What's the difference between 200TDi & 300TDi

[FrankS]

Can someone tell me the different specs. between the 200 & 300 TDi's HP/Kw, Torque, which is better, etc. Regards Frank.

[Geobloke]

Originally Posted by FrankS

Can someone tell me the different specs. between the 200 & 300 TDi's HP/Kw, Torque, which is better, etc. Regards Frank.

300s are a little more refined, a little more HP, slightly more tuneable. Later 300s have electronictrickery, most don't.

Both are very reliable strong engines and can be DIY maintained with ease. Also have the same MPG too.

I have a 200 and love it for its simplicity, it is on 136k miles and still going strong.

The key is to service them regularly, but thats the same for any engine!

Anything else you want to know?

[FrankS]

Originally Posted by Geobloke

300s are a little more refined, a little more HP, slightly more tuneable. Later 300s have electronictrickery, most don't.

Both are very reliable strong engines and can be DIY maintained with ease. Also have the same MPG too.

I have a 200 and love it for its simplicity, it is on 136k miles and still going strong.

The key is to service them regularly, but thats the same for any engine!

Anything else you want to know?

Thanks for that, how do they compare power-wise on the road to a TD5 and the V8's (not economy-wise), are they slugs or do they hold their own, I have owned Toyota diesels and they were woeful on the highway, overtaking was a life threatening event, Regards Frank.

[Geobloke]

Originally Posted by FrankS

Thanks for that, how do they compare power-wise on the road to a TD5 and the V8's (not economy-wise), are they slugs or do they hold their own, I have owned Toyota diesels and they were woeful on the highway, overtaking was a life threatening event, Regards Frank.

TD5s are excellent on the highway, geared for cruising, you should be able to get over a ton on a standard engine. THey are very tweakable too, a simple plugin to the ECU box and you'll get excellent power and torque.

V8s have the bonus of instant power, poke the gas pedal and off you go, diesels need to get the turbo wound up before they take off. But if you tweak the pump, boost and a bigger intercooler you can get a heck of a change out of a diesel, even a 200 lump.

As I said I have a standard 200tdi lump with 136k miles on the clock and I can quite happily get 85mph out of it. I have friends who get 90 odd and if you put an overdrive in you can more. The only problem is steep hills and the weight of the vehicle, on a long steep hill a 200 will sit at 55-60mph all the way up pretty much, With a trailer maybe 10mph less. Tweak it and it'll fly up hills no worries.

My mums TD5 110 crewcab is standard too and in the right hands will quite happily pull away from cars at traffic lights and it'll cruise at 70mph all day long, even with a trailer on the back.

What the diesels lack in instant power (as with the V8) they more than make up for in low down torque, which is excellent if your in to a bit of rock crawling or offroading because at tickover you can crawl up most things without having to touch the gas pedal. Same on the way down too, engine breaking in a diesel is excellent.

MAy I ask what you are wanting to do with it? towing offroading ... ect.

[FrankS]

Thanks for all that info, I have a '93 Disco with a 2003 4L with the 3.5 inlet manifold and plenum and air flow meter, it has a stage 1 (mild cam) cam and Holden Clubsports Quad squirter injectors, it has a snorkel and extractors and a 2 1/2" free flowing exhaust (sounds great). It has the ZF 4 sp Auto with 4.11 diffs and ARB lockers both ends and ARB Compressor, Maxi-Drive axles and flanges, defender 110 front CV's and swivel housings, 31x10.5x15 BFG Mud Terrains, Guards cut out for 35"'s, flares, 2' lift OME springs, Bilstein Shocks and steering damper, diff centre guards, AVM front bash plates, ARB winch bar with 12,000lb winch, ARB side steps/Rock sliders and ARB rear bar, 135 litre fuel tank and dual batteries. Whew.
Goes great on the road and unstoppable off the road, But it costs me $190.00 AUD to fill it up and I average around 18 to 20L/100klms and as I plan to drive around Australia for the next few years I was looking at a Diesel transplant as I would be towing a loaded Van about 750Kgs, I am concerned that a diesel would not have the balls to do the job, but fuel usage is a big consideration. Most people I have spoken to have said sell the current Disco and buy a diesel version, much easier than transplanting, but as you can see this disco has got everything I want, there is about $12K (not including the engine @ $4k) in extras in this wagon and I dont want to have to start over again or transfer all the goodies to a diesel Disco, that's where it is at the moment, any comments would be welcome, Regards Frank.

[300bhp/ton]

A TDI conversion should be pretty easy as there's no ECU to worry about.

A 200Tdi is a very different engine to a 300tdi and most parts are not transferable. Having said that, they both perform very similar.

I think the aim of the 300tdi was to be more refined, but to be honest I can't tell any difference. I've owned both and been in loads of LR's with both engines.

Both make very similar HP/tq from the factory although the slight favour of the 300tdi.

MPG is more open ended, however I would say my 200tdi is more economical in a bigger heavier vehicle than my 300tdi was.

I had the fuel pump tweaked on the 300tdi, in a stripped 90 Defended 5 speed. Driving hard I got 21-23mpg (imperial not US gallons that is).

My 200tdi also had the pump tweaked but I honestly beleive it was more like 24-27mpg. But the driving style and conditions where better in an economy sense. For comparison a 3.5 V8 Range Rover would probably do about 12-15mpg under the same conditions.

Power wise, you'll want a BIG, sorry did I say BIG intercooler and mess with the fuel pump. 200tdi's also require the turbo boost upping as they run lower than 300tdi's. You can go further with bigger water cooled turbo's but it gets far too pricey for the gain IMO.

160bhp is about the max, but it will be 220lb ft plus. Not staggering numbers however it will drive better than the numbers sound. This is because it makes all this power from low revs, like PEAK torque under 2000rpm and will hold the power well until the red line. A cammed V8 will have to use more revs to achevie the same power.

In a drag race your modified 4.0 V8 will be quicker, but on the road I think you'd be impressed with a modified tdi.

300 tdi's are generally easier to find, because 200's where only made for a short while. So parts/spares might be a consideration.

The TD5 appears to be a great engine. In stock trim it's not that much more powerful. Especially the ones in the Defenders (de-tuned by ECU compared to Discovery 2 TD5's). However they are all electrical and swapping one over would be a massive undertaking. Stock Discovery TD5's have ~134bhp but modified ones get upto around 193bhp with a chip and intercooler.

BTW - stock Tdi's are pretty sluggish, espcially most 200tdi's. If it doesn't blow out black smoke then it isn't going to move very fast.

[Geobloke]

You can pick up a decent 200 or 300tdi engine over here in the UK for a grand or so, disco ones are cheaper and more powerful than defender ones. Think you'll either need a conversion plate to stick your autobox on or you'll need a manual box as well. But am not 100% sure on that.

If your going to be travelling round Oz for a while I'd choose a diesel too, if not for the fuel consumption then for the underwater ability that comes with it, just 1 less thing to worry about.

Are you in the US or in OZ now?

If I was in your situation i'd do the engine change too rather then swapping the equipment over. Oh FYI a defender TDI will NOT fit in to a disco!

[Geobloke]

As 300bhp/ton says a 300 would be the one to go for given the choice. It is also obvious that he knows his figures and engines when it comes to tweaking, which if your going to be carrying alot of gear is worth knowing and doing.

Plus he has a TR7 too so he must be a good bloke!

[Badger1]

Originally Posted by Geobloke

You can pick up a decent 200 or 300tdi engine over here in the UK for a grand or so, disco ones are cheaper and more powerful than defender ones. Think you'll either need a conversion plate to stick your autobox on or you'll need a manual box as well. But am not 100% sure on that.

If your going to be travelling round Oz for a while I'd choose a diesel too, if not for the fuel consumption then for the underwater ability that comes with it, just 1 less thing to worry about.

Are you in the US or in OZ now?

If I was in your situation i'd do the engine change too rather then swapping the equipment over. Oh FYI a defender TDI will NOT fit in to a disco!

I wonder what shipping would be to the U.S.? Seriously!

Do you actually know of a place to buy a 300tdi for that price? A complete engine? Figuring roughly double the figure above of 1000 as that is pounds and our dollar is pretty weak against the pound. Better gas mileage and not haveing to worry so much offroad about the electronics... that might be worth it! I am lucky because Kentucky has no emissions laws anymore or vehicle inspection, next to the offroading, that is about the only thing I like here!

[Geobloke]

Originally Posted by Badger1

I wonder what shipping would be to the U.S.? Seriously!

Do you actually know of a place to buy a 300tdi for that price? A complete engine? Figuring roughly double the figure above of 1000 as that is pounds and our dollar is pretty weak against the pound. Better gas mileage and not haveing to worry so much offroad about the electronics... that might be worth it! I am lucky because Kentucky has no emissions laws anymore or vehicle inspection, next to the offroading, that is about the only thing I like here!

Aye they are up on ebay all the time, plus over here it is pretty easy to find a scrap yard with half a dozen discos in it. Shipping I have no idea about, but if you were to pallet it up and send it by sea it couldn't be too much. Not sure what customs would say tho at your end!

[Badger1]

Originally Posted by Geobloke

Aye they are up on ebay all the time, plus over here it is pretty easy to find a scrap yard with half a dozen discos in it. Shipping I have no idea about, but if you were to pallet it up and send it by sea it couldn't be too much. Not sure what customs would say tho at your end!

I am going to look into it. It will hopefully be awhile before I need a motor unless I have a few more trips offroad like my last one! Do U.K. scrap yards have there inventory online like most places over here do now?

[Geobloke]

Originally Posted by Badger1

I am going to look into it. It will hopefully be awhile before I need a motor unless I have a few more trips offroad like my last one! Do U.K. scrap yards have there inventory online like most places over here do now?

Some do some don't! if you search for scrap yards in the UK google you should find them. Check out ebay too cos you can find some stonking engines on there for not much money. Disco engines sometimes go for less than 500 quid, so bargains are there to be had!

[300bhp/ton]

Shipping willbe the biggest bugger about getting a TDi to the US. As well as the strong pound compared to the US dollar (about 1.8).

I bought a very nice 200Tdi off of Ebay.co.uk a while back. £475 was only missing starter and alternator (which I already had).

I REALLY love V8's but in a Land Rover I'd have nothing but diesel, they just work so much better off road and almost as good on road but with way better fuel economy.

My first car was a 1994 300tdi Defender 90, it would go places and out power any Rover 3.5 V8 I'v seen so far off road and probably even the EFI 3.9's as well.


DIESEL POWER

[FrankS]

Originally Posted by Geobloke

You can pick up a decent 200 or 300tdi engine over here in the UK for a grand or so, disco ones are cheaper and more powerful than defender ones. Think you'll either need a conversion plate to stick your autobox on or you'll need a manual box as well. But am not 100% sure on that.

If your going to be travelling round Oz for a while I'd choose a diesel too, if not for the fuel consumption then for the underwater ability that comes with it, just 1 less thing to worry about.

Are you in the US or in OZ now?

If I was in your situation i'd do the engine change too rather then swapping the equipment over. Oh FYI a defender TDI will NOT fit in to a disco!

Thanks, that's what I like about this Forum, there's always some good blokes willing to help with good information.
I'm in Australia, in the middle of a bitterly cold Winter, you know it dropped down to 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Farenheit) last night, LOL.
One more question, how do you tell apart the physical difference between the 200 and the 300 from a wrecker, is there anything that distinguishes one from the other, also in the vehicle or does it depend on the build date, once again thanks to all for their invaluable help on this subject, Regards Frank.

[Geobloke]

Originally Posted by FrankS

Thanks, that's what I like about this Forum, there's always some good blokes willing to help with good information.
I'm in Australia, in the middle of a bitterly cold Winter, you know it dropped down to 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Farenheit) last night, LOL.
One more question, how do you tell apart the physical difference between the 200 and the 300 from a wrecker, is there anything that distinguishes one from the other, also in the vehicle or does it depend on the build date, once again thanks to all for their invaluable help on this subject, Regards Frank.

Easiest way is that 200tdis have v-belts and pulleys and 300tdis have a serpentine belt round the alternator, ect.