Thread: 6.5 diesel

Despite the nay-sayers, these and most american diesel V8's are excellent motors for there purpose. They are reasonably economical given the weights of the vehicles they generally are in. In smaller vehicles economy can be just as good as many other less tourquey (is that a word) engines. They produce excellent power to weight for their size and do not add that much weight (indeed possibly even lighter than some big sixes).
They are very common around the world with excellent parts availability (even in Australia) they power all manner of vehicles and I am only jealous that I do not have a chev diesel powered defender or similar.
Have they got a bad reputation in Australia?, unfortunately those not in the know only relate to the issues we here of when retrofitting them into all the various vehicles that were under powered by the respective manufacturers in the first instance. When fitted correctly they are an excellent engine.
And just as with our LR's we always seem to hear the negatives.

There were some issues in the early 6.2 and 6.5 for sure. But they did manage to iron most problems out. The pump/injector pumps from the states don't work due to the different sulphur content so you have to get them rebuilt with different seals over here. Lot of over heating issues were due to reverse rotation water pumps fitted to motors with v belts on them.
v8 diesels have always been less reliable than straight 6's due to the sideways force on the crankshaft/bearings. For many years Mack were the only truck manufacturer to produce a v8.
Toyota had some issues with their 70 and 200 series.
Even Ford 7.3 had issues.
I have maxi drive axles and diff locks so hopefully they are strong enough.
My favourite motor in a landy is still the 4bd1 but my 6.5 came from a mate with a price i couldn't resist.

Mick aka D110V8D had one some years ago. I thought he had cooling problems but I can't be sure.

Ahh, here we are: Alternative engines

Originally Posted by Thommo

Despite the nay-sayers, these and most american diesel V8's are excellent motors for there purpose. They are reasonably economical given the weights of the vehicles they generally are in. In smaller vehicles economy can be just as good as many other less tourquey (is that a word) engines. They produce excellent power to weight for their size and do not add that much weight (indeed possibly even lighter than some big sixes).
They are very common around the world with excellent parts availability (even in Australia) they power all manner of vehicles and I am only jealous that I do not have a chev diesel powered defender or similar.
Have they got a bad reputation in Australia?, unfortunately those not in the know only relate to the issues we here of when retrofitting them into all the various vehicles that were under powered by the respective manufacturers in the first instance. When fitted correctly they are an excellent engine.
And just as with our LR's we always seem to hear the negatives.

I can be a nay Sayer as I've actually owned one, they are junk, they are a petrol designed V8, definately not designed as a proper diesel engine. They are heavy, way under powered for a 6.5l engine, and not that economical, have many issues, in particular to the cooling.
I had a late model electronic injected model with the duel thermostats and serpentine belt water pump, it ran a brand new mechanical injection pump, motor was fully rebuilt. Economy was better than my Holden V8 stroker I had in before hand, but not buy a lot, may be got an extra 150k out of a tank. Probably not bad in a bigger car where you have more room, but if going to all that trouble, you'd just fit a duramax. I've spoken to about 12 different people who have or have had these engines in there cars, landy's, cruisers, patrols, and all have either had major problems or have not been impressed with the engines at all, the biggest complaints have been the owners that have had there's fitted from a particular company in WA that specialise in these engines.
I wish I had of saved my many thousands of dollars and just stuck a 4bd1t in first time round.
My 2c

Originally Posted by Thommo

Despite the nay-sayers, these and most american diesel V8's are excellent motors for there purpose. They are reasonably economical given the weights of the vehicles they generally are in. In smaller vehicles economy can be just as good as many other less tourquey (is that a word) engines. They produce excellent power to weight for their size and do not add that much weight (indeed possibly even lighter than some big sixes).
They are very common around the world with excellent parts availability (even in Australia) they power all manner of vehicles and I am only jealous that I do not have a chev diesel powered defender or similar.
Have they got a bad reputation in Australia?, unfortunately those not in the know only relate to the issues we here of when retrofitting them into all the various vehicles that were under powered by the respective manufacturers in the first instance. When fitted correctly they are an excellent engine.
And just as with our LR's we always seem to hear the negatives.

BS

The Yanks stopped approving them in Hummers etc as they were so prone to failure.

Look at whats in those things now!!!

All my Yank mates laugh when we talk about the Chev V8 Diesels...

Their new V8 diesel is ok, but the crap we have here - USA hand me downs that no-one wanted

And I've spent much time chasing issues with these engines - not just the conversions - most of which are never done correctly due to budget restraints...

But they are gutless, underpowered, over weight, thirsty monsters... Any anyone claiming they get less than 17l/100km is often talking out their arse....

Mmmmmm I second the Duramax motor, I was going to do this conversion to a patrol last year, things changed with a price tag of 40K for the conversion.

Anyways, reliability aside because you can't compare reliability to the most reliable 4wd ever made that never goes into limp mode, never has electrical problems yada yada yada the Land Rover.

6.5 V8 vs 2.2 4cld. Mmmmm let me think Mac truck engine in Defender or 2.2 Mini Moke engine in Defender.

Enjoy it, if it brakes fix it, it will be no different to a OEM engine. And I'm sure it was a hell of a lot cheaper than a Duramax. (Oh I am in love with the Duramax though).

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I know a 60 series owner,a RRC owner that both regret ever having anything to do with these motors,funny enough a friend was on his way from Adelaide to have new years with us and his got to Pt Augusta before overheating and he has just spent a grand last week on the biggest rad and fan you've ever seen,they are a donkey in every way. Pat

Originally Posted by Babs

Mmmmmm I second the Duramax motor, I was going to do this conversion to a patrol last year, things changed with a price tag of 40K for the conversion.

Anyways, reliability aside because you can't compare reliability to the most reliable 4wd ever made that never goes into limp mode, never has electrical problems yada yada yada the Land Rover.

6.5 V8 vs 2.2 4cld. Mmmmm let me think Mac truck engine in Defender or 2.2 Mini Moke engine in Defender.

Enjoy it, if it brakes fix it, it will be no different to a OEM engine. And I'm sure it was a hell of a lot cheaper than a Duramax. (Oh I am in love with the Duramax though).

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

Both my Mini Moke engined defenders see more of the bush in a week than most truck engined 4wd's see in a year without complaint so I'll stick with the MM engines. Pat