Is 300,000K's over the hill for a 300tdi??

[matt prime]

Hi all,

I am looking at the white defender for sale on the classified's and I wondering if 300,000 km's is getting up there abit for a 300 TDI engine? I have just sold an 80 series with 450,000 and she was still going strong. I have had the local mechanic check her out and all seems good. But will this engine with the proper maintenance go the distance or will things naturally start wearing out??

I'd really appreciate some feedback??

Cheers!

[bee utey]

The proper answer of course is, well, yes and no. Some 300TDi's can have major problems at 200 000 and some are still going strong at 450 000km. It all depends on its life history. Maintenance records are valuable.

[nonimouse]

If the lump is still strong it should be fine. The weak spot on these is the head and then only when overheated - they crack up like gloss paint in the sun. That's only 180,000miles!

Injectors are critical as dribbling causes hot spots in the piston crowns - but it would smoke like a barge before this


At those kms my main worry would be the gearbox and T box. But a decent test drive would tell you what and if

I've known a fair few well serviced 300Tdis go on over 500,000 miles/830,000kms. But by then they are usually on the third transmission

There is a problem with LT230's concerning the layshaft and where it sist through the T box wall. After big miles the 'o' ring doesn't fit as the hole becomes oval - so it turns into a constant loss oil system! The damn 'box will carry on for ever but you end up filling the damn thing up three times a day

As an aside my mates just taken a part ex on a '98 V70 2.4 170 with 760,000miles/1,260,000kms on it. Original engine, no major work - just been serviced on the dot. Drives like a dream...

[PAT303]

Mine has over 440K's on it but as bee utey said it depends on it's previous owners.If it starts easily and doesn't puff out of the oil filler or any other obvious faults go with it. Pat

[justinc]

Like Pat says, if it starts from cold easily and doesn't breathe heavily thats a good'un

300Tdi is a pretty robust little motor, treated well will last and last. I have customers with 500+k no reliability probs at all with proper maintenance.

JC

[MacFamily]

We have 380k on our 300tdi defender and still goes great.

Just replaced alot of other things eg,Water pump,lift pump,vacuum pump,exhaust manifold gasket,welch plugs,rebuilt injector pump,timing belt,new clutch,rebuilt/modified transfer.(within the 3yrs we have owned it)

But all those things are just common wear&tear for a Vehicle that age.But as whats already been said if you service when needed including oil/filter,change timing belt every 80k check tappets and other general things it will last for alongtime.

Like anything else look after it and it will last which is what you must have done with the toyota.

I have replaced or fixed alot of the above items because iam a little pedantic and plus been the wifes/family car I like to make sure it runs good and reliable.

[Blknight.aus]

nope its fine, take it to someone who knows rover engines and have them run the gauges over it, if it comes up fine and the compression is good across the board shes good to go.

I have taken to pulling the heads at about the 250-300K point (3rd or 4th timing belt) to do a precautionary on the head gasket and to get the head checked. All of the ones I've had to do so far have been good.

[whyatts]

Have a low coolant alarm fitted. 95% of the engines we rebuild have been cooked. Do this, and it will well outlast any Toyo engine

[PAT303]

Have a low coolant alarm fitted. 95% of the engines we rebuild have been cooked. Do this, and it will well outlast any Toyo engine

Best advice yet,saying that mine started leaking from the injector pump this morning but it has alot of K's. Pat

[87County]

the question asked and well answered was about engine life -

BUT

similarly expensive can be the R380 gearbox and I don't think most people treat them well enough to last the life of the engine

there will be some clues to indicate condition; but a gearbox that seems ok most of the time isn't necessarily so - particularly if difficult gear engagement is experienced when the vehicle is stopped (main shaft end float/synchro wear)

unless an owner is set up and capable of doing a gearbox rebuild himself it will certainly be more expensive that an in-vehicle engine rebuild