Land Rover Td5 engine: known problems

Used in 2 guides · diesel · 7 known problems

Fuel

diesel

Timing

Chain-driven

Known problems7

Everything our guides list for the variants with this engine: the engine itself plus the gearbox and ancillaries it's paired with. Each shows which cars it's listed for.

High

Head-gasket failure from plastic locating dowels

Land Rover located the head with plastic dowels that degrade and let the head shift under thermal load, blowing the gasket - the classic and expensive Td5 failure. Even minor overheating can trigger it.

Fix: Replace gasket and fit metal dowels, pressure-test/skim the head and renew head bolts. Many sound examples have already had this done - demand records.

From 150k+ km (any after overheating) · ~$2500-5000

Listed for: Land Rover Defender 90 / 110 / 130

High

Oil contamination of the engine wiring loom / ECU

Engine oil wicks along the injector wiring by capillary action and tracks down the loom into the ECU connectors, corroding pins and causing misfires, erratic running and no-starts. Almost every Td5 needs this addressed.

Fix: Fit a modified/oil-sealed loom or repair the loom and reseal the ECU connector; clean the ECU pins. A well-known, affordable specialist job.

Any (age-related) · ~$300-1200

Listed for: Land Rover Discovery 2 L318

High

Head gasket failure from plastic head dowels (pre-2002)

Early Td5s used plastic locating dowels between block and head; they allow head movement and head gasket failure, which the Td5 does not survive well if it then overheats.

Fix: Replace head gasket using steel dowels; ensure cooling system (radiator, viscous fan, thermostat) is fresh. Confirm steel dowels fitted before buying.

From 150k+ km · ~$1500-3500

Listed for: Land Rover Discovery 2 L318

High

Engine runaway from cracked fuel rail / injector washers

Failed injector copper washers or a cracked fuel rail in the cylinder head can let fuel pool and the engine run away uncontrollably even with the ignition off - potentially destructive.

Fix: Replace injector washers/seals as a set; inspect and replace the fuel rail if cracked. Address any blue-smoke or fuelling symptoms immediately.

Any · ~$400-2000

Listed for: Land Rover Discovery 2 L318

Medium

Injector wiring-harness oil contamination

Engine oil wicks up the injector loom into the ECU connector, causing misfires, poor running and starting faults.

Fix: Fit the updated/repaired injector harness and reseal the connector; clean the ECU plug.

From 120k+ km · ~$300-800

Listed for: Land Rover Defender 90 / 110 / 130

Medium

Fuel pump / pressure regulator (FPR) and oil pump bolt

In-tank fuel pump and fuel-pressure regulator faults cause cutting out and hard starting; the oil-pump bolt is also a known failure point that can cause catastrophic damage if it backs out.

Fix: Replace FPR/pump as needed; check and Loctite/upgrade the oil-pump bolt as preventive maintenance.

From 150k+ km · ~$300-1200

Listed for: Land Rover Defender 90 / 110 / 130

Medium

Fuel pressure regulator (FPR) leak / no-start

The FPR diaphragm/seals on the fuel pump-in-tank or filter housing deteriorate, causing fuel leaks, hard starting and loss of prime.

Fix: Replace the FPR with an updated O-ring kit - cheap and a common DIY fix.

From 100k+ km · ~$150-400

Listed for: Land Rover Discovery 2 L318

Cars with the Td52

Land Rover Defender 90 / 110 / 130 (classic)

1990-2016 · 2.5L Td5 turbo diesel (5-cyl)

Caution

Land Rover Discovery 2 L318

1998-2004 · 2.5L Td5 turbo-diesel

Caution

From the FlamingCars guides for these cars. Specs are shown only where the guides agree and the value is verified.