Is the design of the 3.9/4.0/4.2/4.6 inherently bad?

[proper4wd]

I'm not arguing the merits of the 4.3, it is a decent engine.

I guess it depends on your perspective and appreciation for originality! Theres a lot of people who put GM V8's into Rolls Royces and Jaguars because they can't handle the original engine. I understand the mentality... but the reality is that if the goal is to have a reliable and durable powertrain with decent power, it will take the average person a lot more time, effort, and money to convert the vehicle to a different engine than it would take them to just accept, and address, the Rover V8's shortcomings.

If time, money, and mechanical/electrical skill were unlimited resources, there is no doubt that the better option would be to install an LQ9 and 4L80E. But these are not unlimited resources (for most owners).

If half the people that owned LR's invested as much time and energy into maintaining their vehicle as they do into complaining about maintaining their vehicle, the brand would have a much better reputation and the owners would be much happier.

 

[Oilburner]

Spendy and a huge headache. There is nothing wrong with the factory set up, just fix it properly and you will have a good, reliable vehicle (so long as it is well maintained).

OK so what should be done to keep it reliable?

- Intake valley gaskets
- Valve cover gaskets
- Replace radiator and all hoses
- Replace oil cooler lines
- Replace front cover gaskets
- Head gaskets?
- How about the block/liners? Is that preventative maintenance?
- How about the sticking valve issue on 3.9s/4.0s? Pull the heads and ream the guides? As prev. maintenance?

Is all this preventative maintenance? How many chevys running reliably have all this stuff done to them?

This is the typical rover cop out. Rover built a truck out of car parts and everyone blames everything on lack of maintenance. It is not a helicopter. It should not need to spend ten hours in the shop for every five thousand miles. It should tolerate neglect, rough usage and difficult conditions on readily available fuel.

I think Santana took much better decisions that LR did. They took the tough little anemic 4 cyl 2.25L, turned it into a 6 cyl and had a decent engine for the 70s and 80s. If Rover had taken that lead, they could have had a 3.5L ish inline six, put fuel injection on that, and had a tough, land cruiser or jeep like inline six that put out nearly the same power as the V8s but with a low compression, iron block, easy to seal engine.

 

[tacr2man]

The RV8 from my experience has been a perfectly good engine , providing you dont get it too hot , its all aluminium , which gives it lightness , but ali is not a good choice on any engine that gets too hot , even if its just an ali head . They are all very old engines by now , and like certain other makes, dont think they rebuild well , eg Vw and subaru . (there will be exceptions to every generalisation ) . I had well over 150,000 trouble free miles from each of the various LR V8 I have owned, and one "Friday car" , but some of that was down to mechanics not that upto speed with LR products , which is not an uncommon situation even in UK more so elsewhere FMHE . Like any vehicle you tend to hear from people with a problem , as the others dont have anything to bother with . Another factor with Land rovers , is thaey must be about the most "messed about by owner" vehicle in the world , which can also be negative factor from some of the work I have come across over the years JMHO

 

[getlost4x4]

I actually have a 2001 Bosch motor. but thanks.

I use Dexcool in mine. Its going to get Evans waterless coolant next. My BMW is also running Dexcool in it. It'll get Evans waterless coolant before next winter as well.

I've replaced almost every part of the cooling system in mine since i purchased it 4 years ago.

Radiator, hoses, throttle heater, thermostat, Audi heater core swap, and new water pump gasket (still running the original pump as it has no corrosion and does not leak.

Getlost has a P38 and for some reason they cool better. He may also have Gems block and they were the longer lasting IMOP

 

[LR Max]

Is the design of the 3.9/4.0/4.2/4.6 inherently bad?

[Jeremy Clarkson Voice] Yes. [/Jeremy Clarkson Voice]

Sorry that is all I can think of.

When compared to the Gen 3 and Gen 4 engines coming out of GM, yes they are pretty crappy engines. That said, they are on old design and have a great run. It was just that time.

 

[Frontier Phreak]

I am not a GM fanboy but a 1990s TBI 4.3 V6 puts out as much usable power as a 3.9L V8 with half the fuss on 87 octane for 300K miles. A vortec blows it out of the water, and we're not even into V8s yet.

Heck, the 3.9L V6 in my wife's GM minivan is a better engine. 240hp on 87 Octane, and apparently it has no problem running for 60 seconds with no oil in it. And it probably gets better mileage TOWING my truck.

Is all this preventative maintenance? How many chevys running reliably have all this stuff done to them?

This is the typical rover cop out. Rover built a truck out of car parts and everyone blames everything on lack of maintenance. It is not a helicopter.

EXACTLY.

I've never spent as much time doing maintenance (preventative and otherwise) on any other vehicle, and I've abused others far more, and still it's this Rover that has that ominous tick at just over 60,000 miles.

 

[David Harris]

I've never spent as much time doing maintenance (preventative and otherwise) on any other vehicle, and I've abused others far more, and still it's this Rover that has that ominous tick at just over 60,000 miles.

The answer's obvious. . . Rover just doesn't like you. . . Don't take it personally. Rovers are very picky about their owners. Just the nature of the beast. . .

 

[getlost4x4]

The answer's obvious. . . Rover just doesn't like you. . . Don't take it personally. Rovers are very picky about their owners. Just the nature of the beast. . .

LAUGH OF THE DAY. BRAVO

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Howski]

When compared to the Gen 3 and Gen 4 engines coming out of GM, yes they are pretty crappy engines

This got me thinking if we could have had Vortex or LS series engines instead. What could have been...

 

[ZG]

This got me thinking if we could have had Vortex or LS series engines instead. What could have been...

Honestly wouldn't care, it'd be better, but it still wouldn't be a Tdi/Td5.

 

[getlost4x4]

There is a dude over on Rangerovers.net doing an LS truck motor swap into his P38. He is 3-4 months into it now. I don't think the pain, time and money will be worth it though. all kinds of custom adapters, harnesses and so forth. he hasn't said how much money he has spent yet.

I did a Toyota supra engine Swap into a 1985 toyota pick up. It was pretty straight forward. All I had to do was a 1" body lift, some wiring, different clutch and different bellhousing. no custom parts other then the body lift and some wiring. it took me a month. I go the 85K mile motor for $300. I sold my old 22re for $500. And i had about $300 in other parts for it.

If my motor blows up, i'd go the factory bolt in route. screwing around with a heavy american V8 seems like a waste of time. I think mine will last a while longer though.

The inside, not bad for 128K miles. Just replaced the O2 sensors and Fuel injectors. gas mileage went from 7 mpg up to 17.5 mpg highway. The old fuel injectors were leaking.

 

[proper4wd]

"That ominous ticking"

Not sure why this is such a big deal, Rover V8s are well documented to have various lifter/rocker shaft/rocker arm/piston slap noises that dont affect reliability or drivability at all.

This does seem to be a case where maybe you just arent cut out to be a Rover owner!

 

[Oilburner]

Yeah, not sure what the deal it with the ticking. I would replace the valvetrain. As maintenance.

So Adam, how about you answer my question? What do you consider necessary regular maintenance on these things?

 

[Frontier Phreak]

Not sure why this is such a big deal, Rover V8s are well documented to have various lifter/rocker shaft/rocker arm/piston slap noises that dont affect reliability or drivability at all.

Well, obviously. Of course.

Unless that ticking just happens to be something more serious like a slipping liner, bearing problem, piston problem, etc. So you just ignore it assuming it's just a typical crappy Rover valve train, and then one day you get stranded.

I do a complete engine tear-down with every oil change, just to be sure. It's just regular preventative maintenance on a Rover. If you aren't willing to do maintenance work like this, I guess Rover ownership just isn't for you.

 

[Oilburner]

Well, obviously. Of course.

I do a complete engine tear-down with every oil change, just to be sure. It's just regular preventative maintenance on a Rover. If you aren't willing to do maintenance work like this, I guess Rover ownership just isn't for you.

Edit - That would Rover V8 ownership... Plenty of other reliable options :sombrero: