Thread: Catastrophic engine failure on a TD5

So I checked the oil and all seems to be in order.
The level is fine, a little bit above the full marks but nor more thatn last time ( may be 2mm)
I dropped a drip down the side of a wine bottle of currently installed oil and new oil, they both slid down the glass the same speed

couoldnt smell any diesel in the oil and coudn't taste any either.

Feeling OK about at the moment

Hay Ewe

That's a smart way to check the viscosity! Nice one. I'll have to remember that.

A simple way to check for fuel dilution is to use a business card and drop a small drop of oil on it, it's called the oil blotter test.

If fuel is present in it you will see a distinct lighter ring/s around the outside of the droplet where it seeps into the card and it tends to spread more quickly/further than pure oil.

Another thing to look for in the blotter test for fuel dilution is a wavy border but it's the rate of the spread that will really tip you off.

I posted this four years ago in another thread, and while it only shows various containment levels, it'll give you an idea.
IMO fuel would show up outside the dark rings.



[edit]
This is better (from Cummins and Valvoline)



and this is a good FAQ http://www.valvolinecummins.com/Faq.asp

That FAQ is excellent!

Nice one Rick

dont forget the other half of that test which is to hold a piece of paper (I use a matt finish printer paper) at about an 80 degree angle (nearly vertical) and drop the drop of oil near the top.

as the oil runs down any particulates suspended in the oil will deposit as a trace down the paper, light stuff at the top and the heavier bits at the bottom.

backlight the paper and examine the trace with a magnifying glass or loupe.

G'day all,drilled out the plastic reducer in the fuel return fitting yest, (thanks woko for that tip) hole is tiny compared to fuel line,wonder why this is so????,drill size is 1/8 ,easy to do and I don't know if its me or is the car going a bit better???.the D2 is '03 and only 70k on the clock and oil level rises about 3-5mm on the stick between changes(7500 km),not really worried yet but check weekly!Will be interesting to see if this mod stops it?,thanks again to all for this forum ,and its tips!

I’ve got a 2001 build TD5 defender. (would be good if people identified their vehicles when posting/replying)

I had oil tests done on mine while it was still under warranty and this disclosed fuel contamination in the oil (30,000K’s).

I took the tests to LR and after explaining to them what an oil test was they initially changed the head. Then did the injector seals twice.

Finally they did the injectors. Which seemed to fix the problem.

My concern was not so much with the possibility of the engine running on. More the increased engine wear caused by the oil being diluted by the fuel. My understanding is that over a long period of time fuel contaminating the oil really increases engine wear.

Interestingly while LR while reviewing the oil analysis LR agreed to do an oil change free every 5,000k’s.

My understanding is that LR did have a batch of porous heads and also a batch of faulty injectors around 2001/2002. I originally decided to have my oil checked because it was cheap ($30) and at the time (2003) a number posts were coming up on the UK forums with this problem.

I’m interested in this fuel return line modification?