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Our 2008 LR3 2.7L TDV6 SE's engine is stuffed. The main bearings got damaged due to, it seems, oil starvation. The vehichle has done approximately 140,000kms. The car was serviced as required by Land Rover or accredited LR Service Centres. Getting it fixed is extremely expensive, apparently Land Rover follows a black box approach - if it is broken they replace it. Thus, Land Rover can replace the broken engine with either a reconditioned or new unit at a COST! LR is not very willing to open the engine to determine what’s wrong!
A friend and I decided to open the engine ourselves to determine the damage. By removing the ladder frame carefully from underneath the engine we stripped of all the big end bearings and found signs of excessive heat on the top halves of three of the bearings. Some of the bottom big end bearings were slightly pitted. (due to dirt in the oil?????).
So, the condition of the big end bearings did not account for the initial heavy knock we experienced when the engine broke or the small metal pieces found in the sump thereafter.
However, the No.4 main bearing was damaged badly and one of the thrust washers is completely demolished and was found in pieces in the sump.
We suspect that the oil pump partially failed causing the damage and we will have it checked out. If the pump is ok I guess it could have been caused by either a blocked or leaking oil channel.
I am willing to recondition the engine myself with the help of very knowledgeable friends. In getting this done some challenges we found are:
1. We can’t get big end and main bearings from Land Rover or any other supplier in South Africa.
2. We have to remove the engine block and crankshaft to have it checked out for possible damage caused by the damaged main bearing and thrust washer. To get this done it seems we have to lift the body from the chassis.
So, I have to pose these questions:
1. Any idea where I can source main bearings and big end bearings from?
2. The Land Rover workshop manual explains how to disconnect the body from the chassis but how do one lift it? Are special chassis mounting brackets needed to lift it and where are the lifting points located on the body itself? I have the facilities to do the job but do I need a special lifting frame for the body?
I will appreciate any advice and tips.
Kind regards.
Marthinus.
to lift the body off the frame you dont need any special frame
2 poster lift will do the job
just lift it by the sills
lack of availability of the bearings is not only problem in your area
land rover doesnt supply them at all
the dealer can only supply the short block
(check the price might not be that bad at the end of the day)
Discover 3 2.7L TDV6 Engine reconditioning
