Best engine for a Defender 110 van?

What does everyone think is the best engine to go for, a 200TDi or 300TDi (I
doubt my budget will stretch to a TD5). I had assumed the 300 but there seem
to be a lot of reliability problems being reported here so is the 200 a
better bet and is there much in it regarding fuel economy?.

Greg

On or around Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:46:12 +0100, "Greg"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>What does everyone think is the best engine to go for, a 200TDi or 300TDi (I
>doubt my budget will stretch to a TD5). I had assumed the 300 but there seem
>to be a lot of reliability problems being reported here so is the 200 a
>better bet and is there much in it regarding fuel economy?.

if anything, the 200 might be a fraction more economical.

the 200 is a bit more agricultural-sounding - but I reckon most of that's
the extra sound-deadening on the 300 series...

The only things specific to the 300 which are more hassle ridden are the
serpentine belt tensioner and the cambelt. The one is cured quite simply by
replacing it and the other is cured by fitting the appropriate cambelt kit
if needed.

I don't think either of them are more prone than the other to head gaskets
going, TBH.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy! Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
------------------------------------------------\
>> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/ << \ ...and Kill them.
a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!

In message <[email protected]>
"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote:

> What does everyone think is the best engine to go for, a 200TDi or 300TDi (I
> doubt my budget will stretch to a TD5). I had assumed the 300 but there seem
> to be a lot of reliability problems being reported here so is the 200 a
> better bet and is there much in it regarding fuel economy?.
>
> Greg
>
>

A 200 or 300 Tdi will do the business, the 300 having a bit more
top end if you are going long distance. There's no major problems
with the 300Tdi [1] (any mods have either been done by now or don't
need doing) - but *never* allow a 300Tdi to overheat (or any
"modern" engine for that matter).

[1] actually, the vacuum pumps are a bit of pain, but fitting
a new one seems to be a relatively premanent fix.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

Greg <[email protected]> uttered summat worrerz funny
about:
> What does everyone think is the best engine to go for, a 200TDi or
> 300TDi (I doubt my budget will stretch to a TD5). I had assumed the
> 300 but there seem to be a lot of reliability problems being reported
> here so is the 200 a better bet and is there much in it regarding
> fuel economy?.
>
> Greg

Mostly we chat in here about broken stuff so it's not a good benchmark. For
example there are few posts about Freelanders which despite there early
reputation should actually be a good thing. Also relatively few posts about
front Diffs being naughty on 101's but in the last month theres been a bit
of a glut so to the casual observer they would appear to be an "issue"
IYSWIM.

Lee D

"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On or around Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:46:12 +0100, "Greg"
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>>What does everyone think is the best engine to go for, a 200TDi or 300TDi
>>(I
>>doubt my budget will stretch to a TD5). I had assumed the 300 but there
>>seem
>>to be a lot of reliability problems being reported here so is the 200 a
>>better bet and is there much in it regarding fuel economy?.
>
> if anything, the 200 might be a fraction more economical.
>
> the 200 is a bit more agricultural-sounding - but I reckon most of that's
> the extra sound-deadening on the 300 series...
>
> Austin Shackles.

You're right there Austin I put my money where my mouth is and invested in
the rubber rocker box ( chest for US chums) cover and did the dirty with
Heat proof on the manifold makes a big difference.
Derek
Kato 200TDi Disco

"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The only things specific to the 300 which are more hassle ridden are the
> serpentine belt tensioner and the cambelt.

Am I right in thinking that the 300 has an ECU whereas the 200 is a
mechanical pump, and doesn't an ECU mean more problems of an expensive
nature that mere mortals can't fix?

Greg

In message <[email protected]>
"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > The only things specific to the 300 which are more hassle ridden are the
> > serpentine belt tensioner and the cambelt.
>
> Am I right in thinking that the 300 has an ECU whereas the 200 is a
> mechanical pump, and doesn't an ECU mean more problems of an expensive
> nature that mere mortals can't fix?
>

It depends on which 300Tdi - the later Discovery I one's had an
ECU, earlier ones had an EGR ECU, and earlier still had a mechanical
EGR, i.e. no ECU (infact no EGR as such).

> Greg

>
>

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

"beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:b25615504e%[email protected]...
> It depends on which 300Tdi - the later Discovery I one's had an
> ECU, earlier ones had an EGR ECU, and earlier still had a mechanical
> EGR, i.e. no ECU (infact no EGR as such).

Now I am confused!, so the 300TDI is not one engine but a range of engines
from a mechanical pump to a full ECU, how the heck are you supposed to know
what you're buying when adverts just say 300TDi?.

Greg

In message <[email protected]>
"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:b25615504e%[email protected]...
> > It depends on which 300Tdi - the later Discovery I one's had an
> > ECU, earlier ones had an EGR ECU, and earlier still had a mechanical
> > EGR, i.e. no ECU (infact no EGR as such).
>
> Now I am confused!, so the 300TDI is not one engine but a range of engines
> from a mechanical pump to a full ECU, how the heck are you supposed to know
> what you're buying when adverts just say 300TDi?.
>
> Greg
>
>

That's a fair point! In reality though, any electronics can be
done away with when installing (not a bad idea in itself) as the
engine itself remains the same, you might just end up with a
reduandant sensor or two. Removing the EGR system is quite
a popular thing to do anyway.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

On or around Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:24:08 +0100, beamendsltd
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>In message <[email protected]>
> "Greg" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> "Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > The only things specific to the 300 which are more hassle ridden are the
>> > serpentine belt tensioner and the cambelt.
>>
>> Am I right in thinking that the 300 has an ECU whereas the 200 is a
>> mechanical pump, and doesn't an ECU mean more problems of an expensive
>> nature that mere mortals can't fix?
>>
>
>It depends on which 300Tdi - the later Discovery I one's had an
>ECU, earlier ones had an EGR ECU, and earlier still had a mechanical
>EGR, i.e. no ECU (infact no EGR as such).

the full EDC is only on late-model diesel autos, I thought.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam! afar Drag the slow barge, or
drive the rapid car; Or on wide-waving wings expanded bear the
flying chariot through the field of air.- Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802)

In message <[email protected]>
Austin Shackles <[email protected]> wrote:

> On or around Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:24:08 +0100, beamendsltd
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
> >In message <[email protected]>
> > "Greg" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> "Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > The only things specific to the 300 which are more hassle ridden are the
> >> > serpentine belt tensioner and the cambelt.
> >>
> >> Am I right in thinking that the 300 has an ECU whereas the 200 is a
> >> mechanical pump, and doesn't an ECU mean more problems of an expensive
> >> nature that mere mortals can't fix?
> >>
> >
> >It depends on which 300Tdi - the later Discovery I one's had an
> >ECU, earlier ones had an EGR ECU, and earlier still had a mechanical
> >EGR, i.e. no ECU (infact no EGR as such).
>
> the full EDC is only on late-model diesel autos, I thought.

There are part numbers for Defender, not that I've ever seen one,
so it may be for specific markets (Germany/Switzerland spring to mind).

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

Can anyone please tell me is it easy to take off or indeed add a turbo, to the 2.5 engine, in other words can a 2.5 N/A be converted to a 2.5 td, and vice versa or is there more to it than that? Mike