Cheap tricks required!

Hi all.
A mate of mine has just bought a Defender County with the TD5 engine.
He wants me to find out what can be done to improve performance.
His main issue is getting it up to cruising speeds, once there, all is good.
Going up hills is also a bit of an issue ............ apparently.
Are there any obvious tweaks that'd give good gains for minimal outlay, if so, what are they?

Many thanks in advance,

Slime58

I don't know if you can still do it on a TD5 but you can try cranking the fuel pump. Everyone seems to suggest that works well, I didn't get much of a gain mind, just more smoke!
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/sluggish-disco-not-any-more-146991.html

AJJackson1 said:

I don't know if you can still do it on a TD5 but you can try cranking the fuel pump. Everyone seems to suggest that works well, I didn't get much of a gain mind, just more smoke!
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/sluggish-disco-not-any-more-146991.html

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His is a 300Tdi in an automatic Disco, my mate's is a TD5 manual Defender.
Thanks anyway mate.
I'm assuming that the de-cat and EGR trick would be worth doing first, is that correct?

Slime58

My opinion is pay for a proper re-map.
Not overly cheap but makes it much more drivable.
I've had good results from Gary at alive tuning in the past and would definitely use again.

aaronmorris said:

My opinion is pay for a proper re-map.
Not overly cheap but makes it much more drivable.
I've had good results from Gary at alive tuning in the past and would definitely use again.

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What is 'not cheap', what results have you noticed and where is Alive Tuning based?
Thanks Aaron,

Slime58

Check the wastegate is not stuck. Costs nothing to check

I wouldn't have thought a TD5 would struggle that much, my 300 doesn't

james6546 said:

I wouldn't have thought a TD5 would struggle that much, my 300 doesn't

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My 300tdi does struggle somewhat, especially up hills, at times it's quite laughable!


Slime58

Slime58 said:

My 300tdi does struggle somewhat, especially up hills, at times it's quite laughable!


Slime58

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It's been off the road for 3 months, maybe my memories of it are inaccurate!

Slime58 said:

What is 'not cheap', what results have you noticed and where is Alive Tuning based?
Thanks Aaron,

Slime58

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To be honest I can't remember of the top of my head (it was a while ago) But £300ish rings a bell, Possibly a little less
Alive are based in Grimsby, But do postal remaps I believe.
Results where better all round, More low down torque, Infact more torque all the way through the range and pulled like a train.
No more lag, And slightly better mpg after a few weeks or so when I'd stopped lead footing it everywhere

+1 for checking the boost waste gate.
I borrowed a mates 300tdi. It had a quality recon engine and new turbo.
But wouldn't pull very well - you could feel some turbo happening - just not enough.
I wasn't happy, so had a peek under the bonnet, and found that the waste gate wasn't actually connected.
Connected it up, and it was much more powerful.

Clean the MAP sensor in the inlet manifold.
Check all turbo hoses are tight and no leaks from intercooler.
Remove EGR (no big performance gains but engine breathing much cleaner air).
Change the air and fuel filters for new ones and change all fluids and oils.
Disconnect MAF sensor on air box and see if the engine runs better. If so your MAF is knackered. Change for an OEM unit and not a cheapo fleabay one as they dont last.

Check wastegate is operating freely and to full travel in both directions.
Fit a boost gauge and check turbo is boosting properly. Stock boost on a TD5 is just about 1 bar before ECU goes into limp mode.
Want more boost then fit a boost black box to allow boosting to max 2 bar but be careful as exhaust temps will get dangerously hot at this boost level unless you are running a proper remap. You can safely boost to 1.2 bar on standard map but only with a boost box fitted. You will know if you overdo it as ECU will switch to limp until the ignition is cycled.

If you go for a proper remap get the throttle pedal travel set the same in both high and low range as the stock mapping only uses about 50% pedal travel between full and no throttle whereas in low range it uses the full pedal travel to try and prevent foot bounce causing kangarooing while off roading. This mod makes normal driving in high range much more relaxing and evens out the wear on the pedal pots. If the mappers dont know what you are talking about go somewhere else. Gary at Alive tuning will know what you mean. He told me and did mine!

Got cash to splash then fit larger intercooler and full bore decat exhaust.

Stock TD5 should not struggle at all if all is in order.