Thread: TD5 engine life - discuss

have '99 defender with 162000 on the clock and no major problems, only what i'll say is normal wear and tear.
Clutch master and slave redone at approx 70k, front belt done before it had to be done (only cheap and 5 min's), radiator at approx 140k, and will do the actual clutch before i go to the "cape" - has a slight squeak in it.
It's chipped and locked and i'm loving every minute of it

Oh goody.

Well I've just had THE phone call.

'02 model, owned since new, serviced. Yes I have used it off road, both long trips and play days.

First four years and 130,000km, faultless.

Now at 153,000km. This year:

Head gasket leaking. $1800
Fuel pump stuffed. $1300
and now.......

cracked head! whicj will probably be $4k+

My advice to Td5 owners:

Sell it, sell it now while you still can. Anyone want to buy mine, and I'm serious.

I have had it with Land Rover, I'm off to talk to the Toyota dealer.

I've personally seen and know the owners of 2 td5 discos.

Both with mileage over and beyond 300,000kms.

Originally Posted by Frenchie

I have had it with Land Rover, I'm off to talk to the Toyota dealer.

Sorry to hear mate....

But dont kid yourself with Toymotors...

The sales guy WONT tell you that at 150,000kms on the Diesel your supposed to remove and replace the ENTIRE injection system at a cost of over $5000

And get used to gearboxes, CVs, Diff centres, Axles, Radiators, Bent Diff assemblies, broken suspension arms..

Oh yeah, and a void of warranty if you change suspension or add electricals to the vehicle not approved by Toyota.

Well looks like that 130 TD5 that I'm looking at buying has had a replacement engine of 90,000 with a new fuel reg. and had that troublesome oil pump bolt and all other things like belts replaced.
So cross fingers all will go well.
The dealer has been in business for over 35years so I think I should trust them.

1999 Defender
Bought 2 years ago with 107k, now 145k.
Oil in injector harness. Had the oil problem when I bought it but didn't know any better. Vehicle was serviced by Ritters in Melb from 40K by previous owner. They did the VACC test on the vehicle and listed " oil in ECU box under driver's seat" but no hint as to what it may have been.

at 135k broke serpentine belt (seized pulley). Broke 3 more belts in apprx 600k's.
Harmonic balancer came loose, no keyway on balancer. Ended up using loctite to keep it done up.

Spigot bush deteriated ( would squeal when cold ) Sounds very similar to slipping belt. Possible cause for other TD5 owners with squealing problems.
Because of the Spigot bush put new clutch kit in vehicle.
1 week later, Clutch slave cylinder went, 2 weeks after that master cylinder started to leak into the cabin. Changed it a couple of days later.

I read others have had warped manifolds. How can you tell?.

People seem to think that a motor with 100+ k's is ready for the scrap heap or rebuild. I thought diesels (with regular servicing, belts, hoses etc) should be good for 300 - 400k. My old Hilux 2.4 lt had 374k when I sold it only started to leak oil at about 350k. It was no power pack but took me around Australia on a 2 year trip with problems.
So what is the oldest most k's on a TD5.

35 years of being a car salesmen doesnt make them trustworthy or dishonest just means they are selling vehicles to people who want to buy them.

a good idea unless mechanical trained yourself is pay someone to look at before you agree to it.

go to a reasonable landrover specialist and ask for vehicle report

l got rovetech to look at my 1993 range rover, result l had $1,000 knocked off buy price and $500 contributed to some repairs to vehicle by the dealer. rovetech also knew who had serviced the vehicle before and talked to them and got the low down on its service history.

still have spent $5000 on repairs to it since purchase but happy with vehicle wouldnt swap it for another brand.

had owned 3 Nissans Patrols before hand since 1984, and last 1998 Patrol 2.8 TDI at 160,000 was going to be an minimum $6,000 motor repair when l disposed of it.

Modern 4wd vehicles regardless of make are expensive to keep on the road

Im not a TD5 owner but I have heard that the oil in the wiring harness could be from the fuel filter but I havent looked at one so I dont really know.

There is always a better way to look after something mechanical and you can never get away from manufacturing faults so if you mechanic doesnt take care while servicing your car, it can cause problems just as much as if you dont service it at all.

Ive come across machines that have not had an oil change in 3 years although have a reasonable mechanic and operator, which are in better shape than when a bad mechanic/operator has one for a year.

So the moral is, if you have problems which continue to happen then find a better mechanic.