muddyplugger

no,nothing scientific. As far as how much, its blowing out a dribble (is that metric?). The source of oil on the road is coming from the oil filter under increased revs. But I think it may be the filler cap my be knackered?

There seems to be some seepage of oil from the filler cap of my 200tdi. I thought it was just loose so I tightened the lugs, but it keeps on coming! Is this some problem with blocked oil breather pipe? Or should I get dynarod in? The good thing about this wet weather is that you notice the little trails of oil up the highway! OOPS!!

I've never seen them in this country for sale except home made ones, do they look like this? that is a safari guard model, I dont even think Hi-lift do them! Enough strain on those back door hinges as it is!!

I have taken all your advice, wrote down the correct paint code (thanks) and am going to get 2 litres from an automotive spray shop. They are going to charge £25 per litre, which I thought was OK. Currently the vehicle is light blue, so i recon a couple of coats with roller/brush should having it look quite smart! Until I scrape it down a tree!

Yes please! No not going to 7Ssisters, but would quite welcome awaiting a big parcel!

That sounds good, I was going to put electric fans in at some point, but till then..... (Send me a PM with how much you want for it etc, postage) I will be changing the Air Filter in the very near future too, sounds like a bit of a mix and match sysyem I have then, 1989 TD Defender with 200tdi disco engine. B)

Ah ha! You see I think I went wrong at the start.... Believing some guys web page instead of posting here first!! Secondly going to Halfrauds instead of an Automotive paint shop! I will write down these codes and go a hunting! NB Vehicle is Blue and white, so may take a few coats with brush and roller!

Brilliant! This is great help,Thank you all! My shopping list just keeps growing!!

I know I should have known better than go to Halfrauds for some automotive question/product so no jibes please! I want to paint my battered old defender in Bonatti grey (Tomb Raider Colours), so I sourced the paint code off the web, which was LAL I believe. I duley went down to Halfrauds as they offer this paint colour mix service now (a bit like those adverts where they nick someones washing and get their living room painted bright Orange) anyway.... I says to the chap "Landrover, Bonatti Grey, paint code LAL, manufactured 2000", but he says "Land Rover, nope we dont have that make on our computers, nope not under Rover either", after much searching British Leyland have a code LAL which is 'Pewter Metallic', so I got him to mix up a 100ml pot as a tester. The Colour is nice, but I dont think its quite the same as Bonatti Grey, this Pewter colour is a bit darker (I think), has anyone experience of getting this paint, or what I should ask for in Halfrauds (aprox £50 to paint entire car you see).

My 2.25 petrol series III lightweight had that reducer leading to the inlet manifold too, never had any issues, mind you dunno how I would have known if it lacked power!

Thanks chaps, more votes for 200tdi then! "the air filter housing looks like a v8 one, should have a trumpet on the inlet to it, easy to lob that off and stick a flexi house on it for a snorkel, dont forget to seal up the silly rubber side vent on the housing." What on earth is a trumpet?? I was thinking of sourcing another air filter as that one can't connect to the pipework as the alternator is in the way, and it looks a bit Heath Robinson as it is! This way I will be able to relocate that oil breather too I feel.

Here follows a photo of whats under my bonnet of my 1989 defender, is it a 200Tdi disco engine with some range rover air filter? or not? Questions relating to this are, I need to replace that monstrosity of an air filter (no offence) but it sucks air from the engine bay, and I'm wishing to stick a snorkel on so I probably need someting a little more waterproof.......and ....... 2. the oil breather pipe dangles down in the wind (ie under the engine), should this be attached to the air filter somehow? answers on a postcard please...

My dad bought a Champ a few years ago and its a lovely vehicle to drive, very easy to maintain too. He also bought a shed load of spares that is cluttering up his garage, including a whole front axle! (Bl***y heavy!!!) I will convince him to sell them! I heard that there is a website, something like www.champspares.something but is on the pricey side, and can be sourced much cheaper. We go to a huge Militara show every year (January ish) at Stoneleigh, its HUGE, and you can buy every spare bit for a Champ there! Even a Bren gun!

Rear fog lights may be used in reasonably heavy rain (particularly on motorways) if it was a bit misty two weeks ago if your bathroom mirror was steamed up when you got out of the shower this morning. I feel it must be also noted that: 1. Two rear fog lights must be fitted in order that they look very similar to brake lights, this ensures that the speed of vehicles behind you on the motorway does not exceed 30mph. 2. If you drive a Vauxhall Astra then rear fogs must be used at all times. (Astras must have the fogs attached to ignition switch!) - Just an observation!

Is Will that reliable then? I'm always up for ideas and advice, GREAT! mind you I love the colour of your 90 Divster! What colour is that???? Is it bonatti grey?

Now I like that idea!!! I have come round to your way of thinking, 255x85x16, but it seems that the only company to do these are BFG, which equates to £550 for tyres (5) so with modular rims and all, £750 odd! Phew! It also seems they only do a mud terrain in that too, I'm on the road a fair bit so might have to opt for the 235's in an A/T pattern. but the Landy photos certainly look nice with just higher profiles on!

I didn't know you can get them as a kit! Sounds good! I was going to use an angle grider, hack a bit off and then use some sleeves to join it back together. [Exit out of rear quarter panel behing rear wheel, though, not quite as drastic as yours!]

Dont panic, it was a Diesel Turbo, but now running a 200Tdi under the bonnet!

I'm running 205x70's at the mo, so a natural choice would be 235x85x16, I think you're right. I like the look of your vehicle with the 255x85's on, do they fit on standard 16" modulars then? I will be getting new rims and tyres, and its a big outlay to get it wrong, so all this info is invaluable! Therefore my choice goes 1st...235 (255?)x85x16 on nice new black modulars, 2nd.... see if still gets in the garage (2.25" clearance so far) and if it does, 3rd...... new springs and shocks, but not the budget cheap things! I'm learning!!

Thanks for the advice. Right I'd best update my profile! I was member on 'the other' forum until migration, but not very prolific. Owned a 1980 Lightweight (very nice) till recently and still got the Disco II, but now entered Defender world! Never did any mods the the lightweight in the way I want to do to this, so its all very exciting! Only mods on Disco are A/T tyres, a diff guard, an A bar and some nice stickers! Anth.

Nice pics, and thanks for that: steer clear of the cheap deal! Right! Yes, when I think about it the vehicle will most likely be 99% road and 1 x per month play day, so OME's kit will be the way forward. Now I'm off for more research...........

It will be used 80% on road an 20% playing in mud! I primarly thought a lift makes 'em look nice, and I need to replace a rear shocker (so that =2) as rusted through. So with 2 x shocks to replace the next natural progression was to replace the lot and then, well if I'm going to do new shocks then why not new springs? Then thought continued, to well why not stick a 'cosmetic' 1.5" lift on? (only have 2.25" clearance left into garage!) see my logic? Mind you after looking at the LR yellow90, and others, a set of 235 85 16 tyres look nice! Would this achive a similar look? Better ground clearance I realise! does it have a major influence on the speedo? My head is spinning!

erm...... make it look nice? erm...... thats it really......

I realise this may be an age old question, I'm looking to put a 1.5" lift kit on my 1989 Defender. My question is what are the differences between all those kits out there? mm4x4 do a lift kit with heavy duty springs but give you a chioce of Pro Comp ES9000 shocks or DeCarbon ones. Are these budget end range? or will they improve the ride as well? What is the difference between these two shocks? there are sooooooooo many questions....... Note: I am on a budget! (budget = cheap)