Series 3 Rattling sound, black smoke, oil guzzling...

Bumping an old thread here...

Okay, so just as Dolores's owner states, you usually don't want to admit you have a knackered engine. However, I do, and the reason is obvious, as explained in the photos. So, make sure you service your vehicle as advised by Land Rover (by which the risk of loose hotspots are greatly reduced), and lift the top before you buy a second-hand car. Apparently, none of my car's 5 previous owners let a professional Land Rover garage work on their car. The photos are courtesy of the fantastic people at Ground Zero 4WD (yes, it's on Facebook, but it is an open page, so anyone can view), who are now taking good care of the Ol' Smoker. The good people at Turner Engineering were asked to have a look at the photos, and they simply stated that the engine is beyond repair and also beyond remanufacturing. So, now for a new short engine... crazy expensive? Yes, but if you own a Series, you're bound to be crazy.

Images IMG_1309, IMG_1310 and IMG_1316 shows what's wrong. IMG_1312 and IMG_1314 shows a slightly more normal situation.

Wow, so is that what happens when the hotspots come out??

It rattles about in the combustion chamber wreaking the head,valves and piston.

Like I said in my first post, a hotspot making a bid for freedom. I have worked on a few like that.

Rubins4 said:

Wow, so is that what happens when the hotspots come out??

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Apparently, yes. However, if the engine is serviced properly and regularly, the risk of this happening is greatly reduced, because a proper see-to includes lifting the top and checking - among other things - the hotspots.

Riggwelter said:

Apparently, yes. However, if the engine is serviced properly and regularly, the risk of this happening is greatly reduced, because a proper see-to includes lifting the top and checking - among other things - the hotspots.

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Any garage that removes the head to check the hotspots as part of a service must be truly marvellous. Most of em can't be bothered to change the oil filter.

Col

Colthebrummie said:

Any garage that removes the head to check the hotspots as part of a service must be truly marvellous. Most of em can't be bothered to change the oil filter.

Col

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I would agree with that. I would not consider head removal to be part of an engine service whether it is being carried out by a garage of the home mechanic!

I am looking for a company to replace the heart of Old Smoky (read: source a new engine, refurbish it and send it over here). So far, I have been tipped off about Turner Engineering, AB 4x4s Cleveland and Simmonites. Does anybody have any experience from any of those companies, and if so, what's the verdict? Rumour has it Simmonites restored some engines for JLR Classic Works, but the engines ended up having to be rebuilt again by Aston Martin.

Riggwelter said:

I am looking for a company to replace the heart of Old Smoky (read: source a new engine, refurbish it and send it over here). So far, I have been tipped off about Turner Engineering, AB 4x4s Cleveland and Simmonites. Does anybody have any experience from any of those companies, and if so, what's the verdict? Rumour has it Simmonites restored some engines for JLR Classic Works, but the engines ended up having to be rebuilt again by Aston Martin.

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Turner are good, they are the market leaders, but not inexpensive. I used to know the Simmonites girls, and they knew a lot about landrovers but charged like a rhinoceros as well as on the track.
Why not try a PM to James, not heard of any problems with his work, in fact most seem to be delighted with it.