Thread: Adelaide Q: TD5 power vs TDi 300 power

As mentioned above aerodynamics play a part in it all. Now matter how good the engine is its still shaped like a house brick. Matt

so defenders are the ordinary house hold brick and discoveries are besser bricks?

Originally posted by mickrangie
so defenders are the ordinary house hold brick and discoveries are besser bricks?

Dont think for a second i am bagging defenders i love them, but the shape does hinder ther forward momentum somewhat. That cant be denied. How much worse it is than the disco i couldnt tell. Has anyone got a wind tunnel we can borrow.

Nah!

Defenders a aerated brick

And yeah, I love mine too...

Cheers
Mike

Just reviving this old post with a quick follow up. I've taken off the canopy from the back of my 130, and now I can go up all the way up the freeway in 5th gear, so looks like it is predominantly a weight issue more than aerodynamics.

It is an all aluminium canopy, and before I took it off I estimated it to weight 200-250Kg. Wrong! It nearly tipped my tractor over lifting it off (I didn't bother put on the counterweight), and when I rang the fabricating company who made it I found it was 600Kg. I was miles out.

So, drop 600Kg off your car and the performance increases a huge amount. No wonder auto makers all want to make parts lighter.
Cheers
David

No wonder auto makers all want to make parts lighter.

but the manufacturers keep making the whole car heavier with each successive model

And FWIW, the high range is different 'tween a 'fender and Disco, with the Defender using a 1.410:1 high range, and, IIRC a Disco around 1.22:1, so the overal final drive ratio is slightly lower in a 'fender, but actual gearing possibly works out the same when tyre diamater is taken into account.

Originally Posted by spudboy

Just reviving this old post with a quick follow up. I've taken off the canopy from the back of my 130, and now I can go up all the way up the freeway in 5th gear, so looks like it is predominantly a weight issue more than aerodynamics.

It is an all aluminium canopy, and before I took it off I estimated it to weight 200-250Kg. Wrong! It nearly tipped my tractor over lifting it off (I didn't bother put on the counterweight), and when I rang the fabricating company who made it I found it was 600Kg. I was miles out.

So, drop 600Kg off your car and the performance increases a huge amount. No wonder auto makers all want to make parts lighter.
Cheers
David

I would imaging your economy has improved some what aswell. matt

Originally Posted by spudboy

Was wondering if anyone from Adelaide can tell me if they can get their TD5 up the South Eastern Freeway in 5th gear.

I've got a 'new' bog standard 2001 TD5 130 running on standard 7.50R16 tyres and it just won't go up in 5th, which I was expecting.

I've got a 97 TDi300 Discovery and this 'almost' goes all the way in 5th, so I was a bit disappointed to have to shift down to 4th for the whole way up in the 130, seeing that the TD5 has a reputation for more power.

Is there any simple test (maybe a Dyno test) to see if it is putting out a normal amount of power?

I can't be bothered reading through all the replies but apologies if it has already been said....

1 - IIRC, the 130 is heavier than the Disco.
2 - The Defender has the aerodynamics of a brick.
3 - The transfer boxes have different ratios between the Disco & Defender.
4 - Tyre sizes. The 130 runs on larger tyres (which are harder to turn).... This makes a BIG difference.

If you want to try a little test... Stick some smaller tyres on the 130 & give it another go.

M