I just bought a 1998 defender 130, 300TDi with low mileage (140000km). It runs well on the open road but is sluggish when cold and it struggles to pick up revs. I had the cylinder pressure tested and three of the cylinders test at 23 to 25 bar. The fourth is at 17 bar.

I read CharlesY's ("who does diesels") comments on the booster pressure of a 300TDi. He seems to know what he's talking about, could he or someone who knows these engines tell me if my TDi's cylinder pressure is OK or whether the engine requires some attention.

Fuel consumption is around 9 to 10km/l when doin 110km/h, if that is an indicater for something?

GC

an exact figure can depend on how youve done test,and preferably tappets set prior, state of starter motor wiring etc,usualy done dry then wet,oil when added seals rings to bore if compression incresases poor rings,the fact that 3 are around 338 psi and one is 250 is more telling,if all valves operating properly (valve stem caps wear ) remove head ,check gasket around fire ring it should leave clean seaing mark around bores and head discolouration means its blowing there ,bore wear should be measured felt on passenger side about 1cm down from top (the highest part rings sweep ) if you could see wear it would be like a tirangle on passenger side tapering towards bottom