Starting a diesel LR for the first time in over 10 years!

Deafening-Defender · Dec 17, 2019

I've got an old LR 110 300TDI that hasn't been used or even started for over 10 years.
Any advice on precautions or stuff I should do to it before trying to fire it up?

New battery will be installed.

I assume diesel fuel doesn't 'go off' like unleaded petrol does. (???)

Is it likely that the brakes will have seized on? Any tricks for releasing them?

Thanks for your help.

Henry_b · Dec 17, 2019

I'd pull the glows or injectors and drop a smeg of oil down the bores.

Diesel can develop a fungus, best put fresh in..

New Primed diesel filter will help.

Change the oil..

And.

Turn it over.

Not gonna lie, we had a 200tdi D1 on the farm, it had sat for 15yrs, i just threw a battery on it, and she fired on half a crank!

Sounded a bit rough for a second because of oil deprivation in the top end, but quietened down after a while

Never changed the oil.

The engine was pulled and thrown in a Defender, again on the original oil, the dipstick is rusted in the tube, they're tough units

potus · Dec 17, 2019

Just watched an old episode of wheeler dealer where they started a bmw 2002 tii which hadn't been run in over 15 years.

They removed plugs, squirted diesel down bores, hand turned over.
Removed rocker, cover in oil, turned engine over by hand to spread oil over cams.
Replaced oil, filter and air filter.
Checked oil pressure via starter motor cranking - plugs out.
Replaced all fuel lines, filter and pump.
Drained fuel tank.
New plugs
Other than that they had issue with the fuel pump which needed a rebuild but that was largely due to gummed up inners and wear.

With all this done it fired up nicely...good luck.

lynall · Dec 17, 2019

I would not over think it, fit battery and turn key and see what happens.

Europa486 · Dec 17, 2019

Likewise my disco 200tdi hasn’t been run in 10 years, checked oil and water and bunged on a new
Battery and 1/2 turn on the starter she was away

a bit of smoke but settled down nicely,
Yes I had plenty of other stuff to do, steering box/brake master/heater motor/ and of course loads of welding

But I promised her that if she started without too much hassle I would put her back on the road,
That she did in spades,

dag019 · Dec 17, 2019

I would maybe remove the rocker cover and throw some oil over everything in there, I would definitely remove the stop solenoid wire and crank until the oil pressure light goes out, but other than that I would just try and fire it up. If it doesn't then start I would be looking at the fuel and fuels system but that's it. They are basic and strong engines it is likely to be absolutely fine. You can get diesel bug (which can cause lots of problems) but that is far more of an issue on terrible old boats rather than proper vehicles with wheels.

Rodeo Joe · Dec 17, 2019

When it does fire up don't leave it running till you get the timing belt changed...... Could be short lived euphoria.

Gmacz · Dec 17, 2019

New battery, check levels and away you go.
Then, change all fluids and get the timing belt done.
Brakes need a complete check and overhaul and your clutch hydraulics will probably need renewed.

payydg · Dec 20, 2019

We’d all like a video of start up please!

mick the builder · Dec 20, 2019

I'd say your main problem will be selecting gears.

Deafening-Defender · Dec 20, 2019

mick the builder said:
I'd say your main problem will be selecting gears.

Why would that be? Clutch issues?

mick the builder · Dec 20, 2019

Clutch plate could be stuck solid. I have an old 110 which I start every 6 months or so. Starts on the button but clutch sticks every time.

Deafening-Defender · Dec 20, 2019

mick the builder said:
Clutch plate could be stuck solid. I have an old 110 which I start every 6 months or so. Starts on the button but clutch sticks every time.

Thanks for the info.
Is there any easy way to unstick the clutch?

mick the builder · Dec 20, 2019

Not really, just make sure your clear in front and behind for a few feet cause when it releases, it will shoot off.

Deafening-Defender · Dec 20, 2019

mick the builder said:
Not really, just make sure your clear in front and behind for a few feet cause when it releases, it will shoot off.

Thanks Mick.

saxavordian · Dec 20, 2019

Tow it to a cycling track more a velodrome, check the oil level stick and smell for diesel. next top up the oil over the required marker then fill with fresh diesel ensure spillage amass on the track. Now here the hard part starting more hit and miss. If you get going and a lot oil smoke comes out the try and drive in the velodrome around the banking so the residue spills down. Only kidding

Deafening-Defender · Dec 25, 2019

Many thanks for all the advice... you lovely people.

Spent an entertaining Christmas afternoon... fitting new battery... unsticking the bonnet... checking oil and water... removing rocker cover and pouring a bit of oil over the top of the engine.. and finally starting it. Took a good few turns of the engine to start (I guess it needed to pump some diesel up)... but it started. However, it now seems to want to rev to the max (and I'm not awfully keen on that - as I suspect the old timing belt may object). Had a quick look under the bonnet - and it looks (to my untrained eye) like the throttle mechanism is working OK. So... what could be causing it to rev so much? Is there something else that could be stuck?

I tried starting it about 10 times... but each time it almost instantly tried to rev itself to destruction (so - most times - I cut the ignition fairly sharpish. A couple of times I kept my fingers crossed and let it run for a short while - in the hope that it would settle down - but it didn't... it still wanted to rev its bits off).

Anyway... thanks for helping me get this far. I'll start another thread about the latest issue (so it's easily searchable if others have the same issue in the future).

flat · Dec 25, 2019

Either the fuel injection pump is seized inside or it’s running on its own sump oil via the turbo I would have thought.

Henry_b · Dec 25, 2019

If it was running on its own oil i'd hazard turning the key wouldn't of done jack to stop it..

Deafening-Defender · Dec 25, 2019

flat said:
Either the fuel injection pump is seized inside or it’s running on its own sump oil via the turbo I would have thought.

Thanks 'flat'.

Any simple fixes for either of those two problems?

According to the engine oil dipstick... there's a touch too much engine oil. Would that cause the 'running on its own sump oil via the turbo' issue? If so, I guess I need to drain some of the engine oil.

Starting a diesel LR for the first time in over 10 years!

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