Opinions on the condition of my engine and injectors - TD5

Hamish71 · 7th May 2011, 04:45 PM

I have a D2A, 2003, with 165k km. I got this car cheap, but have prob spent about 15k on it so far. Pretty much everything is new, except the engine, transmission, and transfer case.

Im having a HP22 rebuilt with 24 internals and an ashcroft torque converter as we speak.

Ive had my concerns about the engine for a while, based on the following observations.

1. The first time I serviced it (after purchase), i noticed the air filter hadnt sealed properly from previous owner, and a sizable amount of dust found after filter.

2. I have fitted a provent filter on my truck. I seem to need to replace the filter, or clean it, much more often than recommended. I would definitely blace it in the "heavy breather" category as described by some people here. It is not uncommon for me to get an oil mist in the engine bay when I vent the provent to a crankcase breather filter.

3. I have just noticed a rising oil level, and have just removed the injectors to check the seals. Prior to removing injectors, I did check visually to see if I could see any leaks (ignition on, watching whilst system primed), indicating problems/cracks in the galleries, but didnt notice any. I did notice a quantity of "grit" on the rocker cover as per this picture:

Its only in that one corner, but its there.

I have the injectors out, and they are....not clean. I intend getting someone to clean and test them before they go back in. I picked one at random to take a picture of. You can see black spots of "baked on" crap. This one is better than some others where it is not just spotty, its a film.

So...the plan is get the injectors cleaned, have a good look at the galleries, new seals, put it back together. If it still leaks, then suspect it is the head. Im comfortable with that process, but I am concerned about what the bottom end of my engine might be like. As i said, I have made a sizable "investment" in this car, and want to keep it for a long time. Really, I dont care if I have to do the head, or the entire engine, I just want to get it right the first time! Is there ay reliable way of undertanding the bottom end other than by inspection?

Id appreciate any observations, comments. Id also appreciate advice as to how to adjust the rocker arm when it goes back on!

Thanks.

**justinc** · 7th May 2011, 04:57 PM

Hamish The cleanliness of the inside of the rocker cover (Shiny) and the 'washed' injector tip would indicate some diesel contamination. You can sometimes with a strong light source see a crack through the fuel gallery , usually across the Oring sealing area.

The grit worries me, maybe previous owner hadn't changed oil enough, and your oil change regime may have loosened some of the buildup in the crankcase and breather system?

JC

Hamish71 · 7th May 2011, 05:10 PM

No doubts on the diesel contamination....

The car has been running really strong until this, heavy breather or not. Came home from a drive today, and noticed oil pooling under the car. Traced the leak to the cam inspection cover, all down the front of the block. Thought I better check the oil level, up about 15mm!...oops.

Im just trying to understand your "light check technique". I think you just mean, shine a bright torch at the port the injector sits in and see if I can notice a crack. I had planned to do that tomorrow.

**justinc** · 7th May 2011, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Hamish71

No doubts on the diesel contamination....

The car has been running really strong until this, heavy breather or not. Came home from a drive today, and noticed oil pooling under the car. Traced the leak to the cam inspection cover, all down the front of the block. Thought I better check the oil level, up about 15mm!...oops.

Im just trying to understand your "light check technique". I think you just mean, shine a bright torch at the port the injector sits in and see if I can notice a crack. I had planned to do that tomorrow.

Correct

JC

Hamish71 · 7th May 2011, 06:13 PM

I assume a standard compression check will indicate problems with rings, bore?

Hamish71 · 10th May 2011, 09:59 AM

Was told today that the injectors for the TD5 are not able to be tested, or ultrasonically cleaned, and are in fact a throw away item.

Is this true? If so, they are bloody expensive throw away parts!

Should I be giving the nozzle a good "wipe" or blast with carby cleaner, or just fit new seals and put them back in?

**5teve** · 10th May 2011, 02:15 PM

I dont know who.. but i have seen ads for the a place in the UK that test and recondition them... so its not true... just the usual .. .its a land rover and we know nothing about it.. or we dont have the right equipment to do it story...

Steve

**strangy** · 10th May 2011, 02:19 PM

This is true unless someone has just started a new service in the last 12 months.
Give the tips a wipe with a soft clean cloth. Carby clean won't hurt the tips but I would spray it into the rag rather than the body, I have no proven reason other than carby cleaner can make seals swell for a time and wouldn't take the chance on this.
Most injectors from a TD5 clean up very easy with just a wipe.
If the spray pattern on top of the piston is a uniform star shape, they are still pretty good at least at the nozzle end. I saw new genuine items from UK for £160 each which I thought was ok.

Cheers

Hamish71 · 10th May 2011, 03:00 PM

I have no reason to suspect there is anything wrong with my injectors. just thought that since I had them out to replace the seals, i would get them tested and cleaned. Will go with throttlebody cleaner, and a wife with a soft cloth.

**Barefoot Dave** · 10th May 2011, 03:18 PM

"..... and a wife with a soft cloth."

What I wouldn't give.....

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