounds somewhat intermittent (the level of consumption), which leans toward it not being a mistake made, just not running in well. I'd be inclined to stick a 3tonne trailer on the back and sit at 80% load on the motorway for a few hours as a last ditch attempt, italian run in style.

Failing that maybe try a 50 weight just to see if extra viscosity slows it down - if it doesn't then perhaps it is as simple as a rogered seal on a valve guide, which would be very nice.

Goc3k said:

That is indeed some guzzling, even for the initial miles. You've checked all the easy stuff... makes for a tricky "what do I do next" scenario.

Seems you were very methodical lubing and assembling as you went, and it sounds somewhat intermittent (the level of consumption), which leans toward it not being a mistake made, just not running in well. I'd be inclined to stick a 3tonne trailer on the back and sit at 80% load on the motorway for a few hours as a last ditch attempt, italian run in style.

Failing that maybe try a 50 weight just to see if extra viscosity slows it down - if it doesn't then perhaps it is as simple as a rogered seal on a valve guide, which would be very nice.

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I know what I'm gong to do next. When it gets warmer weather I'm going to take the head off and get the valve guides changed. Didn't do that during the rebuild. Took a chance with new valve seals and I suspect that was a mistake. If I've still an issue after that then I'll have to look at the honing.

Plus once the head's off you can at least check the honing by eye if nothing more as a plus!