LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
  
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| Major Engine Failures - TDV6 |
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I am trying to collate information about facts relating to bearing or bottom end failure that have happened to D3 or RRS TDV6 (2.7 litre, but if there is information about the same happening to 3.0 litre...) engines.
Would anyone who has experienced a catastrophic engine failure provide the following details please? (Rather than display the information here, I provide my e-mail address - leighw at bigpond dot net dot au. Please respond via the e-mail with just a comment in this topic if you wish.
The details sought include:
- 1. Year of manufacture
- 2. Model
- 3. General description of driving use (highway/motorway, off road, towing, etc.)
- 4. Oil change interval
- 5. Mileage at which failure occurred
- 6. Was the vehicle under warranty
- 7. How was failure repaired
- 8. Length of time vehicle was out of service.
If you know of someone who has experienced this problem but is not a forum member, would you please forward this to them so that they can respond?
Oh, and only known facts please - no second hand stories of a friend of a friend whose uncle knew someone in Benidorm, etc...
Many thanks in advance.
Edit: Corrected e-mail address. LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
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 16th Mar 2013 12:17 pm |
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LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
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Apologies to those that have replied to the originally incorrect e-mail address.
Please see first post for the correction and keep those responses coming in.
And yes, my engine is about to be replaced after 147 000km (abt 92 00 miles) even though it has had all recommended maintenance with LR dealers plus a 6 000km oil change with fully synthetic 5W-30 and filter change at the same time. LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
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| 17th Mar 2013 12:15 am |
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garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1115
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Go on www.aulro.com and send a PM to TerryO - I believe he had similar issues.
Garry
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| 17th Mar 2013 2:12 am |
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Neil Pettersen
Member Since: 23 Nov 2007
Location: Cutting the grass
Posts: 1254
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LeighW wrote:
And yes, my engine is about to be replaced after 147 000km (abt 92 00 miles) even though it has had all recommended maintenance with LR dealers plus a 6 000km oil change with fully synthetic 5W-30 and filter change at the same time.
Is this cost currently down to your hip pocket Leigh ?
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| 17th Mar 2013 9:21 am |
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D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1318
 
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It's worth posting on here as well http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=123705 and contacting Peter Street at Landiworx in South Africa, keep us posted  A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
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| 17th Mar 2013 9:29 am |
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LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
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@Neil Petttersen - yes, unless you know of an extremely generous benefactor... LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
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| 18th Mar 2013 3:37 am |
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Neil Pettersen
Member Since: 23 Nov 2007
Location: Cutting the grass
Posts: 1254
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That's a seriously expensive episode Leigh . I read the SouthAfrican Forum thread . One guy on there is up for Aus$25k for a new engine job . 
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| 18th Mar 2013 3:47 am |
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LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
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As the D3 is such a great vehicle for my needs, a decision to replace the engine was not too hard to make. Owners will be familiar with the D3's competence in most driving conditions.
Got a photo of the contents of the sump today from the repairing dealer and it shows large 'filings' (their word) of a white metal. The bearings in the TDV6, I believe are white metal.
The fact that a seeming design fault (in the model range 2005-2009 - 2.7 litre TDV6) has manifested itself in MY vehicle is beside the point. I know that after the engine is replaced (with the redesigned crankshaft and bearing journals) I should expect another seven years of happy driving.
My vehicle has been regularly serviced by LRA dealers and for many of the oil/filter changes it was performed at 6 000km. The only oils I ever used were 5W-30 grade and fully synthetic to my knowledge (not sure about the dealers though). Even the gearbox was 'double-flushed' at 80 000km so I have faithfully maintained the vehicle.
My next correspondence will be to discuss my dilemma with the engineering support at Land Rover Australia.
Thanks to those who have responded so far. LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
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| 20th Mar 2013 10:06 am |
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LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
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Just an update (of sorts). Land Rover says 'no'.
Although a report by the service centre on the possible cause has been sent to JLRA I have not been privy to it. 
Thanks to Google I have learned that there have been many instances (about 50 has been mentioned on other sites) of similar types of failure but most of them seem to be one-offs (early in the engine's life) or related to poor maintenance.
Therefore I would urge anyone with a D3 TDV6 manufactured between 2005 and 2009 (the D4 engine has a revised crankshaft apparently) to ensure the correct oil is used (must be 5W-30) and that service intervals are NOT exceeded.
The other engine problem that surfaced seems to be related to engine coolant breaking down and causing the rear cylinders to run at a higher temperature and this has lead to piston failures through overheating. The owner's manual says that the coolant should be replaced at 10 years. I think that is far too long between changes.
Thank you for the replies. I have to pursue this as frankly I find the cost of replacing the engine onerous. (<$22 000).  LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
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| 12th Apr 2013 11:06 am |
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chrisalang
Member Since: 26 Jun 2009
Location: Mandurah
Posts: 66
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There is a thread about this on the UK D3 site. A lot of problems have happened shortly after an oil change. The theory is that when the oil is drained and re filled the crank rotates for a short time with a reduced oil film. This causes more friction and allows the bearing shell to rotate slightly. This blocks the oil hole and the engine blows up within 100Km.
Does anyone know if LR have released oversize bearing shells and pistons yet?
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| 13th May 2013 9:00 am |
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LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
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chrisalang wrote:There is a thread about this on the UK D3 site...
You have PM LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
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| 16th May 2013 5:59 am |
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Gdub
Member Since: 20 Aug 2013
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1
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| Major Engine failure TDV6 Australia |
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Thought I would add my tale of woe, I own a MY07 D3 registered 2008 with 80,000km on the clock which suffered main bearing failure 2 weeks after the regular 6 month service, the vehicle has been off the road for 2 months hoping to get it back this week. The vehicle is used mainly for work and home use with some off road work occasional beach driving and bush tracks and has been serviced every 10,000k by a LR specialist. The mechanic is saying there seems to be a design fault with the bearing housing with nothing to stop the bearings turning? Unable to source replacement bearings so forced to fit a long motor have not got the final bill yet but looks like $17,000 to $20,000! currently driving my brothers Nissan patrol which has 260,000 k on the clock and has not missed a beat in 10 years The D3 is a great car but LR need to take note of the pain some of their loyal owners are going through.
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| 20th Aug 2013 12:32 pm |
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garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1115
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Bearings recently became available in the UK.
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| 22nd Sep 2013 5:39 am |
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LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
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From what I understand, at initial assembly, the bearings, the crankshaft and the supporting web are 'matched' sets. There may be about six variations in the manufacture of the bottom end. This is, in part, from personal communications with an Australian firm that has worked with the TDV6 after similar failures to mine.
If the bearings that are available are in a range of sizes then that could allow for the differences in initial manufacture tolerances. It might also explain why there has been such a delay in making bearings available to the general public.
Shame that the original design was 'crush fit' rather than a 'tabbed' bearing as the problem of 'dry starts' is exacerbated by the ability of the bearing to be pushed a small amount at each start eventually causing the edge to be damaged to the point of shedding small amounts. This in turn leads to the misalignment and blockage of the oil gallery through the centre of the bearing.
And we all know this seems to lead to catastrophic failure... 
Tip 1: ALWAYS USE QUALITY OILS THAT MEET OR EXCEED SPECIFICATIONS
Tip 2: Never exceed service intervals and pay particular attention to LR's "arduous duty" definition. LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
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| 29th Sep 2013 6:12 am |
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cupraspark
Member Since: 07 Nov 2012
Location: cambridgeshire
Posts: 5
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Hi all  I have a Jaguar s type that has spun the bearings and the car has been off the road for a year now  it was 85000 miles and full service history. I have contacted King Bearings and they say that they are developing the bearings and should be available in 6 months to a year
I just can't beleive how long its going to take to get the Jag back on the road.
All the best Marc
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| 10th Oct 2013 4:10 pm |
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