Thread: D2 HSE V8 - opinions?

The main issue with 4.0 engines is the slipped liners issue. I would suggest factoring in a top hat linered 4.6 block in there somewhere, this transforms the truck's reliability and performance.

Secondary issue with LPG is coil pack failure, they are a pig to access therefore I recommend keeping plug gaps to 0.6 or 0.7mm on gas. Injected gas works best, backfiring happens quite easily on mixer type LPG systems.

Our V8 HSE is a great vehicle, just keeps on going, ours has been as reliable as buggery, done 185k now. Just had new Bilstein shocks fitted and it is back to handling like it is on rails, got to love ACE.

They out handle a D3 any day of the week and are very comfortable, the seats in the D2a HSE are miles in front of the D3 HSE's for comfort and support as well believe it or not.

The stereo upgrade in the HSE is excellent compared to the base model and it provides top quality sound. Make sure you check that the sunroof drains are not blocked as the water just pours inside the cabin if they are and it wrecks the roof lining.

Most other potential problems are normal D2 issues which are well documented.

The V8 does use quite a bit of fuel compared to a TD5, but is very frugale compared to our 3.9 V8 D1. It's not bad on fuel when freeway driving, I always drive at the speed limit and rarely get overtaken, if you know what I mean. Usually We see around 550k plus from a tank. The best I have got is 620 Kim, remember that I live in the country though, around town the old girl sucks.

Towing our 2.5 ton van I used to get about 270 Kim per tank. ... That is why I bought the D3 TDV6.

All in all they are a real bargain for the price you will be able to haggle them down too, I doubt that you will regret getting one. ...

Cheers,
Terry

Originally Posted by bee utey

The main issue with 4.0 engines is the slipped liners issue. I would suggest factoring in a top hat linered 4.6 block in there somewhere, this transforms the truck's reliability and performance.

Secondary issue with LPG is coil pack failure, they are a pig to access therefore I recommend keeping plug gaps to 0.6 or 0.7mm on gas. Injected gas works best, backfiring happens quite easily on mixer type LPG systems.

What sort of cash are we talking for the 4.6 block, done in a workshop? Is there a magic Km figure when the slipped liners ususally become a problem?

Thanks for the tips on the LPG issues - the ones I have looked at with LPG have been the injected type, so that should be fine.

Cheers,

Adam

Some 4.0 engines slip liners, not most. Overheating often causes problems but not always, I had a hose burst while driving in the city which caused bad overheating by the time I noticed it.

That was 30,000 k's ago and still there has been no problems with a slipped liner.

Cheers,
Terry

Guys
The slipped liner is a "bug" that has followed the V8 ever since the 4 litre intro.

I wouldn't say its a big issue from my experiences but if the thing has overheated and glowed in the dark then yes it can be a thing to take into account!

The engine is pretty sturdy but cooling issues are its down fall.
If you start loosing coolant the engine won't show an overheat on the gauges until its often too late and the thing boils up like its time for tea.

On the D2 the placement of the thermostat can be a problem of clearing air pockets especially when the truck is serviced and I use an air lift to create a vacuum in the cooling system this ensures the thing is completely full.
I have also seen DIY'rs fit the top hose on the wrong spout on the thermostat. It works until you ask the truck to cool--then it gets very hot!i.

Most of all though is that if the truck has had its service PM's done and the cooling system flushed these trucks exhibit far less problems than the ones that are run for 100K with no services done other than an occasional oil change.

On a D1 with local temps at the moment reaching 100 dgf (35c) the first thing I pay attention to is the gap between the condenser and the radiator. Removing the fan guard, & the two L shaped brackets I push the radiator back against the hoses and peek into the spaces.
On the D2 just a removal of the top fan cowl cover will do the same.

I dunno what it is with the D1 but the muck, leaves, crud, dead birds, grasshoppers/locusts you name it, all gather in the cavity and block up the air flow.
The same can be seen on the D2 but grasshopper/locust guts seem to coat the outside of the of the condenser & radiator more which causes the beast to run on the hot side.

Yesterday we did a string of A/C cooling repairs with ambients in the
low 100's I would say about 75% of them were blocked up with debris.

I use Zep foaming coil cleaner (you can get something like it from commercial HVAC suppliers) to shift the crud off the matrixes without the need to blast them with a hose pipe--it bends the fins!~

On the D2 it would seem that the factory wasn't too good at cleaning out the block on production. On 99 to 2001 models metal tends to collect in the back of the block in the cooling jacket around cylinders 7 & 8.
Sometimes it shows up as a blocked up heater core and you get the Japanese Sushi restaurant mini fountain sound!
For sure the engine has over heated stirred up the crap and the bits have gone walkabout ending up in the heater core.

For me another one of the early signs of localized heat is a high Nox values on a Gov e test when there are no other technical reasons for the high values on a rolling road.
In those cases I remove the water pump and lance clean the
block--messy job!

The other is the need to hear the "Boeing effect"--is the fan coupling and giving a "full cool" at higher temps

Another "No No" especially on late D2 blocks is the use of an air gun to rip the heads off. I have sliced upon a D1 block, an early D2 and a 2004 D2 block. There is definatedly less "meat" where the head bolt threaded pockets are so the block needs to to treated with care when doing a head job on a 2003/2004 so beware.

I would say if you are buying a used D2 look for good service records, and ownership care. Buying a car is always a crap shoot even a new one but thereare some realible gems out there.
Dennis
Zedcars

Bump I am looking at the moment as well. luckily I am not looking for LPG.

If you are looking at the car on carsales.com.au with gas HSE 5 seater, it has been on there for a while now

Why not get a Range Rover if your only doing onroad? Then you get the better 4.6L V8 too...