P38A 2002 2.6 dsl Killed the engine, will 2.6dsl 1999 engine be as good?

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AtliVidar

New Member
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4
Location
iceland
Hi! So I'm new to the forum. Got a Range Rover 2.6 diesel 2002 automatic model a few months back and its been running smoothly apart from some electrical hiccups with the doorlocks.
Well last wednesday I was driving up a pretty long steep hill on my way to work, had to overtake a bus so I had the gaspedal basically floored. The oil light comes on for about 30 sec, then engine conks out and dashboard prompts me with [gearbox fault]. I slide to the curb, cars dead, I tried to start it but nothing happens. I check the oil and its completely empty. I add 3ltrs of oil, but it still wont start.
A tow truck drags the car back down the hill, and we charge the car overnight thinking that maybe the battery didn't have enough charge.
Next day the Rover starts after a few tries. It normally fires up on first or second. The engine sounds a bit off, but manageable so I decide to drive it the 100 metres it takes to get to my home. Car drives, but when it tries to shift to 2nd gear the engine revvs, a loud pop comes from the engine and it promptly dies, gearbox fault turns up again. I get out of the car and I see a trail of oil leading from the car, and underneath the rover a black pool of oil.
I'm not a mechanic, but I think thats basically game over for the engine right? I'm having a mechanic looking the engine over tomorrow but in the meantime I'm trying to source a replacement, and I found one but its from a 1999 model.
So my question, finally, is there any difference between the two, the '99 and the '02 engine wise? Will the car be as good as it was if I swap it?
 
Do i take it that oil appeared on the dipstick when you added the three litres? Engines are 2.5 litres not 2.6 2002 engine is same as 1999 engine. Engine could be seriously damaged. Anything is repairable it's the cost that is the problem. Gearbox fault will always come up if you coast in gear with engine stopped.
 
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Sounds odd the fault said gearbox but it was engine that failed. If the engine lost its oil and then seemed like flat battery, it was seized. Then deseized when it cooled. Probably big ends. May be economically repairable if the crank hasn't scored too badly.

Col
 
Colthebrummie said:
Sounds odd the fault said gearbox but it was engine that failed. If the engine lost its oil and then seemed like flat battery, it was seized. Then deseized when it cooled. Probably big ends. May be economically repairable if the crank hasn't scored too badly.

Col
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I am willing to bet money it is pistons picking up. See post #3.
 
Engine has been pronounced dead. There's metal chips and oil in the water, so we didn't go further in ripping the whole thing apart. Cost and time wise it will be easier to get a donor-engine, but that will also be a bit of a hassle since the donor and garage are situated about 200km away from each other.
But we're not going to let that stop us.
 
AtliVidar said:
Engine has been pronounced dead. There's metal chips and oil in the water, so we didn't go further in ripping the whole thing apart. Cost and time wise it will be easier to get a donor-engine, but that will also be a bit of a hassle since the donor and garage are situated about 200km away from each other.
But we're not going to let that stop us.
Click to expand...

The engines aren't all the same from '94 through to 2002 but you probably already knew that.

Not all bad. They'll be parts on the old engine worth salvaging. FIP and number 4 injector are both expensive. Or when you say engine, are you just talking the block with no ancillaries attached?
 
The main difference is the inlet manifold and the later manifold will not fit the earlier head and vice versa but the exhaust manifold fits
 
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Yeah I'm in Iceland, so engines arent that easy to come by, so I'm pretty stoked just to have found this one. There's a rover guru hired to mix the two together, so hopefully all will go well.
Now I'm thinking wether I should use the operation and drop a performance chip on the new engine while she's in the garage. Anyone have any objections to that plan, or maybe recommendations on a chip?
 
that a good question, It's a worth while venture, mine was done previous to my ownership. The guy had payed £1200 at the time and had it reprogramed and a bigger intercooler fitted and better filter. Glad that wasn't me!! There are discussions as to which is better, black boxes or a proper reprogram. I think the reprogram is the better way to go by a reputable company with a guarantee. That all depends on the new/doner engine!!
 
AtliVidar said:
Yeah I'm in Iceland, so engines arent that easy to come by, so I'm pretty stoked just to have found this one. There's a rover guru hired to mix the two together, so hopefully all will go well.
Now I'm thinking wether I should use the operation and drop a performance chip on the new engine while she's in the garage. Anyone have any objections to that plan, or maybe recommendations on a chip?
Click to expand...

You can boost the power a little and a chip is the way to go. The chip in it isn't the unclip variety. It is hard-soldered in. The bonus on replacing it is that you can leave the security code blank and unlocked (the chips are 1 write only) so no more engine sync issues. You'll need a BMW specialist I would have thought to have the various maps that might go in there. Again, because of the differences between early and late engines (predominantly the EGR and different temperature settings) you will need a map for your particular breed of engine. Might be someone like @kds might know a bit more?
 
I have a psi box on mine and it is just plug and play As it was fitted when i got the car i dont know if it makes any difference or not I also have an aftermarket intercooler on it and just fitted a new turbo as the old one packed up in Russia .for better performance a bigger turbo and intercooler may be the way to go
.
 
ovalandrover said:
I have a psi box on mine and it is just plug and play As it was fitted when i got the car i dont know if it makes any difference or not I also have an aftermarket intercooler on it and just fitted a new turbo as the old one packed up in Russia .for better performance a bigger turbo and intercooler may be the way to go
.
Click to expand...

Now you're talking @N2O language but I am not convinced how much more that head can take. You can push it for sure but for how long? Specially if you're off-road with little ram-air, mud and dust in the rad and the viscous half under water!
 
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