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Servicing a V8


Ben Jordan

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I have owned my Rangie since April 2004 but it has seemed to play second fiddle to my Wolf and spent most of its time off the road (but not through being not road worthy). It has had a steady stream of upgrades fitted. I have never given it a good service. It has been off the road for over six months now occasional getting started and taken around the block. It has become my daily driver two days ago and seems to have developed some problems since being relegated to the back garden (im sure it's trying to get it's own back).

Now it's getting used daily i would like to give it a good service, it is a 1990 Range rover classic 3.9 EFI with LPG.

What should i replace/service?

Engine oil filter

Engine oil

Fuel filter

Spark plugs

Sump gasket (leaking)

Distributor parts?

Anything else?

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I have owned my Rangie since April 2004 but it has seemed to play second fiddle to my Wolf and spent most of its time off the road (but not through being not road worthy). It has had a steady stream of upgrades fitted. I have never given it a good service. It has been off the road for over six months now occasional getting started and taken around the block. It has become my daily driver two days ago and seems to have developed some problems since being relegated to the back garden (im sure it's trying to get it's own back).

Now it's getting used daily i would like to give it a good service, it is a 1990 Range rover classic 3.9 EFI with LPG.

What should i replace/service?

Engine oil filter

Engine oil

Fuel filter

Spark plugs

Sump gasket (leaking)

Distributor parts?

Anything else?

Same as any other major service I'd have thought. What about antifreeze (drain & replace), belts, check all fluids (clutch/brake, wash wipe) tappets, consider dizzy leads if old, if dizzy even older then points/condenser, Air filter, gear box oil level / transferre box oil level.... thats about it really under the bonnet. You could go the whole hogg and do running gear (hubs, axles etc..), brakes , tires (check pressure anyway) lights, locks hinges etc... the list can go on.

Oh......... just remembered. I asked what they included in a service on an x-trail I had last year and the garage (an AA one attached to a halfrauds) just printed out a service list and gve it to me. You could ask a similar place what they would do to get the list of them? Or doesn't the haynes cover it all?

Jas

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Ignition leads probably, LPG V8s need a good spark i have had loads of trouble in the past using cheap leads and some not so cheap.

Also switch it to petrol give it a good clogging for a few miles on a mway clear all the carp out then the same on Lpg.

regards

keith

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Belts?

What mileage has it done? Are we talking time for timing gear/camshaft/head gaskets or definitely just in routine servicing territory?

Dizzy cap/rotor arm/leads if they need doing. Cap and rotor arm just pop the dizzy cap off and take a look. Might get away with just cleaning them up with a bit of fine wet and dry.

Air filter.

Might be worth changing the coolant if it's been sitting around? Anyone more knowledgeable than me want to venture an opinion on that? I'd be inclined to stick some engine flush in the oil before draining it too - cleaned up my last engine beautifully.

It's a V8 so it'll still you let you down... :huh:

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Oh......... just remembered. I asked what they included in a service on an x-trail I had last year and the garage (an AA one attached to a halfrauds) just printed out a service list and gve it to me. You could ask a similar place what they would do to get the list of them? Or doesn't the haynes cover it all?

Jas

Yep - Haynes lists all the official service items.

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Cheers. It has not done many miles on an Ashcroft auto box and i was told that it wouldn’t need the oil changing for a while. It had new front discs and pads with new brake fluid last weekend.

I had forgotten about the coolant, hubs, t/box, air filter and axles. I am very tired at the moment and the brain is not working properly although i was trying to concentrate on the engine, as that is what im trying to smooth out. How do you check the tappets?

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Ive got a problem with the LPG system, so im just trying to give the engine a bit of a "spring clean" to see if that cures it before taking it to an LPG specialist. As the LPG system has never given me one problem before and the engine deserves a service.

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Ive got a problem with the LPG system, so im just trying to give the engine a bit of a "spring clean" to see if that cures it before taking it to an LPG specialist. As the LPG system has never given me one problem before and the engine deserves a service.

Ignition, ignition, ignition.

LPG requires a stronger spark than petrol, so it's much more sensitive to ignition trouble (which the RV8, as I'm sure you're aware, is particularly notorious for). It could be fuelling, but a search of the archives on this site will tell you a lot about the relative likelyhood...

If plugs/dizzy cap/rotor arm/leads and copious quantities of WD40 don't cure it, try thoroughly cleaning or (preferably) replacing the earth belts from the body to the block. Wish I'd listened to several forumeers advice on that much sooner :rolleyes: Coil is also a possible trouble spot, but try the cheaper bits first.

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It has covered 142,000 miles and i have no previous service history for it.

Speaking from painful and recent personal experience, if you don't know whether it's already been done, strip the front end and fit new timing gear :( While you're in there, do the oil pump as well (it'll be well worn and the parts are only about £15).

Head gaskets, if they haven't already been done, are probably on their last legs, and the camshaft and tappets will need replacing if you want the engine to last and/or give it's best. Supposed to do the rockers as well, I think.

I got told all this six months back - didn't listen and it cost me my engine :(

Of course, you're just loving hearing this after you've put it back in daily service...

If you can get a decent one at a good price, might be less hassle just to swop the engine. Depends on what workshop facilities you have at your disposal and how long you intend keeping the truck - dropping in a 100k engine will give you another 40-50k, properly rebuild the existing one and I guess it should be good for another 150k (might need to do a few extra bits like crankshaft bearings for that, but if you've got it in bits anyway...).

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