Discussion
Hi Guys,
This is my first post but have been lurking for some time! Considering buying my first Landy, although we've always had them in the family. Have been looking at an old pickup with a 2.5 TD engine, 100,000+ miles on the clock. Looks in absolute mint condition only thing putting me off is the engine, in your experience is a simple no no?!
This is my first post but have been lurking for some time! Considering buying my first Landy, although we've always had them in the family. Have been looking at an old pickup with a 2.5 TD engine, 100,000+ miles on the clock. Looks in absolute mint condition only thing putting me off is the engine, in your experience is a simple no no?!
Beats7 said:
Hi Guys,
This is my first post but have been lurking for some time! Considering buying my first Landy, although we've always had them in the family. Have been looking at an old pickup with a 2.5 TD engine, 100,000+ miles on the clock. Looks in absolute mint condition only thing putting me off is the engine, in your experience is a simple no no?!
There seem to be some haters of this engine. IMO they are almost all unfound.This is my first post but have been lurking for some time! Considering buying my first Landy, although we've always had them in the family. Have been looking at an old pickup with a 2.5 TD engine, 100,000+ miles on the clock. Looks in absolute mint condition only thing putting me off is the engine, in your experience is a simple no no?!
It's true that very early on the engine suffered a few issues, but I think LR sorted them out in around 1986/7.
There are still loads of them about and in use, for example my Uncle has 4 Land Rover's, 2 with the 2.5 TD and both are over 200,000 miles.
It's also worth noting, that while the basic engine is old, the latter TDI engines use the same block too, so are in many ways just as old.
Another thing worth noting, an easy upgrade is to buy a 200Tdi off eBay (£200-500), it's pretty much a direct swap for the old 2.5 TD and will bolt straight up to the same gearbox.
2.5TD is worth the risk if the vehicle is really nice and priced right. They had a problem with engine blocks developing internal cracks, most of the bad ones should have died by now, and the later engines had a stronger block. For the 200TDi Land Rover bolted a big cast aluminium ladder frame to the bottom of the block to strengthen it up.
The TD is a bit gutless and has to be worked hard to make good progress, but it suits the character of an old Defender quite well. The main problem with them is that they are not as bombproof as the old non-turbo engines. They don't like being run hot and you can't get away with neglecting oil changes or allowing oil and coolant levels to drop low. The 'usual' Land Rover maintenance schedule (i.e. none) will kill them fairly quickly. They don't like being overfilled with oil either. Signs of trouble: poor cold starting, pressure building up in the cooling system from cold, oil in coolant or vice versa, air filter soaked in black oil (although they all seem to breathe a bit, and the breather goes into the filter housing, so a bit of oiliness is to be expected).
HTH
The TD is a bit gutless and has to be worked hard to make good progress, but it suits the character of an old Defender quite well. The main problem with them is that they are not as bombproof as the old non-turbo engines. They don't like being run hot and you can't get away with neglecting oil changes or allowing oil and coolant levels to drop low. The 'usual' Land Rover maintenance schedule (i.e. none) will kill them fairly quickly. They don't like being overfilled with oil either. Signs of trouble: poor cold starting, pressure building up in the cooling system from cold, oil in coolant or vice versa, air filter soaked in black oil (although they all seem to breathe a bit, and the breather goes into the filter housing, so a bit of oiliness is to be expected).
HTH
Same as all the above but remember that these cars should be priced somewhat cheaper then the genuine Defenders (ie when 200TDI was introduced). If it's a good car then an engine change can easily be carried out later if desired. It may be worth driving this and a 200TDi to see how they compare and if you get on with (can live with) the lower power of the TD.
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