2013 - 2016 Discovery. Advice requested

[JamesP]

Hi, I'm considering upgrading to a 2013 - 2016 Discovery. I'm concerned about the D3 & D4 broken crankshaft failures but articles indicate a design change in 2012 fixed the issue. Hence why I'm considering 2013 onward. Is this fact or are there still random failures happening ?
Also is there anything published to the root cause of the failures ?

[DieselLSE]

Hi, I'm considering upgrading to a 2013 - 2016 Discovery. I'm concerned about the D3 & D4 broken crankshaft failures but articles indicate a design change in 2012 fixed the issue. Hence why I'm considering 2013 onward. Is this fact or are there still random failures happening ?
Also is there anything published to the root cause of the failures ?
Hi JamesP,
Yes, it appears that the crank failure can happen to any 3.0L TDV6/SDV6 apparently at random and apparently without warning. The cause(s) are most certainly known, but whoever does know is keeping it to themselves. The rest of us can only guess. Whilst the fear of the failure hangs over us like the sword of Damocles, most of us happily take our D4's deep into their natural habitat on a regular basis and just enjoy them for what they are: an astoundingly accomplished 4WD.
Find a good car with the features you require and a good service record. Pay to get a mechanical assessment. Close your eyes and pay for the car. Open them and fit the accessories you want. Enjoy it. Keep servicing it regularly as required. Only begin to worry about a catastrophic engine failure should it happen.

[scarry]

There was no design change in 2012 that fixed the issue,its still happening in the D5.[bigsad]

There was an upgrade for the 2.7l engine going from D3 to D4 that seemed to sort the issue,no reports of any failing.
And its the same engine in the Ford Territory which also has no reported engine failures.

The 2.7L ran from 2010 to MY 12 in D4.

[Lukeis]

Finally. A win for my version, the 2.7L - amazing.

I wonder if the quote below ‘fear of failure hangs over us like a sword’ is in the sales pitch at JLR?!

[scarry]

Finally. A win for my version, the 2.7L - amazing.

And i must mention,anyone want a low Km one? Mine will be on the market soon...[wink11]

[Graeme]

And its the same engine in the Ford Territory which also has no reported engine failures.
IIRC a press-release Territory's engine failed.

[JamesP]

Paul, So are you suggesting the D4 2.7L is not prone to crankshaft failures ?

thanks

[scarry]

Paul, So are you suggesting the D4 2.7L is not prone to crankshaft failures ?

thanks

Correct,as also mentioned by some of the guys on this site that work on these vehicles all day everyday.

You could do a search to satisfy yourself,on here and elsewhere.

[Eric SDV6SE]

Hi JamesP,
Yes, it appears that the crank failure can happen to any 3.0L TDV6/SDV6 apparently at random and apparently without warning. The cause(s) are most certainly known, but whoever does know is keeping it to themselves. The rest of us can only guess. Whilst the fear of the failure hangs over us like the sword of Damocles, most of us happily take our D4's deep into their natural habitat on a regular basis and just enjoy them for what they are: an astoundingly accomplished 4WD.
Find a good car with the features you require and a good service record. Pay to get a mechanical assessment. Close your eyes and pay for the car. Open them and fit the accessories you want. Enjoy it. Keep servicing it regularly as required. Only begin to worry about a catastrophic engine failure should it happen.

Service intervals as per LR intervals at 24000km are too long So if you find one that has had oil services every 10 or 12,000kms, thats the one I'd grab.

Apparently, and I can't confirm this yet, but there was a small change to crank main bearing size at one stage for the D4 3 0L, evidenced by a 14mm crank pulley main bolt over the 12mm one used on the 2.7's.

More than regular servicing and keeping an eagle eye on oil levels is key.

[Discodicky]

Hi JamesP,
Yes, it appears that the crank failure can happen to any 3.0L TDV6/SDV6 apparently at random and apparently without warning. The cause(s) are most certainly known, but whoever does know is keeping it to themselves. The rest of us can only guess. Whilst the fear of the failure hangs over us like the sword of Damocles, most of us happily take our D4's deep into their natural habitat on a regular basis and just enjoy them for what they are: an astoundingly accomplished 4WD.
Find a good car with the features you require and a good service record. Pay to get a mechanical assessment. Close your eyes and pay for the car. Open them and fit the accessories you want. Enjoy it. Keep servicing it regularly as required. Only begin to worry about a catastrophic engine failure should it happen.

Spot on comment.
May I add to change the engine oil & filter religiously every 10,000 klms and only use correct specified oil (viscosity, index, full synthetic etc).
The grin factor whilst driving is well worth any concerns.
The other point which has often been made on this Forum is that you''ll only tend to read about the problems. There are scores, nay, thousands, of D4 3.0 litres out there which won't have the problem.

An interesting point in case here is that today I went to the local stealer to check price/availability of the p/n LR090489 TCS (8 speed selector rotator) to see if it was worthwhile replacing prior failure, given the recent discussion here which seems to suggest it is a common problem in LR/RR/Jaguar 8 speed autos.
They've sold one in past 3 years.
Likewise, my friend at British 4WD who sells much LR/RR parts all over Aus reports no sales.
Maybe the local owners/Indies have been buying ex UK hence no local sales record, but...

.... or, you could buy a new Defender.
The Sales Rep at Hobart Dealer told me today that he's just taken two orders for new top of range fully specced Deefers at $178 and $172,000 each...........
Apparently when asked how often he thinks he's likely to use the winch, the new owner chortled that the car will never go off the bitumen.....

[INter674]

Spot on comment.
May I add to change the engine oil & filter religiously every 10,000 klms and only use correct specified oil (viscosity, index, full synthetic etc).
The grin factor whilst driving is well worth any concerns.
The other point which has often been made on this Forum is that you''ll only tend to read about the problems. There are scores, nay, thousands, of D4 3.0 litres out there which won't have the problem.

An interesting point in case here is that today I went to the local stealer to check price/availability of the p/n LR090489 TCS (8 speed selector rotator) to see if it was worthwhile replacing prior failure, given the recent discussion here which seems to suggest it is a common problem in LR/RR/Jaguar 8 speed autos.
They've sold one in past 3 years.
Likewise, my friend at British 4WD who sells much LR/RR parts all over Aus reports no sales.
Maybe the local owners/Indies have been buying ex UK hence no local sales record, but...

.... or, you could buy a new Defender.
The Sales Rep at Hobart Dealer told me today that he's just taken two orders for new top of range fully specced Deefers at $178 and $172,000 each...........
Apparently when asked how often he thinks he's likely to use the winch, the new owner chortled that the car will never go off the bitumen.....

I think most have been done under warranty. Certainly Tilfords in Hobart were well aware of the issue with mine and admitted to seeing a few at around 100k.

I bought a spare out of the UK for 80 bucks..a warranty left over with failed lights...which many have suffered. Jags in the USA had them replaced under warranty...due to a likely class action over some deaths in other makes using the same system. Yanks don't like the h brake so if the unit locks in D...no P is automatically selected..so the car rolls😐

As noted that issue was with other makes not LR.

[scarry]

.
T
The Sales Rep at Hobart Dealer told me today that he's just taken two orders for new top of range fully specced Deefers at $178 and $172,000 each...........
Apparently when asked how often he thinks he's likely to use the winch, the new owner chortled that the car will never go off the bitumen.....

Thats LR's target market these days.
They love customers like that.

Jo average has to settle for a different brand.(not trying to cause any divides,if you know what i mean)

[INter674]

...there's money in Tassie..lot's of cashed up retirees eg from the big island and locals who like to travel in style. Remember..the main employer is the PS and baby boomers have access to big super payouts and had fixed interest loans on houses that cost bugger all back in the day. They are rolling in money and travel is off the agenda atm.

Good on them buying a top of the range LR.....I would too if I had the spare cash...

...mmmmm....one day I will🙄

[Discodicky]

...there's money in Tassie..lot's of cashed up retirees eg from the big island and locals who like to travel in style. Remember..the main employer is the PS and baby boomers have access to big super payouts and had fixed interest loans on houses that cost bugger all back in the day. They are rolling in money and travel is off the agenda atm.

Good on them buying a top of the range LR.....I would too if I had the spare cash...

...mmmmm....one day I will🙄

Apparently the local Hobart Dealer is holding orders for 7 new Deefers and could sell more if the stock was available.
When I commented that sales of the Discovery 5 will surely suffer he nodded.

[JamesP]

Thanks everyone for your responses.
I've been reading an article from South Africa that indicates 2.7L and 3l crankshaft failures are essentially the same failure modes due the incorrect radius undercut between #2 bigend and #2 main. Undercut being to shallow. This causes z weak spot.
Also extended oil change intervals causing lack of lube, bearing pick up and in some cases crank failure. Solution 10k oil changes.
Add to this vibration due to failing t/c on 6 speeds sets up a vibration that can cause crankshaft breakage. Solution - 60 k transmission service.

Fact or fiction but a interesting article.

[INter674]

The new version of the engine used in the F trucks has redesigned cranks made elsewhere and with different metalurgy to the problematic units. This is what LR dealers are advising worried F truck buyers.

Another suggestion is to buy a petrol engine...yes I know that will raise another debate eg you can't get petrol in the bush.. which is BS. Plenty of Y62s touring Aus as well as heaps of V8 and 6 cyl pettie cruisers ...jeeps etc...smashing tracks all over the place.

Just a thought🙄

[PerthDisco]

The new version of the engine used in the F trucks has redesigned cranks made elsewhere and with different metalurgy to the problematic units. This is what LR dealers are advising worried F truck buyers.

Another suggestion is to buy a petrol engine...yes I know that will raise another debate eg you can't get petrol in the bush.. which is BS. Plenty of Y62s touring Aus as well as heaps of V8 and 6 cyl pettie cruisers ...jeeps etc...smashing tracks all over the place.

Just a thought[emoji849]

Maybe a future source of donor wreck engine like the Territory for the 2.7

[scarry]

Thanks everyone for your responses.
I've been reading an article from South Africa that indicates 2.7L and 3l crankshaft failures are essentially the same failure modes due the incorrect radius undercut between #2 bigend and #2 main. Undercut being to shallow. This causes z weak spot.
Also extended oil change intervals causing lack of lube, bearing pick up and in some cases crank failure. Solution 10k oil changes.
Add to this vibration due to failing t/c on 6 speeds sets up a vibration that can cause crankshaft breakage. Solution - 60 k transmission service.

Fact or fiction but a interesting article.

So the mystery deepens,as to what is different with the Territory V6 engine and the D4 2.7?.
Noting both ran the 6 speed ZF.

Maybe luck plays a part,and Ford having shorter service intervals.

[Discodicky]

The new version of the engine used in the F trucks has redesigned cranks made elsewhere and with different metalurgy to the problematic units. This is what LR dealers are advising worried F truck buyers.

Another suggestion is to buy a petrol engine...yes I know that will raise another debate eg you can't get petrol in the bush.. which is BS. Plenty of Y62s touring Aus as well as heaps of V8 and 6 cyl pettie cruisers ...jeeps etc...smashing tracks all over the place.

Just a thought🙄

If I had my time again I'd have gone petrol and preferably a V8, just for the noise if nothing else.
With petrol far cheaper than diesel these days, the perceived savings by having a diesel engine are no longer relevant.
Petrol is available anywhere.
Oh how I wish they'd offered the TDV8 in the Disco as I'm sure it would have sold like hot cakes.

[Eric SDV6SE]

If I had my time again I'd have gone petrol and preferably a V8, just for the noise if nothing else.
With petrol far cheaper than diesel these days, the perceived savings by having a diesel engine are no longer relevant.
Petrol is available anywhere.
Oh how I wish they'd offered the TDV8 in the Disco as I'm sure it would have sold like hot cakes.

I'd go the SCV6 if I knew then what I know now....