Thread: Considering a D2

Originally Posted by Nicky

TD5 D2a has metal dowels vs deformable plastic dowels in the D2

IMHO Plastic dowels only deform when something else is wrong. If you are replacing the head gasket etc, then by all means replace the dowels. But if it ain't broke...

Originally Posted by gusthedog

IMHO Plastic dowels only deform when something else is wrong. If you are replacing the head gasket etc, then by all means replace the dowels. But if it ain't broke...

The plastic dowels were used for alignment at assembly. In use they allow movement which will accelerate problems. The D2a went to metal dowels, why? because......

Originally Posted by Nicky

The plastic dowels were used for alignment at assembly. In use they allow movement which will accelerate problems. The D2a went to metal dowels, why? because......

I think it's a case of D2 paranoia personally. My old mechanic in Wodonga told me that plastic dowels will only be a problem if there are other issues with the car (overheating, head gasket issues etc) and that he has seen plastic dowelled D2's with more than 500k on them without issue.

Actually I think many of the issues associated with D2s are paranoia. If you compare actually instances of things like plastic dowels warping with the amount of vehicles that have them IMHO I think you'd be surprised how few of them there are. Kind of like loose oil pump bolts.... (and can of worms opens)

I think you are right. The LR engines typically are not forgiving of abuse but the moral is dont abuse them...

Cheers

Originally Posted by gusthedog

I think it's a case of D2 paranoia personally. My old mechanic in Wodonga told me that plastic dowels will only be a problem if there are other issues with the car (overheating, head gasket issues etc) and that he has seen plastic dowelled D2's with more than 500k on them without issue.

Actually I think many of the issues associated with D2s are paranoia. If you compare actually instances of things like plastic dowels warping with the amount of vehicles that have them IMHO I think you'd be surprised how few of them there are. Kind of like loose oil pump bolts.... (and can of worms opens)

So again, please,why did the D2a go to metal dowels? (which are not recommended for the D2)