Freelander V6 extremly loud tappity knocking noise

Hi, i'm new to this forum, and to Freelanders. I've had defenders in the past but somehow ended up buying a Freelander 2.5 V6 (as there were no suitable V8 Defenders available at the time )

To be honest i really like the car, however reading this forum is starting to make me feel that i need to expect ALOT of problems with it.

Anyway, this is my first problem. (I'll post the problem, the work i do to fix it and hopefully it may help someone in the future. Viewers feel free to jump in and advise).

I drove 50 miles on the motorway yesterday, came off and enter a dual carriageway and put my foot down. It revved up to about 5500 RPM and the oil light started flickering then came on fully, followed by a screeching noise, i pulled over immediately. No visible sign of leaking oil. I let it stand for a moment and restarted it. It seemed to run ok, then 1 mile down the road the same thing occurred. I managed to get it home, but on the way, gradually a tappety noise emerged getting louder and louder.

This morning the noise is there permanently. The engine sounds like a diesel tractor with a little man under the bonnet banging it with a spanner.

There's no sign of oil in the water or visa versa.

I'm very good at carrying out work on engines, but rubbish at diagnosing faults so any input would be much appreciated.

At the moment my plan is to get it booked in at LR for a diagnostic, then hopefully buy the parts and carry out the repairs myself.

I'll keep you posted on the progress and when i work out how to do it I'll upload some video of the noise.

was or is any smoke coming from the exhaust and what colour, it does sound like major internal damage to the engine from your description though

No, no smoke at all. And its way to loud a noise to be a VIS/purge valve problem. I'm thinking maybe a problem with the head? Anyone now if these heads are serviceable, or are they just replaced? I carnt see how this noise could be coming from the block.

Vis valves can make a lot of noise.

get oil pressure checked-before you do any more damage

fanatic said:

get oil pressure checked-before you do any more damage

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Yes this sound like a good idea, if its low what does that point to?

The Mad Hat Man said:

Vis valves can make a lot of noise.

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VIS valves carnt cause the oil pressure light to come on can they?

Thanks for all your help getting to know this engine everyone

Check intake manifold for oil. I'm sure i've read the manifolds can sometimes make a tappety noise on the V6's sometimes?

yu are correct - Vis valves wont cause the \Oil light to come on - it does sound serious - have you checked oil level?

The Mad Hat Man said:

yu are correct - Vis valves wont cause the \Oil light to come on - it does sound serious - have you checked oil level?

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Yes oil level is fine. I'm wondering if there's a problem with the oil pump? It's almost as if oil is having trouble getting to the head and as a result the head has taken some permanent damage.

Reading through the forum it certainly seems that it isn't a common fault. I don't think I have much choise other than taking it to LR for a list of broken parts.....

Well we got it back from LR today. They are saying it is a terminal bottem end?? Yet the boittem end sounds fine to me and another 2 mechanics. They are recomending we replace the engine with a scrapper. So it looks like we'll be dropping the engin this week and stripping it to see who's got it right. fingers crossed its something cheap on the top end gone. If not, i think we'll be buying a rover 75 to use as a parts bin.

Hopefully the engins are actually the same......

they are - cept the 75 is cheaper
and still suffers HGF

Oh we're not planing on keeping it! Only Fixing so its sale-able. Seems we can get a 75 for about £650, I'm free, and my mates labour will hopefully be about £400. We should get about £2900 for it so will recover about £1800. Then I'm firmly back on defenders!!! Got my eye on a nice V8 as we speak!!

hi, am new on the site from kenya. my freelander 1.8 petrol had similar noise the other day after revving so heavily in mud. it turned out to be two broken piston connecting rods and worn out connecting rods and crankshaft bearings.

examine the oil in the sump for any metal substance, that is what i did before opening the engine.

i have bought all the bearings cylinder head gasket (just decided to change it) water pump piston rings and sent the crankshaft for checking.

so far spent equivalent 250uk pounds exclusive labour.

crossing my fingers hoping that it turns out well once put together.

overheating freelanders are a common sight in this part of the world, mine has so far done 70,000km. without any overheating problems i guess this vehicles destroy themselves at very high RPMS. i have a habit of checking the coolant level every morning and carrying some incase i got to top up, i think that has worked for me so far.

The VIS valves make a hell of a noise when the link breaks, sounds like a very bad case of timing chain rattle.
Check this link
www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/v6-inlet-manifold-rattle-24606.html