Thread: URGENT HELP NEEDED FOR LR90 on Route

Originally Posted by Veryan

Well, this is not the best way to start a blog on my attempted trans Australian adventure - "Help, my engine has appeared to have blown up". But I can't change that now!

So I have made it 400km west of my start point in Brisbane to Goondiwindi, where the aforementioned has occurred:

- half a pint of oil ****ing out of my air filter onto the garage forecourt.

Further inspection revealed rather significant blow back on from the engine breather and oil being ejected from the dip stick much in the fashion of a Venusian fountain All pointing to over pressurisation of the crankcase.

Initial thoughts were that maybe I'd put slightly too much oil in to begin with, but further diagnostic tests and the volume of oil make this unlikely. Mr Blknight has given me a few more, to asses whether or not it is a generally worn engine or one of the piston/compression rings has let(ting) go....tomorrow morning will tell.

I would like to say this has been the first bit of bad luck of the journey so far, but it seems to be a continuation of a theme. Dealing with Queensland Transport made the process of import look like a piece of cake. 6 days, 8 piece of paper a L01 plate and few dodgy dudes later (one even insisting I fit side intrusion bars on my doors...made of, riveted in rolled hollow sections.....!! I finally got to say "mmmm...I love the smell of freshly pressed tin in the morning...it...*sniff* *sniff*......smells like...VICTORY!" Only to have my hopes dashed 400km later.

So here I am in a cheap motel, 150km from the planned camp with a sick 90.
So far I would like to say a big thankyou to Juddy and Gill for letting me stay at theres and fit out the 90. You guys are great. Blknight for giving me advice and tips. Thankyou. And thanks in advance to anyone else who comments.


Some pictures so far:

Picking it up at the port, Jerry and his Son helped me get a tow start due to a flat battery (I guess 2 months in a container does that!)

Attachment 39308

Full packed

Attachment 39304

Fitting out the truck, with new plates and Co -Driver prior to set off.

Attachment 39305

Heading up towards Warwick. Slow climb up, but that was expected. Trouble seemed to begin after Warwick - Loss of power. I suspected that what ever has let go did so within 100km from Goondiwindi.

Attachment 39306

Crappy shot in the fading light off the oil in the air filter. Paper element is soaked in the stuff.

Attachment 39307

Now I am not sure, but does anyone know where I might be able to get a set of 2.5D piston rings from.....in Australia? And if any of the 2.25D rings fit, or 2.5TD for that matter?

If anyone has any other suggestions to help get me out of this little spot of bother, you would be make very happy. I have pretty much all the tools to strip the engine - bar maybe a set of compression tools for piston rings...but I would appear to be in major-ish truck stop so I dont think they would be too hard to come by.

mate speak to paul at derbyshire land rover services they should be cheap enough to air freight don't know exactly the cost but I just got off the phone to Paul's brother he said give him a buzz and they will see what speedy resoloution they can do for you obviously as it's a fast service you are after it will probably cost more hope this helps DLS:+441629842361

Juddy I just got off the blower to my mates brother at DLS derbyshire landrover services, I usually deal with Paul but he wasn't in I explained your mate is looking for a piston rings set and maybe gaskets and could they air frieght the parts too you pronto, he thinks they can help just get your mate to write down what he needs exactly, although I did tell them the symptoms they are asking the mechanics in the workshop to try and tie down the likely canidate ring +441629842361 cheers andy

Hi All,

Update:

We have pulled out the glow plugs and rotated the engine until #1 was TDC and then rotated a further 5 times until it was at the bottom of the compression stroke, just before injection of fuel. Blew air in the glow plug hole and watched for any oil being ejected from the dip stick or rockers. None. Went through all the pistons in firing order but could not establish which one might be loosing compression.

The guy at the workshop did not have the fitting to fit in the injector or glow plug hole for a proper test. We have tried a total of 3 diesel mechanics and none really want a bar of it.

We are currently camped up and established a bush camp and possible workshop. We are thinking of trying a few more fitters, before pulling of the head and having a look inside.

Everything still looks towards a bust ring of some sort - heaps of oil spewing out the air filter, dipstick and with the rocker cover off, lots of oil coming up the push rods/valves (which is then going into the air filter), all pointing to over pressurisation of the crank case.

I guess that a set of standard rings and a couple of head gaskets would be in order. Pity, I have a spare 2.5D in Perth and a 2.25 in Kalgoorlie.

In an emergency, would a 2.25D head gasket fit on a 2.5D?

Hi All,

Update:

We have pulled out the glow plugs and rotated the engine until #1 was TDC and then rotated a further 5 times until it was at the bottom of the compression stroke, just before injection of fuel. Blew air in the glow plug hole and watched for any oil being ejected from the dip stick or rockers. None. Went through all the pistons in firing order but could not establish which one might be loosing compression.

The guy at the workshop did not have the fitting to fit in the injector or glow plug hole for a proper test. We have tried a total of 3 diesel mechanics and none really want a bar of it.

We are currently camped up and established a bush camp and possible workshop. We are thinking of trying a few more fitters, before pulling of the head and having a look inside.

Everything still looks towards a bust ring of some sort - heaps of oil spewing out the air filter, dipstick and with the rocker cover off, lots of oil coming up the push rods/valves (which is then going into the air filter), all pointing to over pressurisation of the crank case.

I guess that a set of standard rings and a couple of head gaskets would be in order. Pity, I have a spare 2.5D in Perth and a 2.25 in Kalgoorlie.

In an emergency, would a 2.25D head gasket fit on a 2.5D?

Thanks in advance everyone.

James

Originally Posted by Veryan

In an emergency, would a 2.25D head gasket fit on a 2.5D?

Don't see why not. I worked out that I could bolt a 300Tdi head on my 2.25 using a 2.25 head gasket.

Without a proper comp tester it will be hard to diagnose the problem.

Bear in mind the 2.25Ps I have pulled apart with broken rings have had scored bores (though a hone may have rendered them serviceable) and in one case two broken pieces of ring had widened the ring groove in a piston so they could sit on top of each other (which meant cactus piston).

Billie, says it was nothing to do with her....

Its still running isnt it?
How smokey is the exhaust?

Run a makeshift breather and somehow plumb it back into the air intake and drive the sucker home, or too a decent LR mechanic.

Join the NRMA and get them to get it home.

Originally Posted by RR P38

Run a makeshift breather and somehow plumb it back into the air intake and drive the sucker home, or too a decent LR mechanic.

Join the NRMA and get them to get it home.

I think these lads are far, far away from home...

Good luck with the 90 and keep us posted on your travels!

Cheers!