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Noj1972

New Member

• Sep 2, 2014

• #1

Hi

Excellent forum.

My name is Jon and I have a freelander xdi T reg.

My question is, I have just got into towing a caravan so fitted a towbar onto the hippo and thought it would tow the van ok, but it really struggles. The caravan is only single axle and 1400 fully laden. The hippo is standard no mods at all and has 145000 on the clock it runs ok apart from this.

Does anybody have any ideas. I would have thought the xdi would tow a caravan that size no problem.

 

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

• Sep 2, 2014

• #2

Yeh, something's up, mine tows that sort of stuff no problem.

GrumpyGel said:

The Freelander is a great tow truck. I load the Freelander (mines a '99 L Series diesel) with 4 adults, hitch up the boat laden with plenty of camping gear and haul it all over the twisty mountain roads here in NZ - and it drives a dream - fantastic. But that's probably towing 1.25 ton.

Click to expand...

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/2843934-post34.html

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/love-my-freelander-264199.html

I have never had to delve into issues with the engine, so am hesitant to offer advice. From what I've seen go through the forum though I'd suggest there's quite a few things you can do before it starts costing you any money to fix. Things like checking all the hoses and the EGR around the air intake system. From what I read the L Series can be a 'sooty' engine and they clog up and need cleaning - or hoses can split etc. Air filter as well. My totally ignorant head also points me towards waste gate and boost pressure - but I'm totally expecting to get shot down in flames by more knowledgeable members on that one.

How is your fuel economy? You should be nudging 40 on a run. Does the engine produce much smoke?

BTW, its etiquette to drop a post in Introduce Yourself - Land Rover Zone when you sign up.

Good luck, hope you sort it easily - I'm sure you'll find the L Series Freelander's great for what you want to use it for.

 

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Noj1972

New Member

• Sep 2, 2014

• #3

Hi

Thanks for the heads up. I've introduced myself now.

Fuel economy is good and it starts ok and runs ok just doesn't tow very well. I'll check the egr valve first I reckon and maybe run some millers through the fuel system see if that does anything.

 

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

• Sep 2, 2014

• #4

Are you sure there's nothing wrong with the van? It does move OK and brakes aren't binding.

:behindsofa:

You did release the brake on the van?

 

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Noj1972

New Member

• Sep 2, 2014

• #5

Haha 😉

Na we towed the van to South Wales with our Zafrira Tourer last month and had no probs.

The access rd to a site was very rough so we took the hippo, that's when I found this problem out.

 

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Noj1972

New Member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #6

Update,

Ordered a standard air filter for now. Had a go at undoing the bolts on the EGR valve after spraying with WD40, the top ones under the cover are okay but the bottom ones have no chance of coming out. I fear they will shear off causing more hassle than it is worth.

May have to leave the EGR in place and just blank off at the top. Then blank off the small pipe to the sensor.

Has anybody else had trouble removing the bottom bolts from the EGR?

 

Winu

Active Member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #7

Remove with all unnecessary stuff and throw out as fair as you can. Clean your inlet manifold.

No problems when removing it.

 

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Noj1972

New Member

• Sep 7, 2014

• #8

Update.

I've removed the egr valve and blanked it off after fighting with the bolts. Fitted a decat pipe and a new air filter.

She certainly feels better to drive. Will update again when I've towed the van with her.

 

Kizzeh

Well-Known Member

• Sep 7, 2014

• #9

Easy stuff first, fuel filter Etc changed recently? No diesel leaks near the injectors?
Makes a good difference having a decat pipe. It won't pass an mot with one on so either keep the cat and buy a replacement de-cat pipe off eBay for £30 or take the cat off and smash the insides out.
There are a few things here and there to make them better. I have towed some weight with mine and it wasn't exactly speedy but there's are things you can do to make it better. Have you compared it to another freelander?

 

britishwardog

Active Member

• Sep 7, 2014

• #10

Sorry to hijack the thread but is there an improvement on fuel economy when blanking off the egr valve and what sort of percentage improvement have you found?