How long did your VCU last before failure?

  • Up to 70000 miles

    Votes: 12 19.7%
  • up to 90000 miles

    Votes: 9 14.8%
  • up to 110000 miles

    Votes: 10 16.4%
  • up to 130000 miles

    Votes: 10 16.4%
  • still going strong over 130000 miles

    Votes: 20 32.8%

  • Total voters
    61
Went on a 140 mile trip today. Took loads of measurements at different intervals. These are the results of my trip. 2001 v6 with new Pirelli Scorpion STR 215R65/16 98H tyres. Short story is:

120 miles at 60mph + 20miles mixed speed of 30/40/50mph (some at beginning, middle and end of trip).

8 = ambient temp
10 = average road temp
22 = max rear tyre temp
23 = max front tyre temp
41 = max vcu temp (measured circumference side of vcu) (7.8 at start)
46 = max rear diff temp (measured underside outer case) (7.8 at start)
75 = max ird temp (measured ird filler plug)

All values in degrees. I got 28mpg.

Just look how hot the diff gets, it's taking some serious load to run 45°above ambient!!
Mine was 38 degrees from results above. Not much difference in temp change from ambiant to finish temp. Is that rate of change considered too much?
 
Still haven't done the torque / turnip test (although turnip test was done by touch :D ) - once it gets warmer i'll do those and post results.

As stated, i'm at over 130k miles and still on original VCU - it can reverse at full lock with no problems (it slows a little but nothing major and doesn't seem to strain the engine).

However i've noticed that in car parks with wet or slipper floors and no snow, when turning forwards at full lock, the inside will will sometimes skip a little - is that normal? Or a sign of a duff VCU?

Anybody? :)
 
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Mine was 38 degrees from results above. Not much difference in temp change from ambiant to finish temp. Is that rate of change considered too much?

There will be slight differences from one Freelander to the next. But as a rule the more torque the rear diff takes the hotter it will get for the same journey. This would also give an indication that the VCU is stiffening up.

I notice lots of peeps complaining about the VCU failing and how rubbish the Freelander is. This VCU fault is'nt confined to LR as it's a common point of failure on the Subaru Impreza too. As well as many other viscous drive cars. Generally it costs more to fix those too, as Freelander owners we have a lot of good suppliers able to sell what we need at sensible prices :)
 
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it only gets hot if it's slipping, this generates the heat.

if it's locked it will be cooler

I think yu mean "if it's siezed it will be cooler"

It works by slipping, increasing temp to about 100C and then locking up; cooling down and unlocking.
a siezed VCU shouldnt be above ambient.
a Mondo mode VCU will be a "standard " temp depending on slippage? (be interesting to find out?).
A "normal" VCU temp will vary depending on how hard it is being used.

I am not sure that this is a valid test. May be on a "standard" road, driven under the same conditions and the same ambient, but how often does that take place?
 
This is either completely bonkers or I'm being totally naive


Why the fook dont they make a VCU that you can renew the fluid in it at say every 30,000 miles???

Wouldn't that solve the problem??
 

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