Shock me

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Originally Posted by Dreamer

Is the TD5 more unreliable than the 200 or 300 TDi or overly complicated for little benefit for the newer model. I am pretty handy for suspension modifications and would rather spend doola on repairs/mods on a reliable old girl than extra $000 on a newer beast.
Again thanks all for the prompt informative info. Great site this!!!![smilebigeye][biggrin]

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The overall impression I have got is that the TD5 is not less reliable than the 200 or 300Tdi, in fact it may be more reliable. But it has a couple of known problems - most notably the oil in harness one, and while none of the engines take kindly to overheating the TD5 is likely to be (much) more expensive to fix if overheated.

All three engines seem to be quite reliable and durable if properly maintained.

But as with any such question, it is difficult to come up with a definite answer - if you ask the individual owner, he either has had only one of the types or has not had all three over a long period, and in any case only has had one or two examples of each. Ask a mechanic - and he will remember mainly the problem ones, which may not be typical! The ideal would be a large fleet owner who has had a number of each type and keeps good records - but there would be few if any of these in Australian conditions!

And any of these will have a previous owner, and you don't know how he has treated it - and this may be more important than the engine type!

John

John

good to know cause I will probably tweak turbo in the upward direction. However economy is foremost in mind because I do a lot of k's and am heading outback eventually for trips and don't want to compromise reliability. Thanks again all!!:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Dreamer

good to know cause I will probably tweak turbo in the upward direction. However economy is foremost in mind because I do a lot of k's and am heading outback eventually for trips and don't want to compromise reliability. Thanks again all!!:thumbsup:

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Get the ECU re-flashed in a TD5 and you'll have more power than I can squeeze out of a 300Tdi with better driveability and reliability.

I really think a stock 300Tdi is at about the limit for it's design, and mine isn't stock, I have the fuel wound up, big exhaust, intake mods etc. and I always have a constant nagging that one day it'll go BANG.
I've already lunched the big ends once, the failure looked like classic overload of the bearings, delamination of the overlay, stress fractures across the overlay, etc.
I suspect not enough oil cooling and possible distortion of the caps under load.

People have wound up the TD5 to some insane HP/torque levels and the engine has been around long enough now to show some impressively high miles without wear, and it has the best oil filtration system of any factory engine I know.
Just keep an eye on the air box, that the filter seals properly otherwise you'll dust an engine, I've heard of a few not sealing properly or not being seated properly.

There are a few that suffer with high fuel dilution, injector seals can be a problem (and there were some early porous or cracked heads) so keeping an eye on oil levels or if you are a bit more anal, oil testing every six to twelve months will keep on top of that.

As John mentions, neither engine family takes kindly to overheating so some sort of coolant/engine monitor is cheap insurance too.

This is fantastic, I could have my perfect vehicle designed in 24 hrs at this rate. It'll be monotubes; Billsteins or Koni, probably TD5, with chip upgrade, 130 crew cab. Mulgo seat extender brackets for this 185cm 120kg dude. What a pity I used to live in Miranda near Mulgo and used Rex, Peter's father for my sheet metal work! Love to have seen a Mulgo conversion in the flesh. I have over the last five years with my industrious wife converted an ex Greyhound Landseer and Nissan 40 ft school coach in immaculate condition into motorhomes. Now it will be a camper for us and two kids 11 and 7 for some fun Coight like adventures.[thumbsupbig]:spudnikbackflip:

The good Koni's are twin tubes, their mono-tubes aren't revalveable/rebuildable, although you'll have to mix and match models to get more stock than stroke.

If you are going the ECU route (what year ? early ECU's weren't flashable AFAIK) replace the I/C too with a bigger core version, then there's the VNT upgrade (all engine mods are available from Tombie I think) go bigger in the exhaust, etc.

BTW Fox Shox have stock stroke, urethane bushed remote canister shocks with CD (bump) adjusters on the cans available too.

Are you saying the early TD5s could not be reflashed?:confused:

Up to 2002 they are a soldered in chip that can't be reflashed, except by re-soldering in a new chip.

Post 2002: they can be flashed onto the original ECU.

OK remember now from tutorials. Ta! Its strange working with all the apprentices who have 500 hp VL's and things, makes you want some more too! MIND YOU NOTHING WORSE THAN NOT BEING ABLE TO OVERTAKE GREY NOMADS DOING 88KS DOWN HILL, 90 ON FLATS AND 108 ON OVERTAKING LANES.:o