 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Which engine is best for overlanding? |
 
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| Hendrix Member Since: 04 Oct 2016 Location: North Notts Posts: 103   
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For europe i dont think it really matters but if you are going further afield and to remote places 300tdi. Andy
1996 300TDI 110 SW 2013 TDCI 110 Utility |
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9th Jun 2023 7:22am |
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| Jabberwocky Member Since: 27 Oct 2021 Location: Luxembourg Posts: 223 
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Just need a fuel bowser to tow behind you. |
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9th Jun 2023 9:12am |
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| Bows Member Since: 07 May 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 513  
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2 or 300 tdi for me, great to drive, full of character and can be tweaked if that’s your thing. Parts are cheap and easy to replace with a basic tool kit.
I took a standard td5 110 to the very top of Norway in winter, and I took a 200tdi 110 to the alps in winter, resort hopping between Switzerland and France, both trips were awesome and both vehicles handled it easily. I don’t think it matters what you take, providing you carry out necessary maintenance before going and take whatever you need to diagnose any problems you might encounter. Any Land Rover from the late 80’s early 90’s to the modern day would be more than up to the job. Also worth considering that an older and well maintained Land Rover would be a better bet than a newer one with some neglect. Just my views. 2006 TD5110 station wagon 1995 300Tdi 90 truck cab 1989 90 hard top with 200 tdi 1983 110 hard top 1983 110 Hi cap 1954 107 pick up |
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9th Jun 2023 12:23pm |
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| Bows Member Since: 07 May 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 513
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Just to add to my previous, I also took the 200 tdi 110 to Morocco, drove down through france and Spain, and crossed over to Ceuta, and then down to the atlas range etc , a bog standard 200 with the vent flaps open for 2 weeks solid . It was magic, I have such fond memories of those trips and the simplicity of the trip and the vehicle made it even better. The modern creature comforts can detract from the experience.
Again, just my views 2006 TD5110 station wagon 1995 300Tdi 90 truck cab 1989 90 hard top with 200 tdi 1983 110 hard top 1983 110 Hi cap 1954 107 pick up |
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9th Jun 2023 12:33pm |
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| MarkBrown Member Since: 03 Oct 2022 Location: Mid Wales Posts: 473 
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Having had a 200 TDI, I'd say a 200tdi. I believe that the 300 is much the same. A great engine well suited to the defender with no stupid sensors to go wrong! I really liked it, good on fuel too, just a bit sluggish, but somehow good enough.
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9th Jun 2023 4:12pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1221 
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Doesn't matter as long as its reliable. Ed
82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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10th Jun 2023 3:25pm |
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| Timcat Member Since: 20 Jul 2016 Location: Rugby at the moment Posts: 1025  
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The 300TDI is going to be the most reliable but……if it’s an Overlander it’s going to be heavy! Our 2.2 puma 6 speed / air con / elec windows & 170 bhp has never let us down in 55k Km’s. As Blackwolf said earlier, spares & OBD software you’ll be good to go.
In two years on the road, we have seen every type of defender going even the mighty 300 tdi’s break down. And don’t start me on Landcruser problems parts availability & cost!!! A bit of knowledge & the right spares / tools. Even in Angola / Guinea / Mauritania…..you’ll get it fixed by a guy on a moped with a welder on the back  |
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11th Jun 2023 12:00pm |
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| wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2117 
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Hi all
just to add my experience to the comments ... We have just undertaken 4230mile trip in 15 days from Cornwall to Sundsvall north east of Sweden, then taking in parts of Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands on the way home. The terrain was mixed fast motorway with some city driving, gravel tracks and forrest roads. The fully kitted 110 with roofrack and boxes has a 2.2TDCI engine with Peter Bells remap and ran smoothy with no hiccups the whole trip, giving great MPG even on the motorway speeds ( I did take it up to an indicated 90mph on the motorway for a few seconds just so see if it could ! ) The fitting of the cruise control made a vast difference on the long drives and having the limiter in the towns saved my speed creeping up at times - many have 19mph or 25 mph limits - so something to watch for. So, as Timcat has said, the 6 speed box and modern engine is very capable for long distances, but the key is as with any vehicle - looking after it and knowing how to diagnose faults.  Click image to enlarge Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126 |
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17th Jun 2023 8:26am |
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| Eduardo Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: Región Metropolitana Posts: 2110  
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Sundsvall....
Nice place this one (I work for several years for a company based there). I had our Defender Puma 2.4 for more than 15 years with 370.000 km of mixed roads and have been in almost all environments including deserts, wet forests, high altitude places, tundra, etc in quite long trips (>2.000 km round trips). It is a good companion and, in most cases, quite dependable (only let us out of the road 3 times). But 15 years is a lot of time for a car and certain failures can appear given some sort of unreliability sense. But common rail cars are more common right now and the engine is quite understandable for most of mechanics with a technical degree with the help of this forum or others and some basic knowledge. With that, you can manage to repair it in almost all medium size city at least in South America (probably the same in Europe. I don't know in Africa). For sure, electronics is more complicated than the TD5 or TDi but the ridding is better in special if you will cover long distances (~1.000 km). As summary, the answer will depend on where you like to overland, your knowledge of the car and finally the support that can you get in the trip area. Cheers! Eduardo MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64' MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo" Click image to enlarge |
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18th Jun 2023 12:56am |
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| steveww Member Since: 05 Jan 2022 Location: Uppingham Posts: 569 
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https://nextmeridianexpedition.live
3 year around the world overland trip in a 2.2 TDCi So far so good... |
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19th Jun 2023 10:42am |
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| TexasRover Member Since: 24 Nov 2022 Location: Paris Posts: 1079  
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As you can see from the comments, there is not really a dud (diesel) engine in the Defender lineup. If you consider that normal use is about 10k (km) per year, year after year, then a 5k trip is hardly a challenge for the engine.
In any case MOST issues can be avoided with proper maintenance and some monitoring/mechanical sympathy. If you spent a bit of time working out the gremlins and going through all the service items and stay on top of it, any of these engines will be reliable. I think actually what does really count is comfort. Less noise and vibration (and AC) really cuts down on driver's fatigue and ultimately enjoyment, especially for the longer stretches. For that reason I would go for first Puma/2.2/2.4 then Td5 then 200/300 tdi. V8 could be at the top, if you can live with the fuel. PS I am in the process of fitting a Roamerdrive, '6th gear overdrive' to my Td5 to make it more 'motorway friendly'. Not cheap at ~Euro 2600, but I shall report back, just need an opportunity to fit it! |
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19th Jun 2023 12:32pm |
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| Tompoole Member Since: 05 Jun 2011 Location: Bucks Posts: 827 
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VCV valve Have fun be happy |
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15th Jun 2024 6:47pm |
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| Tompoole Member Since: 05 Jun 2011 Location: Bucks Posts: 827
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They’ve just had their Puma go bang Have fun be happy |
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15th Jun 2024 6:49pm |
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| Timcat Member Since: 20 Jul 2016 Location: Rugby at the moment Posts: 1025
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That’s a shame! I’ve heard of a few that have gone bang on the road & bumped into a French guy who’s ranger 2.2 blew as well. Biggest thing with ours is heat, always got an eye on water / oil temperature. With the OBD port dongle the app on my phone monitors it as soon as we start the engine.
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16th Jun 2024 4:47am |
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