The best most reliable Defender motors.

[Kanga1]

Hope I don't make a big hash of this, I have just joined this site and am looking at possibly buying a Defender in the 12 months. We have had a few Landrovers in the past and a Range Rover, in the last 10 years it has been Patrols and currently a HDJ78 Landcruiser Troop Carrier.
Hopefully some of the wisened ones here may be able to set me straight with some info on which would be the most reliable and capable of the Defenders up to and including the most recent models? Also knowing that the towing capacity is 3.5 Tonne, realistically, which would be the best model of Defender to pull a 2.5-3.0 Tonne caravan around the block most comfortably? Thanks for any advice. Kanga. :confused:

[85 county]

easy, 80s diesel 100, hands down

[Nero]

Something with a 4BD1 lurking under the hood maybe with a T.

[B92 8NW]

Hope I don't make a big hash of this, I have just joined this site and am looking at possibly buying a Defender in the 12 months. We have had a few Landrovers in the past and a Range Rover, in the last 10 years it has been Patrols and currently a HDJ78 Landcruiser Troop Carrier.
Hopefully some of the wisened ones here may be able to set me straight with some info on which would be the most reliable and capable of the Defenders up to and including the most recent models? Also knowing that the towing capacity is 3.5 Tonne, realistically, which would be the best model of Defender to pull a 2.5-3.0 Tonne caravan around the block most comfortably? Thanks for any advice. Kanga. :confused:

HDJ78... there is no [Land Rover made] Defender engine past, present, future that will ever be a patch on the 1HDFTE you already have.

You will be incredibly disappointed going to any Land Rover four cylinder after that, especially if towing. And 2.5-3t is some serious weight.

[goingbush]

Ive had at least 15 land rovers, 3 diesel land cruisers and number of 2wd cars and by a long shot the TD5 (chipped) is the best engine I've ever had.

The TD5 has a few minor issues , once sorted are just bloody fantastic. More power than my V8 Landy and probably the most economical car Ive ever owned , 2wd cars included.

I would only swap it for another Td5.

[goingbush]

HDJ78... there is no [Land Rover made] Defender engine past, present, future that will ever be a patch on the 1HDFTE you already have.


I used to think that until I had a cam seize on one & put valves thru 2 pistons in the Pilbara. I thought the Tojo diesels were great too but after living with the Td5 for a while now I'll never go back to a Jap 4x4.

[Kanga1]

HDJ78... there is no [Land Rover made] Defender engine past, present, future that will ever be a patch on the 1HDFTE you already have.

You will be incredibly disappointed going to any Land Rover four cylinder after that, especially if towing. And 2.5-3t is some serious weight.

Thanks, some coming changes in lifestyle and State of residence may mean going for a slightly smaller 4WD than the Troopy, which has been a brilliant vehicle for us, and if we were going to be continuously towing a 2.5T caravan I would keep it, but for what the near future likely holds I hope a Defender (very similar configuration to my Troopy bodily) would be a more practical vehicle for day to day, with the ability to cope with a yearly trip. Cheers.

[Kanga1]

Something with a 4BD1 lurking under the hood maybe with a T.
Thanks, I think that is the Isuzu 3.9 litre 4 pot as in most of the current Army Rovers, I've heard mostly good things about them, Noise and 4 speed G/box only are the 2 negs I've been told. Kanga.

[rovercare]

I used to think that until I had a cam seize on one & put valves thru 2 pistons in the Pilbara. I thought the Tojo diesels were great too but after living with the Td5 for a while now I'll never go back to a Jap 4x4.

Was it a 1HD-FTE?

[goingbush]

Was it a 1HD-FTE?

its the 1hdt but with 4 valve and electronic fuel injection , arguably the favourite of the 1hz series that was in the 100 series cruiser.
122kw 380nm

[Naks]

the BMW 2.8i - amazing engine, but thirsty!

[isuzutoo-eh]

Regarding 4bd1 noise, when on the freeway i've had passengers with 200tdi, 300tdi and puma Defender owners make comments such as "It's no louder than my puma" and "My tdi is louder than this". This is despite only having four gears so highway speeds mean high revs. Mine has a slightly louder exhaust over standard too.
It's only around town that the Isuzu is noisier.

[Sue]

Also knowing that the towing capacity is 3.5 Tonne, realistically, which would be the best model of Defender to pull a 2.5-3.0 Tonne caravan around the block most comfortably? Thanks for any advice. Kanga. :confused:

What's the ball weight on your caravan... the Defenders may pull 3.5 tonne easily enough but the ball weight is only 250kgs.. many vans of that weight are over that ball weight... :(

[ugu80]

What's the ball weight on your caravan... the Defenders may pull 3.5 tonne easily enough but the ball weight is only 250kgs.. many vans of that weight are over that ball weight... :(

.:Rolling:
I'm far too old to be so juvenille.

[tacr2man]

I ran a 300tdi 130DC hcpu for a number of years in WA where it has train weight of 7450kg and it did that no probs , I also pulled a tandem axle caravan IIRC 34ft and it did that as well , so a TD5 should handle it even better , plus you will get far better mpg than a cruiser FMHE

[rovercare]

its the 1hdt but with 4 valve and electronic fuel injection , arguably the favourite of the 1hz series that was in the 100 series cruiser.
122kw 380nm


I know what they are, was asking if it was one that failed:D

[PAT303]

The puma defenders aren't as powerfull as the FTE but the drivetrain as a whole is better,the gearbox is alot better and well matched to the engines power and when chipped are better again.The ride and handling in the defender is light years ahead of the troopy and the handbrake on defenders works also unlike tojo's and the brakes in general are better.The only thing the troopy has which is better is the FTE. Pat

[spudboy]

the BMW 2.8i - amazing engine, but thirsty!

Except they didn't sell them in Australia.....

TD5 or PUMA - I like both of them. Haven't had to pull anything on the PUMA apart yet, so maybe I'll change once it's given me headaches, but they are a great engine. Neither engine stupidly powerful but they've got enough get up and go 99% of the time and good fuel economy. I've towed 2.5T and wouldn't like to go much more than that at all. I imagine you'd get pushed around quite a bit with 3.0T behind you.

[goingbush]

I know what they are, was asking if it was one that failed:D

oops, sorry. my dyslexia, I thought you wrote 'what is a' not 'was it a' ,
no mine was a 1HDT .

I hear arguments from Tdi fans that they don't like the TD5 because of the electronics , The FTE is also that much better than the 1HDT because of the electronics, not despite them.

[Drover]

Vote one for PUMA, yeah everybody that doesn't have one will probably give there two bobs worth of reason why they are no good.....but

They have been around since 2007, some have several hundred thousand Ks on them. A lot , like mine have done considerable off road work and.....

No common engine problems or major melt downs. Sure like any other vehicle there may be an isolated incident, but nothing common.

The 2.4 pull like a tractor, cruises like a GT falcon and sips fuel like its on a diet.

Go the Mighty PUMA

[isuzurover]

The most reliable engine ever factory fitted to a defender (shaped landrover) is unquestionably the 4BD1/T. No contest.

The TD5 is probably second.

The Puny has not been around long enough. It has a good reputation in transits, so may pip the TD5 eventually, but is far too highly stressed to come close to a 4BD1/T.

[rovercare]

If you want to buy a TD5, I'd suggest adding in for atleast the following

Intercooler hoses
EGR bypass
New turbo
Drop sump, check oil pump plug
Modify the exhaust manifold
Injector harness
Head gasket

The engine themselves are quite frugal, long living and powerful, its everything else around them that sucks:D

[rovercare]

oops, sorry. my dyslexia, I thought you wrote 'what is a' not 'was it a' ,
no mine was a 1HDT .

I hear arguments from Tdi fans that they don't like the TD5 because of the electronics , The FTE is also that much better than the 1HDT because of the electronics, not despite them.

That's why I asked, as I've not come across any engine failures, just one injector pump on the 1HD-FTE

[rick130]

[snip]
The only thing the troopy has which is better is the FTE. Pat

Quick ! someone take Pat's temperature, he said a Toyota bit was better than his Landy's bit ! :twisted:









:D

[rovercare]

The puma defenders aren't as powerfull as the FTE but the drivetrain as a whole is better,the gearbox is alot better and well matched to the engines power and when chipped are better again.The ride and handling in the defender is light years ahead of the troopy and the handbrake on defenders works also unlike tojo's and the brakes in general are better.The only thing the troopy has which is better is the FTE. Pat

You can chip the FTE and its better again also

My old boys troopy rides fantastic when it comes to laden touring, I was actually really suprised, it is actually fantastic, he diddled alot with getting the rear leaves right

The brakes are woeful and the handbrake a nightmare, it needs adjusting near every service and its a pain in the backside, but will stay functioning well if you do so

Its does tow very well though, I've towed well in excess of 3ton with both my Isuzu at 30psi boost and the troopy with chip, they perform similar

[PAT303]

Quick ! someone take Pat's temperature, he said a Toyota bit was better than his Landy's bit ! :twisted:









:D

The FTE is a great engine,it's the POS vehicles it was fitted in I don't like.You made me cough up a gob of tea by the way,**** stirrer:D. Pat

[PAT303]

You can chip the FTE and its better again also

My old boys troopy rides fantastic when it comes to laden touring, I was actually really suprised, it is actually fantastic, he diddled alot with getting the rear leaves right

The brakes are woeful and the handbrake a nightmare, it needs adjusting near every service and its a pain in the backside, but will stay functioning well if you do so

Its does tow very well though, I've towed well in excess of 3ton with both my Isuzu at 30psi boost and the troopy with chip, they perform similar

Trouble with chipping is you'll get the auto tranny going into limp mode like the Td5,they don't like getting hot and like the ZF need 12 month fluid flushes or big $$$$ will result. Pat

[PAT303]

If you want to buy a TD5, I'd suggest adding in for atleast the following

Intercooler hoses
EGR bypass
New turbo
Drop sump, check oil pump plug
Modify the exhaust manifold
Injector harness
Head gasket

The engine themselves are quite frugal, long living and powerful, its everything else around them that sucks:D

The new Isuzu's are the same,the engines are fine but are let down by all the extra crap hung off them to make them compliant. Pat

[rick130]

**** stirrer:D. Pat

Moi ? :angel:

[Kanga1]

What's the ball weight on your caravan... the Defenders may pull 3.5 tonne easily enough but the ball weight is only 250kgs.. many vans of that weight are over that ball weight... :(
Hi Sue, we haven't bought a van yet, however the ones that we have been looking at are up to 250kg s, Cheers, Kanga.

[Kanga1]

You can chip the FTE and its better again also

My old boys troopy rides fantastic when it comes to laden touring, I was actually really suprised, it is actually fantastic, he diddled alot with getting the rear leaves right

The brakes are woeful and the handbrake a nightmare, it needs adjusting near every service and its a pain in the backside, but will stay functioning well if you do so

Its does tow very well though, I've towed well in excess of 3ton with both my Isuzu at 30psi boost and the troopy with chip, they perform similar
Hi Rovercare, the Troopy isn't chipped but I do have a 3" Mandrel exhaust fitted and the EGR disconnected. The car goes very nicely and is fairly good on the fuel a bit over 8 kms to the litre around home, drops to around 7 at highway speeds. You are 100% right about the brakes and handbrake. All in all it would be the best diesel I have had.
I have been out of Landrovers for quite a few years now since pre Defender era, and know little about them, other than the fact they still look like a Landrover, and from all accounts are as good/better than the other branded vehicles I have had since the 90's. Still have a fair bit to brush up on with the Defenders but am learning plenty on this site. Thanks for all the pointers guys. Kanga.

[Sue]

Hi Sue, we haven't bought a van yet, however the ones that we have been looking at are up to 250kg s, Cheers, Kanga.

Just be aware that once you start loading your stuff into a van the ball weight can go up - depending on how you load it.. :) (a lot of people don't realise that).. :eek:

PS If you're looking for a van take a look at Exclusive Caravans Australia (http://www.exclusivecaravans.com) :)

[sdt463]

Hi Kanga 1
Im towing the size of van you are considering ( 25 foot & 2.8 T dry ) with a Td5 130 D/C .
The car is chipped, bigger intercooler and a roverdrive overdrive so that I do not need to tow in 5th gear ( towing in 4th overdrive ).I find that I have plenty of power and so far we are getting a fuel consumption of 15 l/100. the only draw back I have found is the need to keep a close eye on the EGT guage as it is easy to send the gas temps soaring.
hope this helps Dave.

[Naks]

...the gearbox is alot better ...

wait, what!? :eek:

[centy]

It might be a little off topic but a couple years ago i was working in a workshop out west and one of the diesel fitters was complaining that his cruiser ute was sucking juice like crazy.
when we worked it out my old lwb 2a wagon with worn out rover 6 had better fuel economy.

the motto of this story is that some times you just get a thirsty pig of a car.

borrow a car and have a little drive see what you will be happy with.

[SheldonA]

Thanks, I think that is the Isuzu 3.9 litre 4 pot as in most of the current Army Rovers, I've heard mostly good things about them, Noise and 4 speed G/box only are the 2 negs I've been told. Kanga.

There is a 5 speed Isuzu g/box conversion that fixes 1 of the negs :)

[Nero]

It might be a little off topic but a couple years ago i was working in a workshop out west and one of the diesel fitters was complaining that his cruiser ute was sucking juice like crazy.
when we worked it out my old lwb 2a wagon with worn out rover 6 had better fuel economy.

the motto of this story is that some times you just get a thirsty pig of a car.

borrow a car and have a little drive see what you will be happy with.

With the 1HZ we worked out about one is four's diesel injection is setup right from the factory. The rest were a fairly mixed bag and it is physically possible to shovel 20 litres per 100km's through a 4.2 litre motor.

[PAT303]

My last one averaged 15 per 100 driving around Kalgoorlie,and it struggled to keep up with traffic. Pat

[uninformed]

The new Isuzu's are the same,the engines are fine but are let down by all the extra crap hung off them to make them compliant. Pat

what engines in which vehicles Pat? Im might be getting and Isuzu down the track.....

[PAT303]

The new ones Serg,they are fitted with all the euro emission 5-6 compliant crap. Pat