Thread: Discovery 1 V8 Questions on service life

Hi, 190K is not a lot of kms for what is now a pretty old car. A lot depends on how it was looked after, if it hasn't been serviced regulary ( oil changes) then even a low kms engine can be gunked up inside with sludge .
I bought a second hand D1 from a Land rover Dealer it had similar kms to yours, I found it needed a head gasket down at 200K, I had the heads done and whilst I was at it replaced the cam and timing chain, only because I removed the timing cover to fix a leak and thought "Whilst I was at it '
You should get high kilometrage out of them if looked after.
Heat kills them so make sure your cooling system is spot on.

Clutches depends on your right foot, if you ride the clutch it won't last long.
I had problems at 230K, but that was a melted throw out bearing, so Whilst I had the gearbox out I replaced the clutch plates as it was silly not too considering the labour involved.
If you don't ride the clutch expect good life from them.
I'm talking about my own experience, others may differ.
Cheers,
Mario

My currant 3.5 V8 disco was purchased cheap (and unregoed) as a parts car, 230k on the clock. Nil service history from about 90k, till I bought it.


I eventually fixed a few things (mainly oil leaks) and re regoed it. Now has 275k on the clock and has been mainly reliable, including a 7000km trip to Alice Springs. I have no idea if head gaskets or the cam chain has been done, but guessing it will be a to-do job sometime in the near future.


My other Rover is a '86 3.5 Rangie. Over 600k on it now, but the motor was apparently rebuilt sometime around the 300k mark. It leaks a bit, it rattles a bit, but it still goes and is reliable.


Just gotta look after them a bit, and keep an eye (and ear) out for the little things that can turn into big things.

If the timing chain was done on the landy I have bought would that suggest a head gasket being done as well ?