Land Rover Tdi Engine Reliability and Longevity

There have been many stories from people reporting blown overheated Tdi engines and major breakdowns requiring costly repairs and/or replacement engines. All this appears to be happening well before 100 000 km. Especially the die hard V8 fans are claiming poor reliability and longevity of the Tdi engine and even poor long term economy due to the costly repairs required.

So we decided to create a Land Rover Tdi Longevity register, see the table below. We have received about 150 individual responses from vehicle owners. The final list is posted below so feel free to draw your own conclusions. Thanks to all the contributors who have assisted in providing valuable information to other owners. If you have a Tdi with a higher mileage than than the highest on this register, please let us know mail us.

Since this survey was done in the late 90s, the Tdi engine has gone on to prove itself as one of the most reliable and trusty engines produced. It is the engine of choice for overland travellers and those taking their vehicles into the remote parts of Africa.

Land Rover Tdi Timing Belt Issues

The timing belt on 300Tdi engines fitted to Defender and Discovery and Range Rover, suffererd from premature wear due to miss alignment of some of the guiding pulleys. If serious this manifested itself before the 60000km change interval.

Land Rover issued a technical bulletin No. 0008, on 25
March 98. This bulletin details the fitment of one of two possible rectification kits, depending on model numbers. Where the kits have been installed workshops are instructed to paint a 2cm
square yellow block on the upper left side of the timing cover.

Kit 1 (Part no. STC4095K) to be fitted to:
Discovery MA 081991 - TA 200000, MA 500000 - VA 542370, TA 700000 - VA 711273
Defender MA 939976 - VA 101256
Range Rover MA 647645 - MA 664120.

This kit contains; front cover, timing belt, crankshaft gear, tensioner, idler, FIE pump bracket, side cover, gaskets, dowels and fasteners.

Kit 2 (Part no. STC4096K) to be fitted to:
Disco VA 542371 - VA 558898, VA 711274 - WA 748935
Defender VA 101257 - VA 129096

This kit contains; timing belt, crankshaft gear, tensioner, idler, gaskets and fasteners. Also a crank shaft seal for Discovery VA 548520 - VA 558898, VA 716697 - WA 748935
Defender VA 107351 - VA 129096

Mileage ('000km)	Vehicle	Year	Major repairs	Servicing	Name
338	D119	1998	338K a chip from one of the exhaust valves jammed the turbo. Removed the head and decided to overall the enire engine		Richard Von Berg
303	D110	1996	Engine sucking oil, replaced engine	APR	Pierre Craven
295	D 110	1994	none, cambelts	APR	Michael Holford
290	D 110	1997	none	APR	Paul Balmforth
283	D110	1997	Starter, alternator	APR	Jan van Blerk
276	D 110	1994	none	API	jeff allen
275	RR M	1994	none	APR	Hercu vd Walt
250	Disco M	1993	2 head gaskets, cambelt every 45k	APR	Richard Millward
243	Disco M	1993	none	APR	J van Deventer
240	D 110	1995	none	APR	Gawie Botha
240		1993	Turbo replaced at 200k	PR	Jacques Swart
240	D 110	1994	Injectors and viscous fan 230k. Engine siezed after radiator plug cracked at 240k.	APR	Marc Lurie
238	D130	1994	Water pump	APR	John Costello
227	Disco A	1994	none, cambelts	API	Andrew
226	D 110	1996	Injectors 225k, vacuum pump 130k,	APR	A Greenway
220		1994	Timing belt broke 180k, push rods replaced	APR	Bazzle
220	D110	1994	Injector pump 200k, water pump replaced at 110k	APR
211	Dico M	1992	Head gasket,Alternator,water pump,timing belt idlers,	APR	Chris Dunkley
207	D 110	1994	none	APR	Kosta Tutunovic
205	D110	1997	head gasket failed & replaced 120 000km	PR since 70k	David Coonan
202	Disco M	1995	none	A	david
200	D 110	1994	Still only Vacuum brake pump 183k	APR	Ian Basset
200	Disco M	2000	none	A	jose luis fonseca
199	Disco M	1996	none	API	Steve Sorrill
198	Disco M	1995	Turbo elbow 197k, cambelts every 60k	A	van Tornout
197	D110	1996	Vacuum pump	API	Hennie vd Walt
197	Disco A	1995	New glowplugs at 185k	APR	Johan Schoonraad
196	D 110	1995	vac pump, rings, pulleys	API	Deon van Vuuren
195	D110	1995	vacuum pump 86 000 km	PR since 86k	Geurt Bloem
186	Disco M	1995	none	APR	Vic de Bruyn
182	D110	1994	none	APR	Jimbo
180	Disco M	1997	Head gasket, recon starter motor, cambelt kit every 60k	A	Ian Smit
176	D110	1993	none	PR	Jurgens de Jager
175	D 110	1994	none	A	Deon Kriek
172	Disco M	1993	none	APR	Chris Fletcher
171	D 90	1996	rocker shaft due to pulley failure, poor fitment, injectors 140k	APR	J van den Heever
169	Disco M	1992	Turbo replaced	APR	Frode Haaland
169	D110	1993	160k, starter, fuel injectoe pump	APR	Tommy Abdy Collins
165	D 110	1993	none	APR	Matthew Woodhead
165	D 110	1997	Blow by PO at 60000 -- water hose burst.	API	Paul Nash
160	Disco M	1994	none	A	Cymon Charnley
157	Disco	1997	no problems		via Hennie
156	Disco M	1997	timing belt 90k, rocker arm bolt 113k, fuel pump 140k, turbo pipe 153k	A	Dick Wardle
154	D110	1995	none	APR	Johan van Zyl
152	D110	1995	no engine problems (clutch)	A	Patrick de Waal
151	D 110	1996	head redone at 140K, servicing	A	Gordon Wright
150		1993	none	PR	Fanie Dreyer
150	D 110	1996	none	APR	Fred Johnson
150	D110	1996	Cambelt & kit #2 @ 80+140k; Turbo elbow pipe @ 90k; Aircon pulley bearings x 2; Fanbelt idler pulley bearing @ 140k	APR	Jim Attrill
150		1996	Drive shaft after universal failure 145k	APR	Werner Stoltze
146	D110	1996	110k vacum pump	APR	Francois van Driel
146	D90	1996	none	A	Gavin Smith
145	D110	1996	Vacum pump, fuel pump	APR	Eddie
141	D110	1996	Cambelts & squeaky belts	APR	Gary Bauer
140	D110	1995	None	APR	Andy K
140	D 110	1996	none	APR	Detlev Friemelt
140	Disco M	1997	none	A	Gerhard Van Rensburg
140	D110	1998	Engine pulley, water pump	APR	J Myburgh
140	D110	1997	Rocker arm caps 80k, idler pully, cambelt 100k	APR	Jason Grimbeek
140	D110	1997	none	APR	Pieter Swart
140	D110		crank at 80k & 100k, turbo at 110k due to water intake		Riaan Botes
139	Disco M	1996	none	A	RA ISEMONGER
137	D 110	1996	Major rebuild.Pistons, rings big ends, mains etc. Cylinders 3 & 4 excesive wear, big ends and mains down to copper.	A	Anton
137	D110	1996	injectors replaced 125k, no performance change	PR since 20k	Chris Curry
137	Disco M	2000	none	APR	Gavin Li
135	D90	1996	none	APR	Bruce Williamson
135	D110	1995	none	A	Maurice
134	Disco M	1995	drive belt and idler tensioner at 128k 2001	A	Mark Smith
132	D 90	1996	Idler pully on aircon belt 125000	APR	Philip van Staden
132	Disco M	1992	Vacum pump at 111k	A	Pieter Gouws
130	D110	1996	axle shaft and flanges 120k, belt drive 130k	APR	Hendrik vd Hoven
130	D 110	2000	none	A	J de Klerk
128	D90	1997	none	APR	Johan de Waal
127	D90	1996	vacum pump and power steering	A	Mathew
126	Disco M	1996	Vacum pump, oil leak thrust bearing seal	A	Ben Nel
125	D110	1997	none	APR	David Topham
125	D 110	2000	none	APR	Derik Liebenberg
125	D110	1996	none (gearbox replaced 50k)	A	Hennie vd Berg
125	D110	1994	none	APR	Mike Stead
125	D 90	1996	Water Pump	APR	Nico van der Walt
123	D 110	1997	Idler pulley at 85k and 91k, electrical harness at 113k	A	Howard Richardson
122	D 110	1995	100k - Replaced waterpump and cambelt	APR	Pieter Malan
121	D 90	1996	none	A	Thomas Marais
120	D110	1995	none	APR	D Stickells
120	D 90	1997	power steering pulley	API	gasco
120	D110	1998	none	A	Paul Donague
120	D110	1996	Idler pulley at 120k	A	Tom Fouche
120	D130	1996	Turbo replaced at 20k	APR	Trevor Mooi
118	Disco M	1996	Idler pulley bearing	APR	Des Anfield
117	D 110	1998	none	A	Gerhard van der Merwe
116	Disco A	1995	none	A	brettoz
114	D110	1996	water pump	APR	Frank Theron
114	D 110	1996	none	A	Vin Botha
112	D110	1997	none	A	P Potgieter
112	Disco M	1997	none	A	Rick Z
112	D90	1997	none	APR	Alan Cotton
111	D90	1996	vacuum pump at 105 000 km	API	Alex van der Horst
110	D 110	1998	none	A	Darryl Lampert
110	Disco	1994	none	APR
108	D110	1995	worn idler pully	APR	Adrian Brewster
108	D 110	2000	80k water pump replaced	APR	Wayne Locker
106	D 90	1996	Aircon blower 95k, Aircon idler bearing at 20k, 60,85, 100k	A	P Botha
105	D130	1996	Cambelt 80K Alternator 90&95K; Injector pump 230k, Water pump at 160k	APR	Willem Coetsee
104	D110	1997	none	A	Deon Cupido
102	Disco M	1999	none	APR	Jacob Jordaan
102	Disco M	1998	none	API	Michael Slabber
100	D110	1998	none	API	Jacques la Grange
100	Disco M	1996	Zeus gear timing kit	APR	Jaenne vd Westhuizen
100	D110	1997	cambelts, injectors at 72k, idler pulley 90k, timing cover gasket 92k	Agents only	Mike Ilsley
Servicing: A - Agents, APR - Agents & private regular, API - Agents & private irregular
Blowout Register
Mileage ('000km)	Vehicle	Year	Major repairs	Servicing	Name
3	D110	1998	Radiator hose not fitted properly, engine overheated, & replaced, now 70k no problems	A	Pieter Coetzer
36	Disco M	1994	Radiator hose failure, engine re-built	A	Daavide Sala
51	D 110	1997	Turbo failed	A	Jan Coetzee
60	Disco M	1997	engine replacement	A	marius
65	Disco M	1996	Engine fire, all wires, plastic & insulation replaced	API	Antonio Almeida
67	D110	1997	Broken timing belt, bent rocker arms, valve stems & cracked head	A	Stephan de Lange
72		1996	Engine replaced	A	Gillian Wood
72	Disco	1997	engine replaced	A	Potch
74	D 110	1997	Engine rebuilt; overheated	A	David Becker
74	Disco M	1996	65K Vacuum pump, 72K seizure due to waterpump gasket, incl new turbo & recon engine.	APR	Bennie Warnich
80	D90	1997	1st engine 60k due to overfueling 3 replacements upto 80k due to rockers	A	Rudi Botha
82	Disco M	1996	Overheated, conrod bolts came loose, engine to be overhauled	A	Krish Naidoo
87	D90	1996	87K Cambelt broke	API	Frans Oeschger
88	Disco A	1995	Engine replaced at 26k, then redone at 86k and 88k due to overgeating	APR	Wayne Zonneveld
98	D 110	2000	Overheated due to plastic radiator leak, engine rebuild	A	C Adamson
99	Disco M	1995	Pistons, Turbo, crankshaft	APR	Kinyua Wilson
100	D110	2000	Complete engine rebuild	A	D Rebe
110	Disco A	1995	2 engines overheated	A	Sven Thonell
111	Disco M	1997	Radiator hose went, engine overheated, head replaced. Pulleys replaced	A	Grant
112	Disco M	1998	Replace engine after Top Gasket blew, overheated	A	Schernall Duffield
115	D110	1996	Timing belt replaced at 92k, broke at 114k, replaced pushrods, rockers, turbo 96k, injector pump 116k	A	S Murphree
120	D110	1998	Timing belt at 60k, Turbo 65k, New engine 70k, Steering pump 75k, Idler pulley & bearings several times. New motor at 125k, trade in for TD5 CSW	A	Derek Smit
120	Disco	1996	1st engine replaced at 65k, due to overheating		Farmer Paul Pietersberg via
120	Disco M	1997	Cambelt broke, pushrods, rockers. Cambelt alignment mods done previously.	A	Johan Marais
131	D90	1996	Cylinder head gasket failed, replaced cylinder head	APR	Malcolm Timberlake
146	Disco M	1996	blow at 146 000km.	A	Louis Melis
150	D 90	1997	Headgasket failed	APR	Antonie van Staden
154	D110	1995	104k vehick fel over & restarted, engine damage 112k engine overheated, plastic cap and water pump leak - engine replaced	A	Chris Pienaar
160	D110	1995	Engine rebuild at 60k due to coolant loss	APR	Paul Nash
160	D110	1996	Oil pump failed, engine seized	APR	Sean Barker
161	D110	1997	Broken cambelt 140k, replaced pushrods and rocker cover, clutch 120k	A	Vincent
180	D 110	1995	conrod broke through block turbo & subassembly replaced	A	Vandre Nel
182	D110	1996	Head gasket, cracked cylinder head from overheating	A	Daan Jacobs
192	D 110	1993	none	API	Neil van Tonder
197	D110	1996	Water pump broke, engine overheated, engine rebuilt	A	Barto du Plessis
218	D110	1996	Engine overheated, head gasket blown, head cracked	A	Nick Hartley
220	Disco M	1994	Been cooked at 200k had a C/O head fitted	APR	Jeremy Cooke
226	Disco M	1995	Crank bent	A	Steve Wallin

Land Rover Service and Repair Guides

Land Rover Discovery Defender Workshop Manuals
Range Rover repair manual
Workshop manuals Land Rover Series 3, 2, 1s
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