300tdi poor power still a problem at low revs

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ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90

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Hi all

Some time ago i had a problem with poor performance on my 300tdi before the turbo boosts, i replaced the lift pump after several recommendations which i beleive it had cured it. However, yesterday it came to my attention again that its very down on power at low revs. I had to set off up a steep hill yesterday, approx 20% gradient or less, and the vehicle would not pull itself up in 1st gear, it kept stalling each time. I had to go into low range, tackle the hill and then back into high range. Surely thats not right? This was without any load in the vehicle, well very little for a land rover!

Since i posted about the problem last ive checked or replaced a few things -

New delphi lift pump
Cleaned and flushed intercooler
Checked turbo/intercooler pipes
Checked boost diaphragm for splits
Replaced diesel leak off pipes
Clean airfilter
New fuel filter 6mths ago on purchase of car
Cambelt replaced by garage on purchase
Valve clearances checked

Once the turbo is spooled up it seems fine, and the top end speed is fine and acceptable, but it seriously lacks low down grunt, what a land rover is known for.

Ive given the FIP a slight tweek, smoke screw on the top 1 and half turns, star wheel half a turn, and diaphragm a quarter turn. But while this helps in every day driving, its not helping the low down grunt and torque as much. Its now smoking a little bit in car headlights since the pump adjust too.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again
 
I would give the FIP a service at a specialist if I were you. My 90 was suffering from similar symptoms to yours (albeit not as bad). A year ago, the FIP started to leak (thanks to a consignment of crappy diesel that kept diesel specialists all over the country very happy). I removed the pump, took it for a service and the vehicle was transformed.
 
I would say with them tyres which are a tad tall at nearly 33 inches its got to be expected.
We often have to move our cars at work when other shift goes home, and as we are all in overalls, we just push them, the drag on a defender is amazing, bloody hard work to push.
Mines got 33.5 inch tyres and 1.4 tfer box and its a little to tall for my liking ratio wise, cold starts steep incline to leave yard at work, its not a happy car.
Of course someone is now going to come along and tell us their car has 48 inch tyres, 1to1 tfer box and they can pull away in fifth gear!
Both the 200 and 300 have ****e turbo lag Ive owned a few and they were all the same.
Mine had a 1.19 tfer box before and that was really bad, steep hills starts were a no no, in fact 5th gear was almost a no go area!
Anyone local you could try a trial swap with their wheel/tyres?
 
Big wheels do give a bit of lag but also show up the issues elsewhere too
I know you've checked the basics as listed but have you verified the timing hasn't slipped it's easy to remove the front plate and get a drill bit into the pump then look up thru the flywheel housing for the slot in the flywheel
Worth a shot even if it was dun recent
I'd also check the lift pump with tick over open the filter head bleed a little to see if there's good fuel flow?
Any brakes seizing on a bit?
Worth checking the small pipe that runs from the turbo to the fip it rubs round back of the engine and might have a minor leak starting?
And as a final is your intercooler in good nick I've flushed loads that were let's just say not at their best
Good luck
 
Thanks for the replies lads. This seems more than turbo lag to me, it literally wont move pull up a steep hill, in first gear. However under normal driving around town it doesnt seem a problem.

I have got some other wheels and tyres that are smaller that i could try, but im fairly convinced thats not the problem. Surely it would only change the gearing slightly with 33's?

As for the brakes dragging, when all four wheels are cold, they all rotate by hand with a little ristance from the pads rubbing the disc, but by no means a real struggle to turn by hand.

Lastly, the pipe that runs from the turbo to the FIP, if that was at fault wouldnt that show up a problem on boost? Rather that at low revs almost without the turbo.

I'll check the timing and the lift pump once more. I checked it upon fitting a couple of months ago, and it squirted diesel out the bleed screw on tick over.
 
i'd be surprised if it where your tyres.

is it running rough at idle?

you running veg?

go and replace your air filter for a decent brand, it's cheap enough

what colour is the smoke? check pipes again for any air getting sucked in.
 
trax said:
i'd be surprised if it where your tyres.

is it running rough at idle?

you running veg?

go and replace your air filter for a decent brand, it's cheap enough

what colour is the smoke? check pipes again for any air getting sucked in.
Click to expand...



It runs perfect at idle.

Not running veg oil, allways diesel

Air filter is a new crossland filter

And it didnt smoke at all, literally nothing other than a puff on start up. It smokes abit now the fuel pump has been tweaked, looks grey/black in headlights. But thats to be expected after messing with the pump abit?
 
Thought the pipe running turbo to fip even a tiny hole would delay some response which once spooled up would be less noticed
Was a defo long shot but wondered if pre boost was slow?
Brakes sound ok a little contact is usual and rules that out as holding ya back
If you tried to simulate load by trying to drive forward against a steep kerb can you verify any excessive emissions at the exhaust?
Has yours got a cat on down pipe?
 
Galvernisednuts said:
Thought the pipe running turbo to fip even a tiny hole would delay some response which once spooled up would be less noticed
Was a defo long shot but wondered if pre boost was slow?
Brakes sound ok a little contact is usual and rules that out as holding ya back
If you tried to simulate load by trying to drive forward against a steep kerb can you verify any excessive emissions at the exhaust?
Has yours got a cat on down pipe?
Click to expand...



I'll check that pipe to FIP from turbo then. I found it hard to check because it routes behind the engine.
I havent tried driving against a kurb and checking the exhaust, however will someone following me over 120 miles i was informed it doesnt smoke much, the odd black puff here and there.
It passed its MOT a few months ago, no problems in terms of emmisions, and theres no CAT down pipe. Its a 1995 if that helps.
 
Ok good news no cat to block up also good if not too much smoke too
I'd expect a bit when off boost or labouring the engine my fip is tweaked and does like a little smoke off boost
Do you set the tappets regular?
I'd also consider a compression test if all else fails obviously try and beg a favour if someone's got a tester to save ur pennies
And if ya do don't forget some new injector washers
 
Galvernisednuts said:
Ok good news no cat to block up also good if not too much smoke too
I'd expect a bit when off boost or labouring the engine my fip is tweaked and does like a little smoke off boost
Do you set the tappets regular?
I'd also consider a compression test if all else fails obviously try and beg a favour if someone's got a tester to save ur pennies
And if ya do don't forget some new injector washers
Click to expand...


Thankyou for all your help.

Since tweaking the pump its a lot better, was so sluggish before adjusting it. But it is smoking a fair bit in car head lights.

Ive only set the tappets once last week, since owning it for 6 months. No improvements really other than a bit quieter.

If it was low on compression... Would it need a full rebuild?
 
Not necessarily a burnt valve for example would be top end work I can fit cylinder heads in mere hours they're minty
Maybe a head gasket issue etc a compression test is a quick check to cylinder health
How many miles on ur engine?
 
Galvernisednuts said:
Not necessarily a burnt valve for example would be top end work I can fit cylinder heads in mere hours they're minty
Maybe a head gasket issue etc a compression test is a quick check to cylinder health
How many miles on ur engine?
Click to expand...


Theres 130,000 on the old girl.

I'll run through the suggestions and if everything is okay I'll get a compression test done.
 
Galvernisednuts said:
130 ...... Barely ran in...... I've worked on a few with 230k still going good
Click to expand...


Hahaa thats good to hear.

The only thing i will mention is... I had to replace the glow plugs a few weeks back. When starting from cold it sounded very lumpy for 5-10 seconds, abit like it was running on 3 cylinders. Now the glow plugs are changed it starts faultlessly
 
Silly question but did the glow plugs seat ok? Any muck around the base giving some compression loss? I have every faith in ya but we are here to suggest help ;-)
 
Galvernisednuts said:
Silly question but did the glow plugs seat ok? Any muck around the base giving some compression loss? I have every faith in ya but we are here to suggest help ;-)
Click to expand...


They sat fine mate. Torqued up a treat too.

It was the same before they were replaced too. I took it for a run before i removed them. And all four were covered in engine oil. All dead though too
 
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