Disco 2 Oil pump bolt disaster - it happened to me!

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GingerPuss

Active Member
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232
Location
Southport
Everyone knows about the bolt that holds on the TD5 oil pump pully in the sump. It can come loose and fall which means zero oil pressure.
This just happened to me. My D2 has nearly 150k miles. I had been told by many people that it has probably been sorted by now and it is likely the bolt has rusted itself on anyway etc. That was STUPID of me to think I was safe.
Cruising down the motorway earlier this week the oil pressure warning light suddenly came on. I immediately pulled onto the hard shoulder and switched off the engine before calling the AA to transport me to a known LR independent garage. I happened to be looking at the instruments at that same moment but like most people I might not have spotted it. That turned out to be sheer good luck as the engine is OK and not damaged. The recovery driver said it would probably be a dodgy wire or pressure sensor - lucky I didn't believe him.
The bill to remove the sump, fit a new bolt, replace the sump with a new gasket and refill with fresh oil was £270. I am now driving it again and it is all good - luckily.

Let this be a cautionary tale!!
 
Everyone knows about the bolt that holds on the TD5 oil pump pully in the sump. It can come loose and fall which means zero oil pressure.
This just happened to me. My D2 has nearly 150k miles. I had been told by many people that it has probably been sorted by now and it is likely the bolt has rusted itself on anyway etc. That was STUPID of me to think I was safe.
Cruising down the motorway earlier this week the oil pressure warning light suddenly came on. I immediately pulled onto the hard shoulder and switched off the engine before calling the AA to transport me to a known LR independent garage. I happened to be looking at the instruments at that same moment but like most people I might not have spotted it. That turned out to be sheer good luck as the engine is OK and not damaged. The recovery driver said it would probably be a dodgy wire or pressure sensor - lucky I didn't believe him.
The bill to remove the sump, fit a new bolt, replace the sump with a new gasket and refill with fresh oil was £270. I am now driving it again and it is all good - luckily.

Let this be a cautionary tale!!
rusted inside the crank case,i wouldnt think so,keep an eye on the turbo
 
I’d be changing the oil again fairly soon! Pop open the cam cover and inspect the cam lobes
 
Same happened to me at around that mileage except mine snapped the oil pump chain. Cost me around £60 for the parts and a couple of days to get the timing chain off, fit the new oil pump chain, and put it all back together.
I think you were very lucky there but, £270 to put a new bolt in :eek: glad I could fix mine myself.
 
Mine is a late 2002, one of the early facelift models. Wasn’t going to bother but given everything else I’ve done lately if it’s having a service anyway I may as well do it. Bits on the way!
 
Mine is a 1999. It had already suffered from the usual problems (oil at ECU, rear chassis rust and 3 amigos) which have been fixed. I’m hoping there isn’t much else left to go wrong (i can hear you all laughing).
 
Think it's just a TD5 thing, from what I read LR used a few bolts without Locktite on them, apparently catastrophic engine failure doesn't warrant a recall.o_O
 
Or maybe they thought most Disco 2's would have rusted away before the bolt came loose, and the 2 that survive may not explode :)
Think it's just a TD5 thing, from what I read LR used a few bolts without Locktite on them, apparently catastrophic engine failure doesn't warrant a recall.o_O

That's bang out of order...
Some poor Defender owner could buy a replacement Disco engine....and BANG!
What were they thinking? ;)
 
Just booked mine in to the garage to have this checked / replaced...
I've put it off long enough and I think the odds are stacked against me now, so it's time to get it done. :rolleyes:
 
Just booked mine in to the garage to have this checked / replaced...
I've put it off long enough and I think the odds are stacked against me now, so it's time to get it done. :rolleyes:

While you're in there, check also the pressure relief valve as I've read somewhere that it can come loose, which will have more or less the same effect as the bolt. I'm including instructions for Defender TD5 as they are not covered by D2 RAVE (at least my version) but I'm assuming the specs are the same.
 

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