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Cooking The Coolant Temp Sensor

8K views 71 replies 11 participants last post by  reverendALC 
#1 ·
I've been trying to find someone that can tweak the ECU to make the temperature read 10 degrees higher than it actually is in order to save gas. Nobody can do it. They can "chip" the engine but not the gas.

I got an idea. I am going to remove the coolant temp sensor behind the alternator and bake it in the oven at 500 degrees to see if it throws it off when I reinstall it. If the coolant temp sensor reads higher (and not lower) it should tell the ECU to stop injecting gas at a lower temperature.

I will report back what happens.
 
#49 ·
Halogen Halon whatever same thing. LEADED gas was used for decades with great results on engines. The only reason it was banned is because it has lead in it. Otherwise it works great.
 
#50 ·
The TD5 is a V5 2.5 liter engine....

The Rover is a V8 4.0 - 4.6 liter engine ..

What am I missing here ? Who sells a brand new TD5 engine ?
 
#55 ·
Yea If only .. Except it's missing 3 cylinders and doesn't growl. So what's the point? The thing sounds like a broken lawn mower. It makes a weird sucking in metal noise.
 
#56 ·
Most of us who have modded land rovers like to drive them off road. It’s actually pretty much the only reason to have a modded Land Rover unless you’re just posing.

if you like extreme off road exploration, you would probably appreciate the power delivery of a diesel engine. The fuel economy is a plus too.

If you’re all about looking and sounding cool, I guess the petrol v8 would be ideal.
 
#57 ·
Does anyone in Las Vegas or Los Angeles have one of these TD5 storms I can try out? Who sells brand new TD5 storms ?
 
#58 ·
I doubt you can find bran new Td5 as it's not built anymore
 
#59 ·
I found this remanufactured:

TD5


The price is not high. Your saying this is superior to the V8 with more power, less repair, higher MPG, and is an easy direct fit replacement? I could get this engine + shipping + installation for around 10 grand or less? Is it an easy installation? Direct fit engine like any other Rover engine?

What kind of mileage can I expect from this engine before it craps out ?
 
#60 ·
I doubt that you'll find a real specialist for such transplant there, it's not so easy as it appears, beside the engine the whole harness and ECU is needed ... for that kind of money you shoud be able to import a running vehicle... a well serviced Td5 can run up to 400K miles without overhaul, even more.
 
#62 ·
I'm assuming it's NHSTA - EPA DOT certified U.S. compliant or exempt. Otherwise it would require manufacturing in an FTZ or CBP bonded facility. The cost in red tape, paperwork, storage, and repair usually greatly exceeds the value of the vehicle.

I don't understand why Turner doesn't just sell everything needed for the block as a kit. It sounds like your saying someone would have to buy a bunch of other parts with the block and hope the person installing stateside knows they are they doing.
 
#61 ·
Those turner guys are REAL jerkoffs. At least, my experience with them was terrible.

zombiemotors in OR will sell you a rebuilt Tdi swap
 
#66 · (Edited)
Wrong. There is not 1 single item on my vehicle that is illegal. I did extensive research to ensure it's all 100% technically legal. The only exception is the police laser jammers. They are illegal in 9 states including CA. Good luck to CHP on catching me. I've jammed them on the highway and in Manhattan Beach 3-4 times now. After you get a laser hit- you slow down to the speed limit, shut it off, and let them get a reading at the speed limit. They think it's a malfuction in their laser gun heh heh. Which is not uncommon when the cops are running laser. Especially on darker painted vehicles.

Now if I get caught using it in CA - I'm in big trouble. Because they just passed new "Street Racing" laws that effect all vehicles regadless. Before it was just a fix it ticket. Now they will ticket, tow and impound my Rover with possible arrest. It could cost thousands of dollars. Look here are the facts if you live here: The state of CA is out to steal everyone's money. Example - If you forget to put on your seatbelt in LA County it's a $400 ticket. Forgot to renew your insurance on time and got pulled over? $1,000 ticket then - get this - when you go to court they tell you it's the ticket + 3 times the ticket amount. So 4 x the ticket or in my case $4,000 for driving without insurance. Then tell you if you have the cash to pay today - they will graciously cut the fines in 1/2 or only double them depending on the judge you get. So $2,000-$2,500 cash because you were a few days late renewing your insurance. Same applies to all tickets in LA county. They force you to either bend over and take it, move, or accept the risk of using jammers.

Since I got all this equipment I have been pulled over zero times.

As far as the removing cats go my vehicles intake and fuel system is so so pristime clean, it would easily pass smog alone - even without cats. You cannot see anything coming out of the exhaust and the engine is purring perfectly.
 
#65 ·
Please keep in mind a couple of things regarding gasoline:
  • Energy content of gasoline depends on the temperature of the gasoline.
  • There is no legal specification for energy content for gasoline. Therefore, fuel from two different stations could be significantly different. Their energy content could vary by 8-10%.
  • Gasoline composition changes significantly from season to season.
  • Variations in composition can impact your gas mileage.
  • Refinery variations lead to differences in energy content of the final product.
If you get 12mpg, a 1mpg difference is less than 10%. In fact, a 1mpg difference is a change of 8.335%. That's nearly perfectly in line with what you could experience in refinery variations.

Confirmation bias is the most likely cause for your assumption that your mileage is "down" 1-2mpg. Leave your Disco alone. What you "correct" now for this will bite you later.
 
#68 ·
I won't argue California laws. Why anyone still lives there escapes me. Besides, you'd know them better than I would. But Discovering is right: emissions tests don't take into consideration whether exhaust gases are visible. They actually measure the content of hydrocarbons and CO, both of which would be off the scale on a vehicle with no cats, not to mention tetraethyl lead. It's likely you'll find this out. If they happen to notice you've removed the cats, it will be jail time. It doesn't seem like a jail-worthy violation, but it is.
 
#70 ·
I don't know about other states, but NC stopped using the sniffer in the tailpipe years ago. Inspection stations just read the ECM from the OBDII port. I'm not certain but I don't think they even put cars on a lift to confirm the cats are there.
 
#71 ·
It's just a money grab for the automobile industry and automotive repair associations. It forces people to fix their cars on non-emissions related issues and get a new car if they can't. CA fails you for any check engine light now. It could be a light for your cruise control. They fail you anyways.
 
#72 ·
The EPA is in kahootz with your kitty litter mechanic.

the CEL only comes on for engine operation issues or emission control issues, so they’re not wrong to fail you if your motor isn’t in good repair and emission compliant. There is no CEL for inoperable cruise control that I’ve ever seen or heard of. There may be a CEL for a vacuum leak that inops your CC, but I think we all know they don’t give two shits if your cruise control works. They care that your engine has a vacuum leak that could lead to a mechanical failure causing a potential accident.

also, if you think it’s bad, read about UK’s MOT. It’s as thorough as a USDOT inspection.
 
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