Land Rover and Jaguar 2.7 and 3.0 TDV6 and SDV6 diesel common problems

Common problems and what to look for on the TDV6

The known issues most worth checking when you view a car with this engine. None of them means a car is a bad buy, but they're worth knowing about before you buy, and a good history often shows they've been dealt with.

1. Crankshaft bearing wear and crankshaft failure

   What to look for: Start the engine and listen with the bonnet open. A knock or rumble from deep in the engine, worst from cold or under load, is the thing to walk away from. Watch the oil pressure warning light: it should go out straight away and stay out, including at a warm idle. Ask for the full oil service history, with dates and mileages, and whether the engine has ever been replaced or rebuilt.

   Why it matters: Some TDV6 engines have suffered bearing shells that turn in their housings, after which the crankshaft can fail suddenly. Land Rover's 2014 service bulletin linked failures on 2009 to 2012 engines to bearing shells located incorrectly during assembly, and a new bearing design arrived in 2012. Specialists also point to oil starvation, which is why on-time oil changes with the correct oil matter so much, and failures haven't been entirely eliminated on later 3.0 engines. It affects a minority of engines, and a car with a clean oil history, a quiet engine and a steady oil light is a sound buy; a car with a documented replacement engine can be a good one.

2. The cambelt, and the oil pump on the 2.7

   What to look for: Ask for the invoice for the last cambelt change and check both the date and the mileage against the service schedule, which sets an age limit as well as a mileage. On the 2.7, ask whether the oil pump was replaced with the belt. Listen for any whirring or flapping from the engine on start-up.

   Why it matters: The TDV6 has a cambelt, and a broken belt wrecks the engine, so a car overdue on either age or mileage needs the job done straight away. On the 2.7 the oil pump housing has a weak point where the belt tensioner is mounted, which can crack, and specialists fit an upgraded, reinforced pump. On the 3.0 the oil pump, belt tensioner and surrounding oil galleries were improved, though specialists still regard the oil pump and its drive as a weak point. A belt change with the oil pump checked or replaced at the same time is a sign of a careful owner.

3. EGR valve and particulate filter faults

   What to look for: Listen for an uneven idle once warm and feel for a lack of power or flat spots on the drive. Watch for engine or particulate filter warnings on the dashboard. Ask how the car has been used, and whether the EGR valve or particulate filter has been replaced or cleaned.

   Why it matters: EGR and particulate filter faults are common on these engines, especially on cars that mostly do short trips, which don't give the filter a chance to clean itself. A clogged EGR valve causes a rough idle and lost power. Both are known faults with established fixes, and a car that has done regular longer runs is in a better position.