Over the last few months my 01 disco td5 GS started to sound rough
especially on acceleration, gear changes are sporadic and jerky also the
mpg figures are becoming worringly low, the recent 48000 service did nothing to alleviate the problems. If anyone can shed any light on what is going on I would be grateful.

Is the fuel pump in the back noisy?

You should JUST hear it start whining if you stick your head out the window and put the IGN on without starting the engine.

If it is NOISY .... two likely causes

Fuel filter choked to buggery. It is fitted at the back left wheel. No kidding.
This can cause the pump to make very nasty noises

or

Air (or gas) in the fuel system

Put the IGN on, and wait for the fuel pump to stop. Couple of minutes.
Deck the throttle and let it right up FIVE TIMES, and the pump will restart. If you do this a few times (leave the IGN ON all the time) you MAY notice less noise as it clears the air. TD5 takes ages to purge air.

If it still gasses up, suspect failure of a copper washer under an injector.
These cost a few pennies each and a few hindred to fit. I did mine at 30k miles still in warranty. No LandRover ape was going to bugger my engine.

If the filter doesn't look like it was changed, change it.

CharlesY

When turning the ignition one click, I can hear my feul pump priming when sat in the car with the window closed.. and the filter was only changed a few months back... worried now!

I'm wondering if there is air in the system, whether it will purge itself after a few weeks.. Maybe the guy who serviced it didn't purge the system?

OK.

Practice decking the GO pedal after the pump stops so you know how to start the purge routine.

Anyway, normally you will hear the pump a steady whine. It should be an entirely smooth noise - no variations or sloshing or squealing at all.

Mine got very noisy two weeks ago with fuel filter only a couple of months old. New Paddock filter silenced it on the spot.

There is NO satisfactory air purging facility in the TD5 fuel set-up.
You just have to keep making the pump run and run until eventually the air clears. All TD5 owners on the forum should practice the routine - after all, it's what the dealers will charge you a couple of hundred for doing.

DIY is a lot better.

Change that filter OFTEN.

CharlesY

Thanks for the reply , there was a noticable differance after I took your advice, cheers.

Good stuff. Wonderful forum this. It was Eightinavee who saved me from despair and the evil clutches of the main dealers here - thieves all.

Get on to Paddocks, order two fuel filters, two oil filters, and on centrifugal filter, and a set of brake pads.

Tooled up with these, most any local handy garage will get you running again cheap.

I carry a fuel filter in the car all the time now. (and several more in a cupboard)

CharlesY