Is 400,000 in a 300tdi too much?

[Dizza]

My 96 300tdi Disco (auto) is sitting on just over 400,000 ks. It's an excellent car and in pretty good condition all round.
The previous owner's maintained it pretty well. I have a full service history including the original purchase receipt. :eek:

We are planning a trip up oodnadatta track next year and i am a little worried about how the old girl will go.
I know the 300tdi is a very reliable engine all round but i really don't want it conking on me half way along the track.

My question is, is there anything major i should do before the trip? should i have the head pulled? the transmission checked?

Thanks,
Dillan

[gazby]

Dizza, probably one of the most critical things to know before setting out with a reasonably high Klm 300 Tdi is, how many Klm has it done since the Timing belt was replaced, it seems that they need replacement every 80-100K Klm. The Timing belt has shown itself to be the "Achilles heel" of the 300Tdi engine. Another thing to check is the cooling system, hoses, plugs, coolant overflow tank, a coolant level alarm of some sort can save an unfortunate head gasket episode, other than that just make sure of oil levels in transmission and diffs, maybe have the Auto tranny serviced.
As you say you have a full service history for the vehicle all the info you need should be at hand, but the rule is if you are not sure when it was done then just to be on the safe side get it done.
There are many old Tdi's on this forum that have done high Klm and are still running fine, and by practicing the vigilant approach with items mentioned above they will go for many more just doing what they do best, being great off road.

[87County]

A lot of 300tdis have the head gasket go at anything from 200000km on but it sounds like you have had a good run.

Who knows - you might get many more ks yet....

There is no real way of knowing if yours will keep on being OK or not, other than taking a look which does cost money, although not as much money as waiting until it does go.

In retrospect, I can see that mine certainly gave a hint of looming failure if I had been sufficiently observant/aware to notice - there was just the very smallest amount of coolant loss for a couple of months prior, less than 100ml per week. But once it went it took quite a few days, doing it in my spare time, to get it back on the road.

Why not PM JustinC ? - he has had a great deal of experience with preventative maintenance on these engines. He may even care to add to this thread.

Also look over the usual like gazby posts above.

[Tank]

If it is still the original radiator I would splurge and get a new one, or have your old one recored, cheap insurance, Regards Frank.

[Dizza]

Am just about to swap the timing belt myself. Its a little overdue for a new one so it is high on my priority list.
Had already decided on a new alloy radiator for the trip.
Going to be doing bushes and wheel bearings in the lead up as well.
Low coolant alarm has been added to my list.

Should i be worried about the transmission at all?
The truck jolts a fair bit when i plant my foot. It could be the A-frame ball joint in the rear. (still original as far as i can tell)
But i am a little worried that it could be something more serious. Is that likely?

What sort of money would an engine rebuild cost me? Just out of curiosity.

[Luke56000]

Am just about to swap the timing belt myself. Its a little overdue for a new one so it is high on my priority list.
Had already decided on a new alloy radiator for the trip.
Going to be doing bushes and wheel bearings in the lead up as well.
Low coolant alarm has been added to my list.

Should i be worried about the transmission at all?
The truck jolts a fair bit when i plant my foot. It could be the A-frame ball joint in the rear. (still original as far as i can tell)
But i am a little worried that it could be something more serious. Is that likely?

What sort of money would an engine rebuild cost me? Just out of curiosity.

I think from memory an engine rebuild is roughly 4-5 grand and 5.5 grand to buy a new engine

[Robmacca]

I think from memory an engine rebuild is roughly 4-5 grand and 5.5 grand to buy a new engine

So u can still buy these engine's New ??

[87County]

So u can still buy these engine's New ??

Not that I am aware.

Stripped engines (fully recond) can be got for $AU3800 + freight and import duty ('cause it's over $1k), I'd guess around $5k all up (considering nil core exchange).

- Land Rover 300TDI, 200TDI, V8, TD5, 2.5 Turbo Diesel Engines etc supplied from stock for Range Rover, Discovery, Defender from Turner Engineering (http://turner-engineering.co.uk/html/strippedengines.html)

That's where some people here have got heads & engines (surprisingly quick delivery).

In my experience it would be the fastest and most straightforward option other than taking the time to do much of the spanner work yourself.


Tank's radiator suggestion is a good one, you can have them take a tank off and clean it and while you're at it get the intercooler cleaned.

[Discomark]

There are plenty of 300TDI's with over 500k and some have hit 1'000000. So 400k is not a lot for a well maintained motor.
Have a look here http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-1/138462-highest-kms-comp-winner-gets-r-e-s-p-e-c-t.html

[Dizza]

How whiny should the Disco be? I know the transfer is notoriously loud but there is a loud whine coming from either the front diff or the transfer.
Which is more likely? Both sound expensive :p

[Wortho]

The Odandatta track is not hard and won't bother your vehicle at all if it's in good order. whether it has 400k or 40k it's more about how it's been maintained. I would rather take a 400k engine that has been maintained than a 40k one that has been abused.
My 300Tdi has just clocked over 500k and only changed one water pump(aside from things like timing belts of course), still running original injectors and head gaskit, engine has never been cracked open, though I have just done the original gearbox, and I would happily take it anywhere at any time. As an addition it still gets 7-8lt/100 on the highway and 10lt/100 around town.

[Dizza]

I should clarify,
I bought my Disco last year for $2000. Its my first car and i am hoping it will do me another 2 or 3 years. (Until i buy a slightly used 90 :p )
I am using this trip as an excuse to spend some money on the old girl and get her running as well as i can and also clear up as many problems as i can.
In addition to the oodnadatta track we are doing a week long high country trip soon after we return and i usually go out driving every couple of weeks.
I am also about to fit some 265/75 16 Cooper ST MAXs to it along with a 2" lift and dont want that revealing other issues.

I suppose you could call it preventative maintenance. I would rather spend a little bit of time and money on it now then have it fail in 12 months time and cost big bucks to repair.
And i want to do all this while learning more about my vehicle and maintaining a vehicle myself (something that has fascinated me since i was young)

I also dont know the whole history of the car so i would like to get everything up to scratch and make sure im not missing any major issues.

[*RR*]

My old man's 130 has done a lick under 400,000km. He says it's a bit smokey and rattley when it's cold, but once it's oil is up to temp it goes like a dream!

[DiscoMick]

Its not the kms that matter, its the maintenance. I suggest you get it thoroughly gone over before you go. With maintenance, they should go on for a long time.