Thread: V8 Owners, your opinions please

Head gaskets, usually caused by overheating due to lack of maintenance of cooling system, ie just plain old. Usually you won't see the temp gauge going through the roof, the needle hardly reacts at all but it may be overheating nonetheless.

Fuel consumptions for highway cruising seems about seems about right. If your getting that around town your doing better than I ever did.

Enjoy it. I had mine for 12 years with little problem apart from the above.

Ive had about 7 years of trouble free motoring, beach runs, High country, desert, mud, bogs. Then it cleaned up and dragged an excavator around, and my tools during the week. I love it, but once i started getting head gasket problems its been a troubled child. Look after the cooling system. You dont know theres a problem until it goes bang.

The three amigos and the cdl is the only other issue that shuld be dealt with quickly.

Otherwise, goodluck, its a great car.

Bought a very well looked after 01 D2 V8. I've had no major issues, just tyres and a service.

It has a small oil leak (what kind of Disco doesn't ) but nothing more.

Haven't modded it but do have plans when I have the cash.

As for fuel... It's great on the highways... Well below average in the suburbs (probably tops out at like 400k's). I'm too scared to run it to empty! HAH!

Edit: Oh wait, replaced the battery. The previous owner cheaped out on some 520CCA junk and caused me a few issues until I swapped it out. No issues since

I've nicknamed mine the Big Silver Lemon,,

do you REALLY want to know???

I would not lift a finger to stop its total destruction.
I hate it with the same amount of passion I loved the two previous ones.

Bugger Pedro, you must have a really bad one?

My '03 V8 only does 500km to the tank because of shagged o2 sensors.

I've changed the inlet/valley gasket and replaced the water pump.

Oil leaks from engine still. I used Hylomar and Permatex.

It blew a dodgy little plastic coolant hose. Replaced all of them with rubber.

Coolant tank snapped that little nipple at the bottom. Yet to replace the tank.

Did I mention oil leaks?

Coolant leak on LH headgasket, weeping coolant onto engine mount.

Disco runs like a dream, love the sound. Hate the gutless performance.

Needs an engine transplant like a Ford or LS1 V8. Thinking of a remote turbo for short term.

My 2000 D2 V8 does around 550 if I run to empty. Then takes around 90 litres so had 5 litres in tank. This is about normal. Strange thing is open highway or round town is not much different. i would maybe make 600 if I had a tail wind. Maybe because I take off nice and easy and keep the revs under 2000 usually. but, as for issues, had to change the radiator top hose and a front drive shaft. otherwise had it 12 months and going great. 179000 on the clock when I got it and just over 200000 now.

The economy on my V8 with 245k Klm ranges 430klm to 680klm per tank depending on traffic such as my previous city stop/go rubbish in Melbourne or my leisurely trip now in Adelaide along Military Rd and the Port-Wakefied Rd.

My advice is to keep the cooling system maintained. I would even suggest a new water pump, rad, viscous fan, thermostat and hoses at 10-12 yrs regardless.

Change oil & filter regularly (10,000 klm max)

New battery (every 3-4 yrs max) helps to keep the Amigos away.

Mines a daily commuter with the occasional camping trip and even rarer off road excitement (not enough of that). Main use now is ferrying canoes, boards, kids and dog to/from the beach and pulling a trailer while renovating.

Love my 2001 V8

Only 84k's on the clock and drives like a dream.

Problems across it's history on the book and under my ownership were...
[*]New Valley Gasket
[*]SLS Airbags 2008- (im now on coils)
[*]Throttle Body bypass to avoid coolant leaks last year
[*]Top Hose last month
[*]LH Engine Mount last week!
[*]Thermostat, and Rad Service just because the car is 12 years old. @ months ago

Headlining fabric Dropped

Air Mass Meter Replaced a year ago

I have no oil leaks

Agree - Keep the cooling system tip top and it will serve you well...