Stupid question?

Hi, this may be a stupid question so if it is please put me out of my misery

With Disco 2's there are lots of known issues with them, for example oil leaks to challenge the Exon Valdez. I've read this was in part (or possibly mainly) due to the poor quality of the original components. So, as of new, there were issues - I get that. But surely after 10+ years, and many services and maintenance, any dodgy parts would now have been replaced with better kit?

I'm thinking mostly about vehicles with FSH and well looked after. Surely these cars Discos will be less of an issue than they would have been in their first few years once the original parts started to show signs of wear?

Same I guess would go for other marques like LCs, Shogun etc, or am I being just too simplistic?

See, told you it was a stupid question ...

Quite a logical question I'd say, but it's one that folk have been asking since 1948 when the Land Rover was first introduced. That said, the problem isn't just confined to four wheels. British bikes were equally renowned for dropping oil, it just was regarded as one of their endearing characteristics.

Strange how our engineers have managed to conquer the world, yet never have they managed to manufacture a decent oil seal???

Surly it is about recycling, letting the used oil go back where it came from.

Quite, plus a Land Rover chassis that's had the special 'oil-leak treatment' will remain in far better condition than any Japanese equivalent. There's method in their madness.

I had a bumper sticker in Zimbabwe that said: Landrovers don't leak, they just mark their territory!

But yes, a dry drivetrain on a Land rover is a sign that you gearbox and transfer case are out of oil.

Tembo wrote:

I had a bumper sticker in Zimbabwe that said: Landrovers don't leak, they just mark their territory!

But yes, a dry drivetrain on a Land rover is a sign that you gearbox and transfer case are out of oil.

There is too much car choice Maybe I should just put a tent on my Kia and see how far I get in Morocco

[quote="SafariDude"]

Tembo wrote:

There is too much car choice Maybe I should just put a tent on my Kia and see how far I get in Morocco

Best stick to a Land Rover/Landcruiser I'd suggest, can't see a roof tent on your Kia working too well.

I don't think D2's are any worse than any other product for leaking oil as I have two in my possession at the moment and they both have less oil leaks than any other Land Rover vehicle I have owned.

I've had my D2 for about 6 weeks now and it doesent seem to be leaking oil but it's got a very annoying coolant leak.
The top hose was seeping at the bleed screw so changed that then found water leaking from the back of the water pump fixed that then on my way back from France last week a small hose split on the motorway thanks to the AA for sorting that.

I took it for a spin at the weekend down to Portsmouth for the day came back to find a small puddle underneath (I've adopted the Land Rover owners habit of looking underneath before getting in it) topped it up with about half a pint and have used it every day since and touchwood the level looks to be ok.
Just need to get it sorted over the summer as the last thing I need when going to Spain and Morocco is a temperature problem

Yep, very annoying. Worst hose to get to change is the bottom heater hose back of the engine that leads into the heater matrix. Grrrrr!!!!!

What, no oil leaks? Better start loosening off a few bolts or you're never going to be able to join a Land Rover club, oils leaks are a prerequisite to gaining membership!

Well our 130 camper has had all the oil's changed, and no oil leaks yet.

[quote="Tom Mc"]

SafariDude wrote:

Tembo wrote:

There is too much car choice Maybe I should just put a tent on my Kia and see how far I get in Morocco

Best stick to a Land Rover/Landcruiser I'd suggest, can't see a roof tent on your Kia working too well.

Harsh Tom ... I'll have you know I have the Sportage .... or how everyone seems to pronounce it 'sportaarge'

I know where fuel goes ... looks like I'm going to have to learn where oil goes too What do you mean, there's more than one type of oil

Does your Kia look anything like these two at the head of the column?

Wow, nice photo of me there (I'm in the yellow car.... honest). Can you see me waving at the camera

Those lads were from Thailand. Didn't have two halfpennies to rub together and their vehicles were really rough 'n' ready, but there they were competing in the biggest and most prestigious winch challenge event in the world - the International Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia - so fair play to them.

... and yes, their Kias somehow held together enough to make the finish line.

Hate to say it but my Shogun's engine oil stays in the engine, its gearbox ATF and transfer case oil in the respective boxes, the diff oils in their diffs, and the coolant in the engine and front and rear heaters, but I have a bad back and stiff neck from not constantly exercising them by continually looking under my vehicle.

On a serious note:

Many of these problems can be overcome and often with aftermarket components, apply a little Blue Hermatite or thread tape to the threads of threaded items, apply a little Blue Hermatite to gaskets and clean gasket faces, and a little Tretite to any pipes and pipe connections and you will cure most fluid leaks; you can use aftermarket gaskets which by sticking to quality brands will actually be better quality then LR original gaskets.

In reality its a case of working through things a bit at a time and doing these simple mods as you progress.

Hi Assassin

Years ago in a time forgotten,
left school and got a job as a coalman, we had an old Thames Trader witch had a warped head, every week my job was to change head casket, never did a lot of good, but always used grease on head and block, never had any water leaked.
We just started in the morning and left it running all day topping up with water every 20 minutes, went on for months.

So have always used grease sealing water pumps and gaskets.

Tom Mc wrote:

Those lads were from Thailand. Didn't have two halfpennies to rub together and their vehicles were really rough 'n' ready, but there they were competing in the biggest and most prestigious winch challenge event in the world - the International Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia - so fair play to them.

... and yes, their Kias somehow held together enough to make the finish line.

So the question should be ....

Land Rover vs Toyota LC vs Kia Sportage ....

which one is the perfect overlanding vehicle

No such thing as the "perfect overlanding vehicle". However, I definitely know the one that's least "perfect" out of those three, without a shadow of doubt that's the Kia!

And there are two types of oil, engine oil and cooking oil.

What about that oil Essex lasses baste themselves in to turn a nice shade of Tango? Or is that cooking oil too?

Obviously cooking oil as they have a surplus because they live on take-away.

Now now fellas. Av a butchers at where I'm from. If my missus was to read this

Just a thought, have you checked your shopping bill???