Thread: the dreaded "oil in the harness" fault

Hey Ladas.. you can breath easy... it's a TD5 issue.. not V8

From my understanding the TD5 injectors are under the rocker cover... and the wiring harness goes to them.... oil finds it's way back along the harness to the ECU.

I'm sure one of the Diesel guys can give you a more detailed explaination...

Cheers
Mark

After seeing so many references to the problem - there must be a fix, not for me as I am V8 happy - but surely somebody must be able to find a simple solution to this ever ocouring problem.

I know in simple engineering we use oil traps and return to stop oil migrating - but could this be 'adapted' to a loom ????

I will have to ponder

Who's got a TD5 I can play with ???

Hi Ladas
Not sure its an easy fix.
The oil from the injector harness which is inside the rocker cover travels via capillary attraction,aided by electron flow, thru the insides of the wires all thru the wiring until it reaches the ECU,it doesnt get inside but the oil causes allsorts of miss information to the ECU.
In a TD5 Disco the oil travels downhill then back uphill to the ECU next to the battery,in a Defender the ECU is under the seat,further to travel but downhill in the end.
The new improved harnesses from what Ive heard dont fix the problem.
Whats the newest TD5 you guys have heard of been effected?????? I was talking to my auto eleccy mate the other day,his 2004 130 had to have a new harness fitted,there are a few Ive heard of that are going down the second time around,BET LANDROVER BURY THEIR HEADS EVEN DEEPER IN THE DIRT!!!!!!!!!
Andrew

I've had to do 2. The first was in the TD5 motor (that later blew up compliments of the "oil pump bolt" problem), and the second one was in the motor which I replaced the blown one with, which came out of an '02 Defender... Been a great year.

Thanks, now I have a better understanding of the problem, and from the wiring diagram there are seven wires.

I will carry out a few experiments as to 'barriers' and the resistance of different metals to be able to 'carry' the oil or not as the case may be.

Might take a while though !!!!

You would think that better sealing at the injector would solve it, or a big blob of silastic or similar over the whole show at that end. I'm sure brighter people would have considered that though.

Had this problem diagnosed during my service at Davis Performance Landys. Oil travels from the inhection harness through the engine harness then onto the ECU. Apparently this is a common problem. While not life threatening for your ECU, obviously its not a good idea to bathe computer chips in oil, thats only for potato chips . They said they will check it out again for me at the next service.

CaptJimmy

Originally Posted by Slunnie

You would think that better sealing at the injector would solve it, or a big blob of silastic or similar over the whole show at that end. I'm sure brighter people would have considered that though.

Spot on Slunnie!
That is the most commonly advised solution I have heard of.
(even with stealers)
But obviously it must be done before the problem arises