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MD5

Member Since: 02 May 2011
Location: Italy
Posts: 143

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Alpine White

Long trip advice needed

Next summer I will hopefully made a trip to Morocco with my 2.4 Td4.

I'm now looking about what to plan and what to do to avoid common problem that could be happen.

My Puma my09 now had 27.000 Km. Vacuum pump was replaced at 13.000 Km. Cluch was recently replaced under warranty and now gear change was really smooth and quiter than before.

I read and applied most of the tips suggested in this forum to avoid common problem and occasional failure.

To avoid problem with fuel (expected to be lower quality than in Europe) I will fill the main and aux tanks using a Racor funnel that separate debris up to 20 micron and water from fuel. To improve the quality of the fuel I will use a addittive that add some point of cetane, lubricity and fight water related problem.

A ScanGauge2 was already fitted to read and reset fault codes.

Before leaving I will do a complete engine oil replacement using Mobil 1 5W-30 ESP

Some question to ask:

- Do you think that vacum pump once replaced with new model could fail again ?
- What do you think about my fuel enahancement "strategy" ?
- Is the Mobil 1 engine oil Ok for the Puma 2.4 engine ?
Any other advice really welcomed!

Any opinion welcomed!

19th Mar 2012 10:42am

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

What sort of time period and distance do you anticipate?

Travelling as a solo vehicle or in convoy with similiar vehicles.

Are you on GOOD terms withyour local indy or main dealer?

Brendan

19th Mar 2012 1:37pm

MK

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Santiago
Posts: 2284

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Chawton White

Mobil 1 is not recommended by LR but some people use such thicker oil. If using high S diesel you need to change the oil as for severe driving conditions.

Take some filters with you and a spare for the diesel filter assembly in case the shock brakes.

How did you install the Racor filter?

Puma 110" SW

.............................................................
Earth first. Other planets later

19th Mar 2012 3:55pm

MD5

Member Since: 02 May 2011
Location: Italy
Posts: 143

Planned distance are about 6500 Km (1500km in Europe + 4000km in Morocco). Planned time is about 3 weeks.

I'm in convoy with 6 other vehicles but mine is the only Td4. Except a Defender 300 series the remaining are Toyota and Mitsubishi.

I'm in good terms with my local official assistance, my 3y warranty will expire next Jun.

About the Mobil 1 oil, if you believe something other is better, please tell me. I'm currently using the Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 A1 with oil change every 10.000km

The racor funnel filter I will use did not require installation, it's like this:
http://www.maesco.com/products/racor/r_funnel/r_funnel.html

I prefer to avoid to install a true fuel sedimentator/water separator because I read the Td4 fuel pump embedded into engine could fail a proper fuel suction by adding a second inline filter.

If you believe that vacum pump could fail again I will try to ask the dealer to supply one and return it with money refund at the end of the journey...

Anybody here with a double vacum pump failure and replacement ?

19th Mar 2012 5:41pm

MK

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Santiago
Posts: 2284

If you want a thicker oil in the 5w-30 range, Motul X-MAX. Puma 110" SW

.............................................................
Earth first. Other planets later

19th Mar 2012 5:52pm

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5443

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Take at least two air filters, blowing them out with an air line does not work.

I would also recommend changing you box oils before you leave, personally to fully syth.

I tend to pop into Gibraltar ( nice and cheap) before the crossing and fill all my jerry cans with super, and stick them in once in the sand, where you need all the power you can get

Andy

19th Mar 2012 9:01pm

BigMike

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

A good service before you go
Decent tyres with stiff sidewalks like discoverer stt
Air compressor

No need for extended tanks
No Need to filter fuel either
Spair air filters as someone said. Check your filter daily after desert driving
2 spare fuel filters
Decent springs and shocks

That's it. Don't overload your vehicle, don't use your aircon (pump can blow and also you'll get colds)
No need to over-prepare in terms of cost

19th Mar 2012 11:28pm

MD5

Member Since: 02 May 2011
Location: Italy
Posts: 143

Thanks all for the advice!

Most of the suggestion are already in use and fitted on my Puma.

I already bought a couple of spare air and fuel filter
Gear and Trasfer oil are filled with Motul fully synth oil

About Gibraltar, unfortunatly the ship from Italy will land at Tanger Med port. I will probably visit it on the return trip.

I'm now using the BFG All Terrain T/A tire, I believe they are enough for Morocco, I will take with me 2 spare wheel + tire.

About the springs, front OME medium duty + stock rear springs with Air-Lift 1000. Shocks are the Britpart cellular dynamic "orange".

As you suggest I promise to leave the aircon off for the entire travel, too much health problem in the past!

20th Mar 2012 7:41am

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

make sure you grease all the props and check them for any movement.

take spare bulbs, fuses including megafuse (just in case)

have a gread trip

20th Mar 2012 8:18am

MD5

Member Since: 02 May 2011
Location: Italy
Posts: 143

Which is the P/N of the mega-fuse ?

21st Mar 2012 9:59am

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

Good recovery points, plus a good bit of string.

Do not forget a decent shovel. Good for doing a dump in the desert also if get bogged down use the shovel so you reduce force needed to extract vehicle

Going for a dump in the desert? Take shovel, do business then BURN toilet paper before burying everything!

Clean hands with antiseptic gel

Brendan

21st Mar 2012 10:09am

BigMike

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

A sharp ended shovel not a coal shovel

21st Mar 2012 10:35pm

Ashley110

Member Since: 21 Mar 2012
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 7

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Alpine White

BigMike why do you prefer a sharp ended shovel?

Excuse my ignorance

22nd Mar 2012 10:04am

JWL

Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

To chop it up into bits to make it easier to bury?

Make sure it's passed on and won't come back and haunt you?

22nd Mar 2012 10:29am

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