2013 - 2016 Discovery. Advice requested

[JamesP]

Hi, I'm considering upgrading to a 2013 - 2016 Discovery. I'm concerned about the D3 & D4 broken crankshaft failures but articles indicate a design change in 2012 fixed the issue. Hence why I'm considering 2013 onward. Is this fact or are there still random failures happening ?
Also is there anything published to the root cause of the failures ?

[DieselLSE]

Hi, I'm considering upgrading to a 2013 - 2016 Discovery. I'm concerned about the D3 & D4 broken crankshaft failures but articles indicate a design change in 2012 fixed the issue. Hence why I'm considering 2013 onward. Is this fact or are there still random failures happening ?
Also is there anything published to the root cause of the failures ?

Hi JamesP,
Yes, it appears that the crank failure can happen to any 3.0L TDV6/SDV6 apparently at random and apparently without warning. The cause(s) are most certainly known, but whoever does know is keeping it to themselves. The rest of us can only guess. Whilst the fear of the failure hangs over us like the sword of Damocles, most of us happily take our D4's deep into their natural habitat on a regular basis and just enjoy them for what they are: an astoundingly accomplished 4WD.
Find a good car with the features you require and a good service record. Pay to get a mechanical assessment. Close your eyes and pay for the car. Open them and fit the accessories you want. Enjoy it. Keep servicing it regularly as required. Only begin to worry about a catastrophic engine failure should it happen.

[scarry]

There was no design change in 2012 that fixed the issue,its still happening in the D5.

There was an upgrade for the 2.7l engine going from D3 to D4 that seemed to sort the issue,no reports of any failing.
And its the same engine in the Ford Territory which also has no reported engine failures.

The 2.7L ran from 2010 to MY 12 in D4.

[Lukeis]

Finally. A win for my version, the 2.7L - amazing.

I wonder if the quote below ‘fear of failure hangs over us like a sword’ is in the sales pitch at JLR?!

[scarry]

Finally. A win for my version, the 2.7L - amazing.

And i must mention,anyone want a low Km one? Mine will be on the market soon...

[Graeme]

And its the same engine in the Ford Territory which also has no reported engine failures.

IIRC a press-release Territory's engine failed.

[JamesP]

Paul, So are you suggesting the D4 2.7L is not prone to crankshaft failures ?

thanks

[scarry]

Paul, So are you suggesting the D4 2.7L is not prone to crankshaft failures ?

thanks

Correct,as also mentioned by some of the guys on this site that work on these vehicles all day everyday.

You could do a search to satisfy yourself,on here and elsewhere.

[Eric SDV6SE]

Hi JamesP,
Yes, it appears that the crank failure can happen to any 3.0L TDV6/SDV6 apparently at random and apparently without warning. The cause(s) are most certainly known, but whoever does know is keeping it to themselves. The rest of us can only guess. Whilst the fear of the failure hangs over us like the sword of Damocles, most of us happily take our D4's deep into their natural habitat on a regular basis and just enjoy them for what they are: an astoundingly accomplished 4WD.
Find a good car with the features you require and a good service record. Pay to get a mechanical assessment. Close your eyes and pay for the car. Open them and fit the accessories you want. Enjoy it. Keep servicing it regularly as required. Only begin to worry about a catastrophic engine failure should it happen.

Service intervals as per LR intervals at 24000km are too long So if you find one that has had oil services every 10 or 12,000kms, thats the one I'd grab.

Apparently, and I can't confirm this yet, but there was a small change to crank main bearing size at one stage for the D4 3 0L, evidenced by a 14mm crank pulley main bolt over the 12mm one used on the 2.7's.

More than regular servicing and keeping an eagle eye on oil levels is key.

[Discodicky]

Hi JamesP,
Yes, it appears that the crank failure can happen to any 3.0L TDV6/SDV6 apparently at random and apparently without warning. The cause(s) are most certainly known, but whoever does know is keeping it to themselves. The rest of us can only guess. Whilst the fear of the failure hangs over us like the sword of Damocles, most of us happily take our D4's deep into their natural habitat on a regular basis and just enjoy them for what they are: an astoundingly accomplished 4WD.
Find a good car with the features you require and a good service record. Pay to get a mechanical assessment. Close your eyes and pay for the car. Open them and fit the accessories you want. Enjoy it. Keep servicing it regularly as required. Only begin to worry about a catastrophic engine failure should it happen.

Spot on comment.
May I add to change the engine oil & filter religiously every 10,000 klms and only use correct specified oil (viscosity, index, full synthetic etc).
The grin factor whilst driving is well worth any concerns.
The other point which has often been made on this Forum is that you''ll only tend to read about the problems. There are scores, nay, thousands, of D4 3.0 litres out there which won't have the problem.

An interesting point in case here is that today I went to the local stealer to check price/availability of the p/n LR090489 TCS (8 speed selector rotator) to see if it was worthwhile replacing prior failure, given the recent discussion here which seems to suggest it is a common problem in LR/RR/Jaguar 8 speed autos.
They've sold one in past 3 years.
Likewise, my friend at British 4WD who sells much LR/RR parts all over Aus reports no sales.
Maybe the local owners/Indies have been buying ex UK hence no local sales record, but...

.... or, you could buy a new Defender.
The Sales Rep at Hobart Dealer told me today that he's just taken two orders for new top of range fully specced Deefers at $178 and $172,000 each...........
Apparently when asked how often he thinks he's likely to use the winch, the new owner chortled that the car will never go off the bitumen.....