P38 Diesel. Best power & Torque Boost?

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nomad

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Hello

What is the best way to improve the power and torque on a P38 2.5 Diesel?

My thoughts are to start with chipping and then intercooler and then possibly exhaust.

I have listed the companies that I have come across below, some offer just chipping and some do intercoolers etc.
J.E. Engineering, Van Aaken, Jeremy Fearn, Twisted Performance, Tunit, Turbochip, Superchip, Dastek

I would appreciate any advice/experience as to the best way way to go and who are the best company to use.

Thanks
Richard
 
Hi,

For the best imprivement per pound spent you should get a chip or powerbox, that will give the best improvement, it's quick and easy to fit, and can be removed if need be, see a few on ePay from time to time.

The p38 diesel has a reasonably big intercooler to start with, but you could go bigger though IMHO the intercooler and exhaust would be a waste of money, you won't see much improvement, and you'll spend a fair wad of dosh.

Cheers,
Geekfreek
 
Mornin

I agree with GeekFreek to a point

The boost box is the cheaper alternative. I had the "full nine yards" done up at Fearns last June (new uprated chip & fullsize intercooler) & boy o boy do you notice the difference Fearns quote output at up around 196BHP depending on conditions - what i found really good & my original reason in going the Chip & intercooler route is for economy - on the flat at 70-75 i can get a ave of 37-38 MPG (they dont quote such figure in fairness to them) but you will notice as dramatic inprovement on economy when the motor is warmed up.
On proviso is that the build doesnt come cheap - but i found it worth it.

PS I cannot testify to a boost-box v. Chip & intercooler as in my case i went for the "whole hog"
 
37-38 mpg is impressive, no matter how gently I drive I never get the mpg above 30mpg. When I look at the intercooler on my car, it appears to take up all the available space between the radiator and the aircon rad and has the oil cooler below it...question... how does a bigger intercooler fit in?

I am thinking of a Van Aaken box for mine which would seem to be good extra chunk of power for relatively little cash.
 
bigandyt said:
37-38 mpg is impressive, no matter how gently I drive I never get the mpg above 30mpg. When I look at the intercooler on my car, it appears to take up all the available space between the radiator and the aircon rad and has the oil cooler below it...question... how does a bigger intercooler fit in?

I am thinking of a Van Aaken box for mine which would seem to be good extra chunk of power for relatively little cash.
Click to expand...

Not sure how you get a bigger intercooler in there, but more to the point, how do you know that the charge air needs cooling further?? have you taken temps of the air being fed into the collector? I seriously doubt at this time of the year it needs further cooling.
P.S. Remember, this is a diesel Range Rover, not a WRX with the boost turned up!!! you ain't gonna smoke tyres!
Why not go the whole 9 yards and get some Nitrous :D:D
 
I don't think any of us are looking for tyre smoking performance :rolleyes: I would just like the car to cruise at motorway speeds without needing to downshift on the hills etc.
I don't think that anyone believes that 134bhp in a car this size is enough!!
 
bigandyt said:
I don't think any of us are looking for tyre smoking performance :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Then I'll reiterate by point, does the charge air need further cooling?

I would just like the car to cruise at motorway speeds without needing to downshift on the hills etc
Click to expand...
And a bigger intercooler is going to prevent this is it?
I don't think that anyone believes that 134bhp in a car this size is enough!!
Click to expand...

Then buy a V8, if you want performance and better economy than petrol consider a V8 on LPG:rolleyes:
 
bigandyt said:
37-38 mpg is impressive, no matter how gently I drive I never get the mpg above 30mpg. When I look at the intercooler on my car, it appears to take up all the available space between the radiator and the aircon rad and has the oil cooler below it...question... how does a bigger intercooler fit in?

quote]

Hiya there

the build consists of not just a full size (3 times normal p38 size) but moving the oil cooler down to the passenger side (UK) giving the extra space

I had a 300tdi done (intercooled) defender a couple of years ago prior to shipping it out of the UK

it made one heck of a difference & put the power up to close to 150BHP from about 108 (dont quote me)
OK with a 300tdi there isnt anythig to chip

With the p38 I agree the main ummph is gained either by re-mapping /re-chipping - the intercooler gets it from about 165BHP up towards 195bhp (quoted on atmospheric conditions)
What I do notice with the p38 instalation you only start seeing the economy gains one the motor was warm (but i imagine that is the case with any configuration)
Bigger intercooler & heating.
In my case after i bought the p38 i thought that the thermostat either was stuck open or non existant hence when the larger intercooler was installed i warmed up slightly faster
Now the winter is setting in i really notice it and have had the thermostat at home for months and saw what is involved in changing it on the BMW 2.5!
i have ordered a kenlowe electric fan and so when i get the time i will do the whole thing in one. (Viscus out / electric in & Thermostat new)
in the meantime i have reduced the air flow to the rad by adding a muffler betwenn the intercooler & the rad with a 35-40cm cutout in the the middle for the winter the motor warms up a lot better and stays smack in the middle on the temp gauge be it in town or out onn the autobahn.

Anyways i digress
doing the Run last sunday evning at 110Kmh i got equiv of 38MPH (6.1Lts per 100kph) so add a little for error i can see a consumption of about 37-38 & thats on Bio diesel too. (the route i take isnt flat and in places steep slowing anythinq with a 1,9 tdi motor traveling in 5th) one thing you will not need to use is the "sport" setting again - i used it the other day just for fun and from a halt its scarry the vehicle is just flung forward through the box!

hope the info helps
Click to expand...
 
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