Thread: Dave, Justin, all who service their Defenders

G'day Adrian,

Tappets every 10K, Brake and clutch fluid every 20K, Coolant and all oils at 40K interval. Sediment bowl every service, and fuel filter every 40K UNLESS heaps of rubbish in the sediment bowl, then change as req.

Don't forget to check / drain swivels every 10K, more so if running in water and mud ., (I change the swivel oils every 10K, because it is quick and cheap to do it. On non drainable ones, 1998 on, I dip the level and add oil as req.)

Battery and main belt/ alternator belt, air filter also every 10K service.

I'll bring my feeler gauges up with me and do your valve clearances in June if you can wait...

JC

Justin, just curious, how far, on average, do you find the tappet adjustment out and over what distance ?

Finally had to adjust mine for the first time in three years and over 110,000km. They'd all gone out three thou. Have to admit it must be at least 50,000km since I've checked them as it got to the point that every time I checked they were where I'd originally set them when I replaced the valve stem caps three years ago. I wound back the rockers to check all the caps and they all looked fine too.

Justin, just curious, how far, on average, do you find the tappet adjustment out and over what distance ?

Finally had to adjust mine for the first time in three years and over 70,000km. They'd all gone out three thou. Have to admit it must be at least 40,000km since I've checked them as it got to the point that every time I checked they were where I'd originally set them when I replaced the valve stem caps three years ago. I wound back the rockers to check all the caps and they all looked fine too.

G'day Rick,

I do all Tdi tappet checks at the 10K service, (Which is every time with our service sched) and this ensures that they are always in adjustment. I have seen some at 20 to 30K and they have required a fair bit of adjustment and the vehicle fairly picks up some go afterwards. Also, regular adjustments keep the caps lasting longer, and when you do about 5 to 8 a week, it gets quicker to do!

I also do them at every timing belt change, and when performing a power upgrade/ fuel pump tweak.

JC