Thread: Urgent mechanical advice required!

We've travelled 800km+ from Halls Creek, to Quondong Point near Broome (via Tunnell Creek and Windjana Gorge off the Gibb River Road). The old Defender performed beatifully - no more smoke! I checked the sponge tied over the engine breather reasonably regularly and no dramas; and no drop in oil levels! Even felt happy enough to get her onto the soft stuff into Quondong Point!

We'll camp here a few nights and then head into Broome to pick up the new filter (thanks Dave & Collin) and we'll be right as rain! In retrospect, we could have done the Tanami, but given the dramas we had, discretion was probably the better part of valour!

We'll head south to Perth - probably call into Karajini and Ningaloo (we've done both before).

Any folk in WA know of some good spots on the way south? Anyone know much about Ruddell River Nat Park? Is it worth the trip in?

Thanks again to everyone for assistance over the past few days - it did a lot to ease my mind and I've learned some stuff along the way!

Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

Hi vnx205

A history of short running and the fact that, all motors breath to some extent or other, residue is deposited and condenses where the motor is coolest, for example; under the rocker cover and in the 300TDi, also inside the oil separator / breather.

After a time without it being cleaned out ,that residue can become a near solid grey-black crud.

Oil changes to get rid of combustion by produces, done on a regular, but short time base, helps keep those places in the motor, clear of build up.

In the case of any diesel, combustion by produces contain carbon particles and if oil changes are left for an extended times, this carbon finds its way onto the cylinder walls and causes a polishing effect called glazing.

Glazing is a common problem with diesel Farm Tractors, that are used for long periods doing light duties, such as the feeding out. When used for heavy ploughing the oil consumption is high until that motor settles down again with wear, this can take up to a week of heavy work before the oil consumption drops back to a reasonable level.

Cheers Arthur

Would this be the same for a Defender that's mainly done lots of town driving for a few years, and is then doing lots of extended travel, big distances and off road driving (e.g. as part of a long road trip)?

Picked up the new engine breather filter which was waiting for us at the PO in Broome, and fitted it to the car today, no problems. Hopefully we'll have no more dramas this trip!
Mark.

Originally Posted by markandsandy

Would this be the same for a Defender that's mainly done lots of town driving for a few years, and is then doing lots of extended travel, big distances and off road driving (e.g. as part of a long road trip)?

Hi Mark and Sandy

To glaze the bore in a Defender, you would have to idle it all the time and not load up the motor at all and that's not going to happen in town, as you are constantly speeding up and then slowing down with the traffic.

Enjoy the rest of your trip now.

Cheers Arthur