300tdi Highway "cruising" sweet spot?

[Traktor]

Hello Guys!

Just checking with everyone who has a 300tdi.... can these things cruise at 110kms comfortably ? Or do they start to rev-out etc...

Part of research as ill be a Defender as an everyday driver where city trips will be a few times a week.


Plz confirm :)

[Don 130]

My 130 is quite happy at 110
Don.

[kawaden]

mine will happily do 110. hills are another story

[dero]

110 is no problem in my 97 130 300TDI . but I would say the sweet spot is more like 90 . Still pulls well but uses less fuel .

[roverrescue]

If on standard tyres (235/85) 110 on the dial is less than 100 actual ....

So if you want 110 actual you will be wringing a 300tdi for its keep
But it will do it 125 on the guage

[rangieman]

Tdi and sweet spot :pYou are joking right:wasntme: These words should never be used in the same sentence:angel:
A Tdi will do 110 all day every day just do`nt expect break neck performance or anything else exciting .
But their is one amongst the ranks that say`s he blows V8 dunny door`s off from the light`s in a Tdi auto disco :Rolling:

[jboot51]

You will find the governor at 125km/h in fourth on 265/75/16

[incisor]

105 was the sweet spot in my old 110 hardtop...

[steveG]

My 130 is also sweet at about 105 indicated. That's on worn 255/85's which makes it about 100 true.
110 true with a slight incline or headwind and I'm wringing it's neck so I'd say they don't do 110 comfortably in stock tune.

Certainly not comfortably in the same way that an old falcon/commodore or any modern 4cyl car does.

Steve

[loanrangie]

Tdi and sweet spot :pYou are joking right:wasntme: These words should never be used in the same sentence:angel:
A Tdi will do 110 all day every day just do`nt expect break neck performance or anything else exciting .
But their is one amongst the ranks that say`s he blows V8 dunny door`s off from the light`s in a Tdi auto disco :Rolling:

Leave you behind looking for 2nd gear :p.

[rangieman]

Leave you behind looking for 2nd gear :p.
Mmmm no naming and shaming im told:angel:

[simmo]

Hi traktor, for me 100 kms/hr is plenty fast enough in a Tdi its about 2550 rpm, they will give fairly good fuel economy as well, 110 is about 2800, a bit quick and a fair bit more work for the engine given the aerodynamics. The car feels best at 90 -100 on secondary/dirt roads , the engine is relaxed , even conversation is possible :) I'm fitting the 1.211 TC soon it will give me 2200 rpm at 100, kms /hr and 2400 at 110, it should be a bit quieter and relaxed.

For a daily driver in the city I find her a bit slow off at the lights, especially with the very low first gear, every one is right up behind me on the change into second, but once your in third its ok. But theres almost nothing slower than me. I drive mine to work a couple of days a week to keep her in good shape.

cheers simmo:)

[steane]

110 no problems but it's sweet spot is 100 - 105.

I don't think the 300tdi Defender is necessarily the best choice for daily driving though. Definitely the most interesting Defender (IMO) and they are special things off-road but not really a commuter vehicle. I'd get one for weekends and buy something cheap and modern to wear out during the week.

[BathurstTom]

I took mine up the freeway to Taree a couple of weeks ago and it would do 120 but it does have the Allisport intercooler. But 110 is good. My preference for normal driving is about 100-105. I think it is more economical at the lower speed.


I did go over 120 a few times on the freeway (yes, downhill after topping a hill:) ) and a buzzer sounded. I cannot see any reference to a speed buzzer, so does anyone know is this standard or has somebody fitted it?

Tom.

[steane]

I took mine up the freeway to Taree a couple of weeks ago and it would do 120 but it does have the Allisport intercooler. But 110 is good. My preference for normal driving is about 100-105. I think it is more economical at the lower speed.


I did go over 120 a few times on the freeway (yes, downhill after topping a hill:) ) and a buzzer sounded. I cannot see any reference to a speed buzzer, so does anyone know is this standard or has somebody fitted it?

Tom.

If that buzzer goes off three times in any 30 day period you will automatically be reported for Defender abuse and your Defender will be removed from your care and placed with a new family. Be careful!

[dromader driver]

Best long range cruise on standard tyres for a tray back 300 tdi is 95-100 indicated. About 9.5 litres per 100km. :) Will do more but not economical. Drop the centre muffler makes a difference.

[micksta1973]

I highly recommend a Disco trans case. My 1995 110 sits very nicely on 110ks with out sounding like a piston will soon exit the bonnet. Before that, it was scary. Tyres are 750s.

[steane]

I highly recommend a Disco trans case. My 1995 110 sits very nicely on 110ks with out sounding like a piston will soon exit the bonnet. Before that, it was scary. Tyres are 750s.

I removed a disco case and replaced with 1.4 Defender case. Much nicer to drive around town. Before that the ratios seemed out of whack.

Haven't noticed a massive difference on the highway. Definitely nicer with the Disco gearing at 110 but I generally sit on 100. Uses a touch more fuel but is more responsive.

Never found it scary :eek:

[mox]

For the last 10,000 km, I have run an LT230 transfer case with ratios of 1.27:1 high and 4.21 low. Like the faster high range. Have been much less inclined to go to change into 5th gear when already in it. Also, slower low first and reverse is also better. This was achieved by getting just ONE part that is presumably nothing like anything supplied by Land Rover made.


Had bought an LT230 that supposedly came out of a Disco but serial number and bits attached to it indicated it came from a mid '80's Rangie with torque flite auto. !.003 high which would be too fast in high first and reverse for a Defender. Got a 22 tooth input gear designed and cut. It drives onto the 44 tooth high range gear on the cluster, rather like the high low setup in a Series transfer box back to front. Replaces the standard 26 tooth gear driving the 41 tooth middle gear on the cluster. Reckon only downside of this box is the sometimes annoying whine at higher speeds in both high and low.


Am currently doing a rebuild of R380 gearbox that should not have been necessary. Did not realise that an oil leak from rocker cover gasket I hadn't got around to fixing was masking another one from the gearbox until it started making unhealthy noises with front gears chewing themselves.


Have located economically priced secondhand input and layshafts for TDI type gearbox. Already had an R380 from a Disco V8. However, input shaft does not suit diesel and first gear is faster. 14 teeth on cluster instead of 13. Want to keep lower speed diesel box first but I intend using the two gears for 5th in rebuilt box though. 0.732:1 ratio from V8 type instead of 0.77:1 in standard diesel version. Approx 5% increase in speed at same engine revs for 5th gear only. Note Ashcroft transmissions normally offer this modification option but apparently recently these gears have been out of stock lately.


Seems to me that this faster 5th gear should be better with light loads at open road speeds but when they get heavier, would use 4th more.

[squizzyhunter]

Depends on your definition of sweet spot for me it's 90 with the defer transfer case (prob 83-5 actual as 235/85s on it)as it seems the best fuel economy without crawling. Now that I've changed the transfer case to a disco one the sweet spot is around 100/105.

[MrLandy]

Sweet spot, 98 Tdi 110 - 105km/hr on speedo. Always has been.

[PAT303]

I like the 95-105 range. Pat

[Michael2]

110kph on the speedo is about 105kph in real life (GPS). That's fine for all day cruising. I used to keep my 110 at, or under 2500rpm, but have seen them driven at 3000rpm constantly in a Disco 1. But keep in mid the gearing is different.

Now a days I like to keep it at about 2,000 rpm as I have a VNT and overdrive. That just keeps the noise in the can down. I do find that they do become quite a bit quieter after an hour of high speed driving once everything is at a stable and constant temp.

60kph - 2000 rpm in 4th
80kph - 2000 rpm in 5th
100kph - 2000 rpm in O/D 5th

[wagon boy]

Mine is very happy between 95-100. That said, it didn't seem to dislike hills as much before I had to replace the head gasket.

[Didge]

Fastest I've ever been is 113 on the gps (about 130 on the speedo) and it was a hairy ride - you really have to drive it (was a country road). 110 all day? only if the wheelbase doesn't change. actual speed of 90 is comfortable.

[steane]

Fastest I've ever been is 113 on the gps (about 130 on the speedo) and it was a hairy ride - you really have to drive it (was a country road). 110 all day? only if the wheelbase doesn't change. actual speed of 90 is comfortable.

You got some dodgy suspension bushes Didge:p

Mine handles nicely at 110+ but that's in stark contrast to how it drove when I first bought it.

[Mules]

Have to be more inclined to agree with Pat's range.

I find the sweet spot to be 98km/hr for open road cruising (flat, no wind). Any higher and revs are too high and the temp gauge likes to start to creep.

That's on 1996 110 hardtop, Allisport rad and intercooler, 235/85s.

Also, an everyday ride for the record. Maybe not economical or practical, but enjoyable...

[MrLandy]

Have to be more inclined to agree with Pat's range.

I find the sweet spot to be 98km/hr for open road cruising (flat, no wind). Any higher and revs are too high and the temp gauge likes to start to creep.

That's on 1996 110 hardtop, Allisport rad and intercooler, 235/85s.

Also, an everyday ride for the record. Maybe not economical or practical, but enjoyable...

Fascinating how all 300tdi's are slightly different. Afterall they are organic beasts just like us. All the variables including being hand built, driver input over the years, different oils, climates, working lives, add up to difference.

My 300tdi 110 is economical, practical and enjoyable. Apart from the rattles induced by being loved on country so much and the constant cabin noise, it could be a new vehicle! I often marvel at how easy it is to park compared to longer dualcab Utes with less visibility. How practical it is whereby nothing fazes it ever, no load, no road. Simplicity @ 10l per 100km, no matter what. As a daily drive it's perfect I reckon.

[rick130]

With 255/85's, a big exhaust and the fuel turned up, 110km/h indicated seemed nicer/smoother than 100km/h.

At about any speed over 70km/h noise was another story, otherwise known as the rapid onset of industrial deafness. :angel: