2.5 turbo diesal air filter problem

[George123]

Hello all

I'm a little concerned about the amount of oil making it's way through to the air filter. I put a new one on 3 months ago and today when I looked at it there was literally oil oozing from it. What is causing this and is it easily fixable?

[Ash.Witty]

Its a bad setup by Land Rover, rectified on the 200tdi.

You'll find that the engine breather pipe is fitted 'pre filter' to the air box inlet, where as on a Tdi the pipe is routed 'post filter' between the air box and turbo.

If it was me, I'd disconnect the pipe for now or modify the pipe work with a tee piece so that it joins between the filter box and turbo.

This is how many TD engines died in the 80's by running off an oil soaked filter.

[vulcan bomber]

Even so, that sounds like it's breathing very heavily.

Run the engine at idle, remove the oil filler cap.... And see if it's chugging like a steam engine. If it is, you might have a failed head gasket or something far worse..... In most peoples opinions, these engines are not worth spending any monet on, mine included.

[George123]

Thanks for the replies.

It Dosnt chug like a steam engine thankfully. The loss of power associated with the oil soaked filter is incredible, when I disconnected the pipe from the turbo and ran it up through the village and back it was like a completely different vehicle.

Il try and have a fiddle with the pipes see if I can rectify the problem. Realistically I would like to try and acquire a discovery 200tdi with gearbox to give the old girl a bit more get up and go.

[Snagger]

Its a bad setup by Land Rover, rectified on the 200tdi.

You'll find that the engine breather pipe is fitted 'pre filter' to the air box inlet, where as on a Tdi the pipe is routed 'post filter' between the air box and turbo.

If it was me, I'd disconnect the pipe for now or modify the pipe work with a tee piece so that it joins between the filter box and turbo.

This is how many TD engines died in the 80's by running off an oil soaked filter.

Actually, while it clogs the filter, this set up would have saved many 19Js by preventing oil ingestion while the later setup would have allowed more oil based runaways.

19Js have a propensity for cracking heads and pistons. It was an overstressed design. If yours is breathing heavily, as the oill in the filter suggests, then the head needs to be removed to inspect the head and pistons. You may be lucky to have an affordable repair, but it'd eventually go again, which is why a Tdi retrofit is better in the long term.

[Les Henson]

2.5TD engines are prone to pistons cracking, which is indicated by oil in the air box.

Les.

[George123]

Oh dear it sounds terminal

So in your opinion would a 200 be the better engine to fit or the 300?

[Snagger]

It's a moot point whether the 200 or 300 is better. 200 is more robust, but the 300 is smoother and quieter. Both have the same performance and economy, except for a small reduction on the Defender version of the 200. Defender 200 would be the easiest fir for you, matching up on the mountings, clutch and bell housing. The rad and intercooler from the donor would drop straight in, thought depending on what the donor was, you may have to be creative with plumbing (except a Def 200, which will also drop straight in, even mating directly to the exhaust)). A few small changes would needed to mate the old fuel lines to the lift pump (I think the union differs) and likewise the return line, but that's simple. You would need to replace the Lucas CAV fuel filter assembly with the Bosch type, along with the associated lines.

The principle difference in robustness is the head - the 300 head is thinner and more prone to damage, but it is still available new, unlike the 200 head. The 300 is far more common, and thus cheaper, and the Def version of the 200 is much harder to find because they have always been in demand for this type of retrofit, so are disproportionately expensive.

[George123]

I think I might have found a discovery complete with 200 and a good gearbox (mines a bit clonky). I think from what you are saying I would rather have a disco engine that hasn't been down rated because I use it for a lot of towing so need all the power I can get.

Subject to buying it I'm not sure whether to fit it myself or get a mechanic to do it......does anyone know a landrover specialist in Kent?

[Maverik]

If you're happy to weld new mounts I'd go for a 300tdi hands down. I swapped out a Diesel Turbo for one the other summer, you can re-use the air filter box and most of the hoses, I was surprised it actually fitted in as well as it did.

200tdi spares are already become more expensive and few and far between, even Disco 200tdi's

There's a decent picture of it fitted up:

http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=89339&page=2

[Les Henson]

It's not really terminal - you just need to replace the pistons. No engine out, just head and sump off. I had this same engine in my 109 and I replaced them twice.

Les

[George123]

Thanks for all the replies, I've disconnected the pipe from the rocker cover to try and stop the filter bunging up again, il let you all know how I get on with an engine transplant in due course.

[Snagger]

It's not really terminal - you just need to replace the pistons. No engine out, just head and sump off. I had this same engine in my 109 and I replaced them twice.

Les

Fine if the pistons are the only damaged parts, and so cost effective, but if the head is also cracked, as is common, then it is more cost effective long term to fit a 200 - not just because the 19J will crack itself again, but also because of the better fuel economy. It's certainly more work though, given that pistons and heads can be replaced in situ in a day.