Thread: 300tdi vs a td5?

If looked after there is no reason why a Td5 will cost much more than a Tdi,the trouble is if something does go wrong a Td5 in much more expensive to fix.Both engines are prone for HG failure,just price a Tdi head verses a Td5 and you'll get an idea of what I'm on about. Pat

nope. as they get longer in the tooth, generally you're going to have more hassles with the ancillaries and the vehicle mounted stuff than the engine itself.

all of the issues you will expect from a tdi you can expect from a TD5, it depends on what you're comfortable with in the disco the TD5 version has more comfort and room inside it but its a touch heavier on fuel and a little harder on the manouver factor, that said, it generally tows better and travels more comfortably for it. IMHO proper offroading its size and weight hampers it a little but until you get up to the "you're nuts" kind of tracks you wont really notice it and the after market mod industry levels that playing field very quickly.

The TDI will handle any kind of fuel that resembles diesel but as the engine is older it requires more frequent tuning and maintenance. The TD5 generally leaks less than a TDI but when it decides to leak, its not usually as cheap a fix as it can be in a TDI.

on distance alone, the TD5 Goes further than a TDI between services, but the TDI services are generally cheaper.

I would personally have a TDI over a td5 for maybe 4 key points

1. I can run it on veges
2. Its smaller and I dont need the extra size
3. Its pre emissions so If I want to stick some granit hewn engine in it when I kill it I can, easily
4. I dont really value all the extra mod cons in the D2 as such they offer me no real advantage but they add potential failure points.

The TD5 is an inherently better and obviously more modern design but it has it's little foibles.

Make sure the oil pump bolt has been loctited, occasionally you'll get that oil in the injector loom problem and the later model TD5 head is a better design, and the aftermarket AMC head is even better again (more meat in critical areas)

The Tdi is just an old school, simple to work on 4 cyl turbo diesel.
The turbo is a first generation design, so not super efficient and the things that go wrong are generally really easy to keep on top of, eg. valve lash caps are consumable unless you use good quality aftermarket ones, the big ends should be checked for wear around the 280,000km mark and head gaskets are starting to get suspect around then too, mine lasted until around the 330,000km mark before it let go.
Clutches are usually cactus by the 220-250,00km mark but it often isn't friction plate wear but the pivot punching through the fork (unless reinforced, which means it's been apart) and fingers badly worn on the diaphragm.

I've bagged the Tdi unmercifully here over the years, too small a capacity, crook QC at times but overall it is a simple and reliable little lump.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

The TDI will handle any kind of fuel that resembles diesel but as the engine is older it requires more frequent tuning and maintenance.

The TD5 will handle remotely diesel like fuels better than the Tdi. The TD5 will run on aviation jet fuel without the lubrication additives that the Tdi needs. Actually all of the TD5 injector development was done using kero. LR developed the motor to be able to do this for US and UK military requirements.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

The TD5 will handle remotely diesel like fuels better than the Tdi. The TD5 will run on aviation jet fuel without the lubrication additives that the Tdi needs. Actually all of the TD5 injector development was done using kero. LR developed the motor to be able to do this for US and UK military requirements.

Your definition of "remotely diesel" is somewhat more conservative than mine.

let me know when you get it running reliably on thinned down used engine oil, hydraulic oil, citronella oil or filtered and dewatered chip fat/oil.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

Your definition of "remotely diesel" is somewhat more conservative than mine.

let me know when you get it running reliably on thinned down used engine oil, hydraulic oil, citronella oil or filtered and dewatered chip fat/oil.

It probably doesnt run on ****

no but it does run on Bee pee.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Actually all of the TD5 injector development was done using kero. LR developed the motor to be able to do this for US and UK military requirements.

Shame it took LRA to electrically quieten the engine and then Ford bought it and military got canned.