Errr.... Rover.... !!!!
The early engines are nicknamed GEMS and use the Lucas Engine Control System and the later engines from 1999/2000 onwards are nicknamed THOR and use the Bosch/Motronic engine control system....the engine origin remains the same - Rover.
To tell the difference, GEMS had a square box on top called a Plenum Chamber and THOR had a bunch of bananas on top as the intake manifold...
Pics Attached:
GEMS
THOR
The early engines are nicknamed GEMS and use the Lucas Engine Control System and the later engines from 1999/2000 onwards are nicknamed THOR and use the Bosch/Motronic engine control system....the engine origin remains the same - Rover.
To tell the difference, GEMS had a square box on top called a Plenum Chamber and THOR had a bunch of bananas on top as the intake manifold...
Pics Attached:
GEMS
THOR
As Wammers says above the P38 came with either the Buick derived Rover built 4.0 or 4.6 V8 GEMS or THOR petrol engine, both convert well to LPG
Or the BMW M51 2.5 I6 Engine.
Wammers is a dyed in the wool Oil Burning Champion and will always advocate the Diesel option over the V8's
Yes the V8's are needlessly thirsty and I have to say if going the petrol route the 4.6 is the better option...I have owned a 2.5 and now currently run a 4.0 alongside my L322 4.4 V8 and the performance difference between the 2.5 and the 4.0 is negligible and as for running cost, with the 4.0 on LPG the costs are comparable with the Diesel!
Or the BMW M51 2.5 I6 Engine.
Wammers is a dyed in the wool Oil Burning Champion and will always advocate the Diesel option over the V8's
Yes the V8's are needlessly thirsty and I have to say if going the petrol route the 4.6 is the better option...I have owned a 2.5 and now currently run a 4.0 alongside my L322 4.4 V8 and the performance difference between the 2.5 and the 4.0 is negligible and as for running cost, with the 4.0 on LPG the costs are comparable with the Diesel!
Datatek
Well-Known Member
+1 better economy, no LPG problems, no dropped liners no HGF, diesel every time.Not to the P38, but they did fit a BMW diesel engine. Which if you have any sense is the P38 you will buy.
I have always prefered the petrol V8, more power and a good engine will do many miles. Mine is a Thor 4.6 it has done 190,000 plus miles after it was replaced after 80k with an engine from a firm that took over the Land Rover V8 production.
But you need a good one whatever you choose. Not all Diesels are in good condition and they are bad polluters, you only need to look through this forum for the many faults they have.
But you need a good one whatever you choose. Not all Diesels are in good condition and they are bad polluters, you only need to look through this forum for the many faults they have.
Don't be silly if looked after any diesel engine is far more reliable than any petrol engine. Particularly the Rover petrols.
My father had petrol cars (no choice after the war and had a petrol Morris with over 400,000 on the clock before the MOT did it in.) and diesels on his farm. All the farm stuff, tractors etc, were diesel for reliability and red diesel fuel cost! Most I had to maintain. No problem with that and after dad had a diesel Volvo 240- the most noisey smelly unreliabe turbo/diesel 6 cylinder we ever had. I got into using the series one Land Rover we also had, fantastic fun!
Yes I agree a well Looked after diesel should go forever. But a P38 diesel is, in my opinion, underpowered in that car. As you say a well looked after........ whatever p38 should provide a reliable car. This chap is looking for a petrol car he can convert to LPG so he (unless you can convince him to go diesel = and why not) needs to find ideally a V8 converted to top hat liners (Think Mozz Smith is selling his?? 4.6 2001 v8) or a well maintained low mileage Diesel with all history.
As it happens my V8 has the XM prefix to the engine number meaning it was manufactured by Mitchel Cotts a company who took over manufacture of the venerable V* from LR - see http://forum.lro.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=23779
so look for this frefix if purchasing a later V8
ps I am not silly - that was unessessary. I am just passing an opinion,
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StuckAgainSteve
Well-Known Member
But everyone's terms of ownership are different I don't own a P38 because they are reliable - I own one because like them - I don't own a TD coz I think they are nosey vibey underpowered lumps for what's supposed to be a luxury SUV. 4.6 V8 every time for me - if it blows up I'll get another one! I really couldn't give a rat's do dar about fuel economy - I love V8s++ Fuel economy and ultimate longevity may be at the top of some people's priority list - they ain't at the top of mine!
++ Warning other opinions may differ...
++ Warning other opinions may differ...
But everyone's terms of ownership are different I don't own a P38 because they are reliable - I own one because like them - I don't own a TD coz I think they are nosey vibey underpowered lumps for what's supposed to be a luxury SUV. 4.6 V8 every time for me - if it blows up I'll get another one! I really couldn't give a rat's do dar about fuel economy - I love V8s++ Fuel economy and ultimate longevity may be at the top of some people's priority list - they ain't at the top of mine!
++ Warning other opinions may differ...
My diesel is reliable, it doesn't vibrate overly and is pretty quick. I don't mind V8s i have a proper one in the Porsche.
martynv8
Well-Known Member
But everyone's terms of ownership are different I don't own a P38 because they are reliable - I own one because like them - I don't own a TD coz I think they are nosey vibey underpowered lumps for what's supposed to be a luxury SUV. 4.6 V8 every time for me - if it blows up I'll get another one! I really couldn't give a rat's do dar about fuel economy - I love V8s++ Fuel economy and ultimate longevity may be at the top of some people's priority list - they ain't at the top of mine!
++ Warning other opinions may differ...
+1 Absolutely.
As already said though, the Rover V8's convert very well to LPG to give equivalent running costs to Diesels - no contest in my mind.
4.6 gives good power, refined drive, quiet, the thor gives extra torque.
As you can see though, opinion is greatly divided on this subject.
