Mystery solved!!

**Leo109** · 5th January 2009, 07:36 PM

Hi all,

Regular visitors to this august forum may recall my thread last year http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/55620-new-noise-300tdi-2.html about an odd noise that developed in our 300Tdi engine.

The cause was diagnosed by a certain Guru of matters Land Rover who resides on the little green island below the bulk of "this wide brown land" and who shares the initials of a bloke who's birthday was widely celebrated on 25th December (can't mention his name 'cause last time I did, my post was "moderated" to a very small planet at the outer reaches of the AULRO galaxy). The cause was one or more tappets badly out of adjustment - huge clearances.

Now this seems odd as I'd not long before replaced the valve stem caps, fearing the originals might be getting a bit thin after 241,000 km. Since fitting them I've subsequently had to adjust the clearances several times (in <25,000 km).

Moving to the recent past, last weekend I replaced the timing belt under the tuition of said LR Guru. After fitting the belt (nowhere near as scary a job as I've always imagined from various forii), I again checked the tappets. Being sick and tired of me whinging about the bl**dy clearances having gone out of spec again, the Guru came over to have a look at my efforts. And immediately noticed that my "new" valve stem caps were completely stuffed - please see attached photos. (I, of course, never bothered to look closely at them because I knew they were nearly new!!)

These caps came from a UK supplier I've used often in the past. I can't recall now whether they came in a Genuine Parts bag or were some generic type. I've emailed him to see if any others have reported a "bad batch" of caps and will let you know the outcome. If they were aftermarket then this would seem to be a case where it would definitely pay to insist on genuine. They are a cheap part but have cost me a lot of anguish and, of course, all that missing steel has gone through my engine. Hopefully to the bottom of the sump and the filter but via what other wearing surfaces??

Rick130, if you're reading this, I think this might explain my high PO Index value from the oil analysis, don't you??

Ian

british4wd · 5th January 2009, 08:14 PM

Ian,
I have been supplied the aftermarket caps previously, just a visual comparison shows the genuine to be superior. I would suggest the caps from UK were non genuine. I only use genuine

Alan

**rick130** · 6th January 2009, 05:27 AM

Originally Posted by Leo109

<snip>
Rick130, if you're reading this, I think this might explain my high PO Index value from the oil analysis, don't you??

Ian

Yes, the analysis indicated something was catastrophically eating itself.

Good to hear it's sorted, Ian.

**rick130** · 6th January 2009, 05:37 AM

BTW, I'd source a new O ring for the oil pickup and drop the sump and pickup and clean thoroughly.
You'll be amazed at the shrapnel trapped in the bottom of the sump and pickup screen.
There's a good 2-300ml of oil that never drains out thanks to the boss/bush that is the drain.

**JDNSW** · 6th January 2009, 05:49 AM

What are they made out of? - cheese? Something about as hard, anyway.

John

**Leo109** · 7th January 2009, 06:49 AM

Thanks for the advice Rick - I think I'll do that and, later, get another e-monitor done.

Yes John, pretty uselessly soft steel obviously - not hardened at all.

I've had a reply from my supplier. Most apologetic. Seems they had plenty of complaints at the time (over 2 years ago now) and immediately changed their source. He's sending me a set of new genuine caps.

By the way, while asking him about the valve stem caps, I also had a bit of gripe to him about receiving what I thought was an obsolete spot-welded flange type of crank pulley in my 300Tdi timing belt kit. He replied that the genuine LR kits still include the spot-welded pulley and that the one-piece forged pulley is only available as a non-genuine part. JC and other specialists, does this sound correct?

Ian

**rick130** · 7th January 2009, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by Leo109

<snip>
By the way, while asking him about the valve stem caps, I also had a bit of gripe to him about receiving what I thought was an obsolete spot-welded flange type of crank pulley in my 300Tdi timing belt kit. He replied that the genuine LR kits still include the spot-welded pulley and that the one-piece forged pulley is only available as a non-genuine part. JC and other specialists, does this sound correct?

Ian

Yep. IIRC the good one piece one is a Bearmach part.
And the OE ones are known for occasionally losing a flange too.

**Leo109** · 7th January 2009, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by rick130

Yep. IIRC the good one piece one is a Bearmach part.
And the OE ones are known for occasionally losing a flange too.

Hi Rick,

Yes, when JC saw the spot welded one in my kit, he said I might be able to use it as a paper weight...

Fortunately, my last t-belt replacement by Brit Off-road in Qld had included a one-piece pulley. And the crank seal was good, so we didn't have to disturb it.

Ta, Ian

td5130 · 7th January 2009, 09:54 PM

Hi
you wrote in hear that you got your oil checked some were
was wondering were and how much it cosed

**Leo109** · 8th January 2009, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by td5130

Hi
you wrote in hear that you got your oil checked some were
was wondering were and how much it cosed

Hi Td,

Have a look at e-Monitor oil analysis - A blood test for your vehicle - Australian Laboratory Services - Australia. $35.20

Ian

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