Thread: TD5 vs TDCi Under Bonnet Differences

Just wondering if people who have had experience with both engine bays can summarise pluses and minuses of each donk and associated parts. Apart from the noise differences, are they similar in performance?

I guess Ford had its reasons for dropping its own powerplant into a Land Rover. Was it just the donk? What else changed? Was it an improvement over the Td5 or a step in the wrong direction?

BTW, what is that cup holder thingy to left of the engine? Dullbird, I saw it in one of your great pics! The brochure has a picture of the engine with some kind of bell type object in in the same vicinity as the cup holder - a pop-off valve???

One of the 4x4 mags took the Deefer out for a play in the Kimberly and suffered a couple of major breakages. Is this the result of LR mixing up Td5 bits with Ford bits, and two opposing bits not living happily together? IIRC, the Master brake cylinder was one such problemo. Has the vacuum seal issue been resolved with the 2009 model, or it the 2009 plate year, just a restamp on the 2007 edition?

I have both a 2003 TD5 and 2 week old PUMA



In comparison - There are many things that are improved in the PUMA, and some things that I think are not quite as nice.

Some of the things i've noticed comparing the two.

1 - Chassis flex is the same - I've measured the chassis thickness and cannot see any difference in the two. Certainly the both make the same noises on my cross axle hill.

2 - The wing mirrors on the PUMA are much smaller than the TD5 - But also much better. (They are magnified on the PUMA - but flat on the TD5.)

3 - The rear body is constructed very differently. the PUMA has a steel cage under the floor - perhaps for the 7 seats. It looks quite different to the TD5. It's Much easier to put child restraints in a PUMA.

4 - There is slightly more plastic in the PUMA, the inner wheel arches on the TD5 are Galvanised, but the PUMA are plastic. There are plastic panels under the floor. I'm not to bothered by this as it's harder for plastic to rust.

5 - There is more rubbishy insulation in the PUMA engine bay - that I bet will shred over the years. Still it's easy to rip out.

6 - The ECU on the PUMA is mounted above the engine on the fire wall and appears to be very well water proofed. Therefore No oil in ECU as it's higher than the engine. And I bet it will ford better.

7 - The engine sound of the PUMA is not as nice as the TD5. But it goes so much better and smoother - no turbo lag, and it hammers.

8 - Traction Control - Well I think they did something to the PUMA as it's traction control seems to be better than the TD5. It's much smoother when cross axled... Perhaps it's just the different tyres.

9 - Fuel Economy. Not as good as the TD5, but very little in it.

10 - Seating - The TD5 was good - The PUMA is outstanding. Much more middle row room, the front seats are much better and the 6th and 7th seats in the rear are brilliant.

11 - Undersealing. This was one of my issues with the PUMA - there is no undersealing. I've covered mine with Tectyl wax - so we'll have to see how that holds up. Mind you at -160,000k's the TD5 underseal is gone in many places - And I'll probably do the TECTYL treatment on it soon.

12 - Minor changes - The bonnet stay on the PUMA is cheaper and less constructed than the PUMA - The rear tailgate hinges are not rebuildable on the PUMA.

13 - Build Quality. Within the 1st 1000k's my TD5 had shagged a rear diff, started the first of 17 visits to the dealer to rectify water leaks, had the gearbox rebuilt for the first of 3 times. I might book the PUMA in at 1000k's to have the window tint fixed up......

14 - The 2009 model - which is what mine is, seems to have all of the known issues fixed. The bonnet is modded to stop rubbing on the brake lines or fluid reservoir. The Vaccuum pump is the new modded type with a dual lip seal. The breather on the fuel tank is moved. The sump is modded. etc.

In Summary - I like the TD5, but the PUMA is much improved at least from my perspective.



RE The TD5 - from what I remembered - they scrapped the engine production plant back in 200XXX when they stopped using them in the Discovery. They stockpiled enough for the Defender for few years of production. I seem to recall they sold of the remaining crate engines a couple of year back.