L

Landylauren7

New Member
Help!!!!
I am unsure if I have posted this on the right thing...this is my first time using this!
I have a 51 plate Freelander TD4.
A week ago she started blowing smoke.
I took her to a local garage who advised me there were holes in my exhaust so they replaced a section.
I drove it away quite happily blissfully unaware of what was about to happen!
Next day...more smoke and oil light comes on so I checked my oil and sure enough it’s low, very low!!! I head to the lovely guys at Autosave in Exmouth and they pop some oil in for me .
I head to Tesco for fuel and on my return to the forecourt from paying I find this (see photos).
The Ltr of oil that had just been put in was all over the forecourt and coming out the grill of the car.
1DDF8055-9EC7-43C1-A639-8F194D96063B.jpeg

06BF4C35-3408-4918-9463-4FADB5532A83.jpeg

RAC came out, said he thinks it’s the Intercooler but not 100%.
I get her recovered to another garage who tell me that it could be the intercooler however it could be the Turbo and in not so many words I should scrap her as it will cost too much to repair her .
Now I’m no mechanic, infact I hardly know anything about anything but I’ve done a bit of research and I see that the tubes / pipes (unsure of the technical term) are prone to rubbing and eventually tearing and I would be devestated if I scrapped her thinking I needed to spend £800 when it was only a ripped rubber tube / pipe!!!
Can anyone advise me on what to do?
Is there anyway I can find out what is wrong with her? Or does anyone know a mechanic / garage in Devon (preferably near where I live in Exmouth as obviously I can’t drive far) that knows about Freelanders? It seems that every garage I go to doesn’t reeeally know much about these wonderful vehicles!!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance,
Lauren
 
Have you checked the oil cooler pipe on the back of the radiator.
I think you would have noticed if the turbo had blown.
 
A few pics of the engine bay would help - it’s almost like expecting a doctor to decide where you’re bleeding from from a photo of some blood on the carpet!

Could be a blocked crankcase breather filter (very cheap) resulting in oil blowing out the dipstick tube.
 
when was it last serviced? as above looks like PCV filter blocked, and spurting oil out of the dipstick, unless if you have had it serviced they have put the oil seal in the wrong place on the oil filter ?
 
I'm no expert - but

1) I don't see how replacing a part of the exhaust would stop the engine smoking.

2) an intercooler should not have oil in it - it is just like a radiator but with hot exhaust gas flowing through the 'pipes' rather than liquid. It may have an oil residue in it over time, but if it is spewing oil like that it has come from the turbo. I would not be so sure that it is coming from the turbo/intercooler though.

Take the guys' advice above - especially relating to the crankcase/PVC filter
.
 
@Landylauren7
Looks like you are a victim of a common problem as said above.
The oil is almost definitely coming up the dip stick tube. This is due the the breather being blocked. They should be changed ever oil change, but never are. The parts needed are a few £ and should take a competent mechanic no more than 30 minutes to fit. If you were more local to me, I'd come round and do it.

You shouldn't get a bill of more than £60 or so from a local garage.

The TD4 needs a proper service every 9,000 miles or yearly, so avoid such things happening in future. ;)
 
Last edited:
On the early models like mine there is a pipe with fins at the back of the rad.
You can see it when you open the bonnet.
 
It may be for the power steering or even a fuel cooler.
I know there an oil and water heat exchanger on the filter housing.
 
Thank you sooooooo much everyone for your advice!!!
I get her serviced every December when the MOT is due...i probably do about 6k miles a year...but I’m always worried that she is not in the right hands (non Landy hands).
Here are some photos of the engine @guineafowl21 not great photos...sorry!
118788F6-F2FD-4FDA-A27D-6FD2F2416D74.jpeg
45197B39-5981-4B4C-B31B-6D54322515B0.jpeg
18A827E3-035D-419F-9B3C-5C76BEE38178.jpeg
932C6A6D-F747-4E9E-A462-F411A556F829.jpeg

So yesterday (before I posted my original message on here) me and my Mum were looking in the engine bay, scratching our heads and we both commented on the oily dipstick as it was covered in oil...like the oil had bubbled up and over the dipstick.
So i think it’s looking like the blocked crankcase breather filter could be the problem. I phoned my local garage (not the one that shafted me for a new section of exhaust) and explained the situation. They ordered the part and I’m taking it down at 10am tomorrow morning!! @Nodge68 thank you so much, I wish I was closer to someone who knows about Freelanders. Whenever i have a problem and I take her somewhere everyone always tells me what a nightmare these cars are and I should get something else...boooooring !!! I love them ❤️ Ahhhh I’m so excited to think that my big girl could be saved, and to think I was going to scrap her I feel guilty!!!!!! Everyone keep their fingers crossed for me I’ll update you all tomorrow
P.s should I get the mechanic to check anything else??
Thank yoooooou x
 
I could have checked mine if it wasn't in my mates garage awaiting new brake drums.
MOT fail on handbrake efficiency.
Yes I know I could do that myself,but I am getting to that age when I would rather pay him to put in on his ramp
than mess about in the wind and rain.

As for the OP wherever she is,when I got mine it had had a replacement turbo fitted.
I gave it a service and changed all the oils etc.
When I came to change the crankcase breather I found it all crunched up and blocked.
So they had changed the turbo and not even looked for the cause.
It's still been a good vehicle and is still on its original vcu at 160,000miles
 
Landylauren7 said:
I wish I was closer to someone who knows about Freelanders
Click to expand...

We’re all right here. Just remember - pictures!

Landylauren7 said:
and to think I was going to scrap her I feel guilty!!!!!!
Click to expand...

If you’re not good with cars, lots of problems look like disaster and a trip to the scrap yard. There have been many faults far worse than yours advised and fixed on here. I’m sure it doesn’t help that a garage fixes excessive smoke by renewing the exhaust. Find a decent garage, or at least post any problems on here first so we can advise what to ask and what to expect.

I’d be considering a good service, since your car obviously hasn’t been looked after by someone in the know. Also, perhaps a clean-up of that oil with Gunk or similar - the contamination of belts, hoses and electrical connections (esp. alternator) might cause trouble in the future.
 
Landylauren7 said:
Thank you sooooooo much everyone for your advice!!!
I get her serviced every December when the MOT is due...i probably do about 6k miles a year...but I’m always worried that she is not in the right hands (non Landy hands).
Here are some photos of the engine @guineafowl21 not great photos...sorry!
View attachment 133343View attachment 133344 View attachment 133345View attachment 133346
So yesterday (before I posted my original message on here) me and my Mum were looking in the engine bay, scratching our heads and we both commented on the oily dipstick as it was covered in oil...like the oil had bubbled up and over the dipstick.
So i think it’s looking like the blocked crankcase breather filter could be the problem. I phoned my local garage (not the one that shafted me for a new section of exhaust) and explained the situation. They ordered the part and I’m taking it down at 10am tomorrow morning!! @Nodge68 thank you so much, I wish I was closer to someone who knows about Freelanders. Whenever i have a problem and I take her somewhere everyone always tells me what a nightmare these cars are and I should get something else...boooooring !!! I love them ❤️ Ahhhh I’m so excited to think that my big girl could be saved, and to think I was going to scrap her I feel guilty!!!!!! Everyone keep their fingers crossed for me I’ll update you all tomorrow
P.s should I get the mechanic to check anything else??
Thank yoooooou x
Click to expand...

Let us know what part was ordered and fitted. Some pictures of the old one would be helpful too, if you can get them.
 
Hi everyone!!!
I am pleased to say I got my car back last night.
The Mechanic has replaced the crankcase breather filter. He said it was really old and clogged up, here’s a picture @Nodge68
C324916A-0C09-40F5-B88E-DAFC042C63A0.jpeg
EA53D429-C3AF-485D-8A37-4EFCD5ABFEF5.jpeg

Can’t believe that little filter was causing all that trouble!!!
I can’t thank you guys enough for all your help ❤️ I would not have know where to start without all your advice. I must admit it felt pretty good going into a garage with a problem and telling the mechanic what to look for .
I’m going to take her for a drive in a minute as I thought I saw a bit of smoke blowing out the back again last night. I’ve found a Landrover specialist in Plymouth called Brockwells so I’ll be taking your advice @guineafowl21 and I’ll be booking her in for a full service within the next week or so
X
 
Landylauren7 said:
Hi everyone!!!
I am pleased to say I got my car back last night.
The Mechanic has replaced the crankcase breather filter. He said it was really old and clogged up, here’s a picture @Nodge68
View attachment 133393 View attachment 133395
Can’t believe that little filter was causing all that trouble!!!
I can’t thank you guys enough for all your help ❤️ I would not have know where to start without all your advice. I must admit it felt pretty good going into a garage with a problem and telling the mechanic what to look for .
I’m going to take her for a drive in a minute as I thought I saw a bit of smoke blowing out the back again last night. I’ve found a Landrover specialist in Plymouth called Brockwells so I’ll be taking your advice @guineafowl21 and I’ll be booking her in for a full service within the next week or so
X
Click to expand...

Hopefully it's now sorted, although I've seen worse crankcase filters.
If the oil from the dip stick has now stopped, then that's problem solved. The smoke from the back should clear in time, as long as the filter was the cause.

Has the whole assembly been replaced?
 
GrumpyGel said:
I'm no expert - but

1) I don't see how replacing a part of the exhaust would stop the engine smoking.

2) an intercooler should not have oil in it - it is just like a radiator but with hot exhaust gas flowing through the 'pipes' rather than liquid. It may have an oil residue in it over time, but if it is spewing oil like that it has come from the turbo. I would not be so sure that it is coming from the turbo/intercooler though.

Take the guys' advice above - especially relating to the crankcase/PVC filter
.
Click to expand...
think you might be want to have another look at quote 2 grumpy gel
 
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