Freelander 1 General....Service.. :-S

Okay Freelander Experts..(There may be a grovel in there somewhere?)

After a few weeks I finally managed to get everything together to service and my daughters TD4...

Kind of...

Firstly...My extensive collection of tools etc failed to provide me with the correct socket/spanner(Blush is NOT the word) to remove the oil filter..After I had dropped the oil that is..:-S...The oil was dirty as per normal in diesel applications but didn't smell too bad...Filter will be done next time...:-{
So onto the next issue, air filter, changed after some issues(no different from everyone else but got there...)

Time to service the PCV, all good up until I discovered that maybe a previous 'enthusiast' had decided to carry out an PCV upgrade....but not knowing what an Allan key or Torx bolt is...(I still don't now what should be on that housing)

After an hour of trying to remove a seriously bodged screw....(there is more later) I left that and went onto removing and cleaning the inlet manifold etc...what mess...then looking at the inlet itself...what a mess....!

Okay, after Mr Muscle and PoundStretchers oven cleaner did their best It occurred to me that this would be an on going process...No probs with that. After some time I left that all to soak and went back to 'said'PCV 'screw'...

One more hour later..

FFS.....

Back to Inlet Manifold clean out...

Okay, to cut a long 'the obvious' short I eventually managed to get the PCV off....to discover an already positioned PCV upgrade....my pipes are fairly oily....so this upgrade wasn't as effective as I thought.(IMOO) Anyway, the old oil separator didn't have a part number on it(like mine had) so changed it(after all that hassle it was getting changed anyway)

Reisntalled minus last trashed screw. Will revisit soonest..(are they available separately want to change them all?)

My EGR delete(recommended on here/same company for most members) just wouldn't fit correctly(maybe I was a bit tired?) so left for another day(or reworking of round plug like thing on side etc) It and the pipe opening together proved too thick for the two parts to attach compress/connect) together.

Generally that was it but because of stupidity/lack of experience by others my service was doubled in time.

One thing that knocked me a little bit was that I ordered a complete service kit from a well known eBay Freelander parts supplier...but there were two key parts missing...oil and fuel filter..as per their picture on the ad..

Misleading...but the script never mentioned the fuel filter...looks like my girls FL1 will experience another oil change with filter very soon(ish)? Hopefully that fuel filter too?

But more importantly the oil never turned up...had to invest in Tesco's stuff...will be calling tomorrow(I had to buy the oil as I fly back to Spain early this week/The FL 1 was getting serviced, even if 'Ming The Merciless' said otherwise..(Hello Ming))

So not a completely satisfactory day spent wielding the spanners..but enjoyable nonetheless.

Must say that not matter what I do to the FL1 it drives so much better(in a subjective way/no dyno tests here)

Now have my own 'Hobby' service van/workshop.....so things may/should be easier for regular servicing...

Old Man syndrome at its best!!!

Advice, slaggings welcome...although my bail/license conditions have their limits..

Haha. I had the same '**** I dont have a 36mm socket realisation' a couple of days ago when I did my first ever service on my first ever FL1 td4.
Mine hadnt been serviced in three years and was a hand me down from my brother in law. A short adjustable spanner fitted under the hose at the front of the engine and I was lucky enough to get it off with little issue. Also a previous owner had cut a circular hole in the undertray to get access to the sump plug without having to take the tray off. It idles better and after a run at speed down the motorway it is very smooth. Did the EGR delete and the four filters.
I think I will change the oil again in a thousand miles or so to a 10w40 as 5w30 was supplied with the kit. I was amazed there was still oil reading on the dipstick after three years but the engine sounds very sweet with no smoke from the rear.
One question i do have if anyone knows is does the turbo breather filter have a pipe attached to the lower end? Mine came off with only one pipe attached and I put back the same way.

Alex Blyth said:

Haha. I had the same '**** I dont have a 36mm socket realisation' a couple of days ago when I did my first ever service on my first ever FL1 td4.
Mine hadnt been serviced in three years and was a hand me down from my brother in law. A short adjustable spanner fitted under the hose at the front of the engine and I was lucky enough to get it off with little issue. Also a previous owner had cut a circular hole in the undertray to get access to the sump plug without having to take the tray off. It idles better and after a run at speed down the motorway it is very smooth. Did the EGR delete and the four filters.
I think I will change the oil again in a thousand miles or so to a 10w40 as 5w30 was supplied with the kit. I was amazed there was still oil reading on the dipstick after three years but the engine sounds very sweet with no smoke from the rear.
One question i do have if anyone knows is does the turbo breather filter have a pipe attached to the lower end? Mine came off with only one pipe attached and I put back the same way.

Click to expand...

Nope the filter at the end of the pipe just dangles downwards.

5w40 full synthetic is the best oil choice for all Freelander's, including the TD4. Or if the budget is tight a 10w40 semi synthetic will suffice. These grades make the engine sound and feel less harsh.

saxavordian said:

Nope the filter at the end of the pipe just dangles downwards.

Click to expand...

Don't think mine had ever been changed as it was still attached to it's little clip at the back of the air filter box, the tip of it had a little rubber sleeve on it for protection and so the it clipped in securely....rubber sleeve(approx 5 mm long) transferred to new filter....

Alex Blyth said:

Haha. I had the same '**** I dont have a 36mm socket realisation' a couple of days ago when I did my first ever service on my first ever FL1 td4.
Mine hadnt been serviced in three years and was a hand me down from my brother in law. A short adjustable spanner fitted under the hose at the front of the engine and I was lucky enough to get it off with little issue. Also a previous owner had cut a circular hole in the undertray to get access to the sump plug without having to take the tray off. It idles better and after a run at speed down the motorway it is very smooth. Did the EGR delete and the four filters.
I think I will change the oil again in a thousand miles or so to a 10w40 as 5w30 was supplied with the kit. I was amazed there was still oil reading on the dipstick after three years but the engine sounds very sweet with no smoke from the rear.
One question i do have if anyone knows is does the turbo breather filter have a pipe attached to the lower end? Mine came off with only one pipe attached and I put back the same way.

Click to expand...

Your little filter is 'as is' but mine hadn't been changed since the factory....it actually clips onto the rear of the air filter bix but the tip of the original had a little rubber sleeve on it for protection I guess, so if you don't have that then it will just be danglingI would guess....

Mine had the rubber sleeve so replaced it . Found a place in Devon (Gentlemen Of Salvage) for the extra bits I need for it and they were very reasonable and helpful.I need to get the VCU swopped out but a visit to a well known 4x4 specialist up here turned out to be not so helpful so I won't be going there again.

I got my 36mm impact socket from halfords or machine mart, I cant remember and I think it cost me £10 (Yes i was desperate)

Nodge68 said:

5w40 full synthetic is the best oil choice for all Freelander's, including the TD4. Or if the budget is tight a 10w40 semi synthetic will suffice. These grades make the engine sound and feel less harsh.

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I bought the kit you recomended on another post for about £60. It did the job nice and cheap like

Madmustang said:

I bought the kit you recomended on another post for about £60. It didnt the job nice and cheap like

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From Advanced Factors by any chance?
If so and you don't want the oil grade in the kit. Then phone the order through and request a different oil grade, they'll swap it for you, normally like for like.

I am sure he asked. I still got the old bottle it says Fuchs Titan SYN MC SAE 10W40 ACEA A3/A4 API SN/CF

Madmustang said:

I am sure he asked. I still got the old bottle it says Fuchs Titan SYN MC SAE 10W40 ACEA A3/A4 API SN/CF

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You'll not get better oil than that. That's what I use myself.