freelander TD4 engine lifespan

TD4 BMW engine should be OK. Get it chipped if you want perky performance though. I'd be worried about other bits falling off, freelanders aren't known for their brillian assembly quality.

I agree with the "surrounding bits" BUT If you really want the TD4 freelander get the oil in the gearbox changed regularly also the oil chnged more frequently than the manual states (also go for the BP /Shell expensive diesel fill ups occasionally andkeep away from the tesco stuff

Agree with changing the oils more regularly than recommended (and the coolant) but I've now run 187,000 miles solely on Tesco Derv with the odd shot of Millers DieselClean (when I think about it) with no adverse results. Are you alleging problems with Tesco fuel only with TD4 engines, or generally?

At work we periodically purchase samples of petrol and diesel from all oil companies and supermarkets and submit them for analysis to Caleb Brett or Saybolt Labs. They have always been within spec for all aspects of the EN228/EN590 standard including lubricity.

I can't think why you would change the oil early on these engines. Not that I know what the recommended interval is. I always assumed there was not a fixed recommended interval and that, in common with most cars which use these engines, the interval was flexible and automatically adjusted for operating conditions. Maybe not then?

Huw

The message from "Doctor D" contains these words:

Wow - over a light-second!

I was generalising. I hate leaving oil in for the recommended intervals, and when I've had to, I've always used stuff like Millers XFD fully synthetic. I thought the Freelander was on fixed intervals. I may be wrong.

Good to hear an objective response to the 'supermarket fuel = bad' argument !

How different are the results - could you publish them ?

Daytona

and you should see my calf muscles..............

or slip them to-up on the quiet... I'm currently running a mix of either tesco, morrisons or texaco diesel 50/50 with biofuel.

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

The only difference I've noticed is that supermarket diesel tends to smoke more than say Shell or total. Besides that I notice bugger all difference in mpg or driveability.

If you could publish then I would be interested as well.

Thanks.

My Grans' merc has had loads of probs with her petrol engined motor, also a

270cdi which both had regular tesco refills for years - the dealer would clean the pipes/ injectors but told us to change the fuel supplier if we wanted no issues once tyhe 3 yr warranty had expired - I understand the better petrol keeps things clean, as does the diesel - also the diesel has something in it to keep the pump lubricated - sorrry - I'M not very technicql

just refilled my grans merc after previosly filling with BP ulytimate petrol - not very technicalbut I GOT THE IMPRESSION THE CAR was faster and more economical after using it - so thats another reason why I believed the merc service folks

Scenario: owner: "My car's running poor" dealer: "It needs a decoke / fuel system cleanout" owner: "oh dear" dealer: "Do you use supermarket petrol....."

Answer is nearly always yes, to which dealer will blame the petrol, if you answer no dealer will say "must have been some bad or old fuel when you filled up...."

They'll use any excuse. Personally I think most gunge is from people who never empty their tanks and so any sediments gather for the one time they do run full to empty, those who keep topping it up are just heading for disaster.

BP ultimate in a modern petrol car should be smoother and a bit quicker as most modern cars compensate for the higher octane.

I certainly can't publish them, it's part of our contract with them! Moreover I like my job :-) The tests we have conducted are to ensure compliance with the relevant EN standard and suitability for the UK market/engine design parameters.

The lubricity and cetane/octane rating hardly varies by batch or brand. We don't test additive packages as we don't need to. We would only look at that in detail if the fuels fell short of the quality expected, which they don't. Based on regular testing it appears that UK supplied fuel is generally of a very good and consistent quality.

I don't work for any oil company or supermarkets.