I have been wondering whether to plump for a detuned 200Tdi instead of the 19J to replace the fitted 12J. I have come to the conclusion that it’s better for the head to rule the heart and to stick with the 19J.
Though the Tdi would be far more pleasant to drive and better on fuel, it would require re-modification of the battery tray to clear the Bosch pump and custom hoses to connect the turbo charger to the air filter and inlet manifold. Running a non standard Tdi would invalidate the warranty on any engineering shop work on it. A 19J would slot straight in, so the warranty would be unaffected.
Furthermore, the Tdi output is significantly above the 2.25 petrol’s torque and even after detuning, long term effects on the transmission would always be a concern. I don’t want to be rebuilding gearboxes or overdrives every couple of years.
The other element is cost. I already have a 19J awaiting refurb. To buy a Tdi would be expensive – It’d have to be a Defender unit as the Discovery engines have the turbo in the wrong place, and the mod is a little clumsy, and the water pump location would preclude and engine driven fan. I hate electric fans, so the Defender timing case would be essential. Though an old (condition unknown) Discovery 200Tdi typically goes for £500-700, a Defender unit typically costs £1200+, and would still require rebuild. The extra 10BHP and 20ftlbs don’t justify the difficulty and expense.
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