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Jonathan111

Member Since: 22 Jan 2015
Location: London
Posts: 67

rebuild or replace 300tdi engine

Hello all - after 2 years of no trouble from my 1998 110, looks like an overheated 300tdi engine needs a rebuild or replacement. No idea what happened - was clipping nicely along the motorway, only odd thing was the temp gauge stuck hard on cold after 40 miles, then smoke, steam and no power. Into the hard shoulder and no dice when I tried the ignition, nothing. Turns out two pistons have melted and jammed in the cylinders - very messy. I'm in a dilemma of getting my garage to rebuild it or get a reconditioned one off ebay and having that put in, but the original cause - cooling system? - will have to be sorted out. Could theoretically put a new engine in myself, but a bit of a novice really. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how /where to get a recon engine (apart from ebay) - Turner Engineering will do a service exchange for 2695 ex VAT, slightly above my budget. Then again, maybe the garage can rebuild for a reasonable cost. Its a piece of string length question I suppose, will get the full quote breakdown tomorrow.Any thoughts gratefully received, cheers, Jonathan

3rd Jan 2017 8:02pm

miker

Member Since: 13 Sep 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1763

My defender, under it's previous owner, had a pair of TD5 engines from turner fail. For that reason I personally wouldn't go near them.

The rebuild could be an option, but it sounds like it's a pretty major failure. I'd look into a 2nd hand engine personally, if you have an engine crane and some friends, a defender engine swap isn't too hard!

3rd Jan 2017 8:11pm

g-mack

Member Since: 07 Jan 2014
Location: northumberland
Posts: 1967

curious, what went wrong with the two turner engines? My 109 thread

my youtube channel

3rd Jan 2017 9:27pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2640

Get a second hand engine, ideally one you can test before removal from the donor, and swap it out. That'll be the easiest route, and likely the cheapest. As above with a few mates an engine swap makes for a pleasant days work if all goes to plan.

Fit a coolant level sensor when you do, 300Tdis suffer from a design fault whereby the water pump is mounted very high on the engine, meaning a relatively slight drop in coolant level can end up with the pump dry (and temp sender, hence reading cold) and very quickly a

engine. A sensor will notify you that you have a leak.

3rd Jan 2017 9:28pm

miker

Member Since: 13 Sep 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1763

g-mack wrote:
curious, what went wrong with the two turner engines?

First failed with I think loose head bolts after ~5k. Was replaced under warranty.

Second threw it's timing chain after 2 years & 20k. THis was while I had it. Research and stripping it down makes me think it may have been the oil pump sprocket bolt in the timing case.

3rd Jan 2017 10:32pm

alwoodley72

Member Since: 14 Mar 2010
Location: salisbury, wilts
Posts: 724

2008 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 HCPU Alaska White

I'd source a second hand engine from a rotten disco- they can still be sourced complete for 5-700 quid, keep axles and transfer box from it too to sell or keep. They are straightforward to do, it's only nuts and bolts

the engines are the same btw, not like the 200's..

Cheers. Alex 98 300 tdi 90 project
94 Range Rover vogue 4.2 lse
79 911 sc
08 130 double cab utility

4th Jan 2017 1:10am

g-mack

Member Since: 07 Jan 2014
Location: northumberland
Posts: 1967

miker wrote:

First failed with I think loose head bolts after ~5k. Was replaced under warranty.

Second threw it's timing chain after 2 years & 20k. THis was while I had it. Research and stripping it down makes me think it may have been the oil pump sprocket bolt in the timing case.

ah thats not good!
i have always heard good things about Turners! My 109 thread

my youtube channel

4th Jan 2017 8:37am

L110CDL

Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10742

My thoughts are the same as g-mack's

1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.

Keeper.

Clayton.

4th Jan 2017 8:38pm

miker

Member Since: 13 Sep 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1763

So were mine, and I know many people who have had very good experiences of them. Unfortunately mine weren't so positive!

4th Jan 2017 9:02pm

L110CDL

Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10742

So that got me thinking what the statistic's would be between the " good and bad " engines

1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.

Keeper.

Clayton.

4th Jan 2017 9:06pm

Blackhat90

Member Since: 31 Dec 2016
Location: Forfar
Posts: 86

First sign of low coolant is no heater.. to melt 2 pistons it musta been a helva noise also,

Yeh go for another engine, thers lots about, I have a 80k mile disco 300 engine here,. I"v just used the ancileries of it, .
pity you were so far away,

4th Jan 2017 9:22pm

Jonathan111

Member Since: 22 Jan 2015
Location: London
Posts: 67

yup, the heater had stopped, figures, thanks - an education! cheers, J

5th Jan 2017 12:11pm

Jonathan111

Member Since: 22 Jan 2015
Location: London
Posts: 67

thanks all for generous and useful contributions, the research goes on, but suspect it will be a recon engine rather than a rebuild in the end, cheers, Jonathan

5th Jan 2017 12:14pm

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