Hi Folks and errr Help!! I think someits wrong.

[SurfDogs]

Hi Folks,

Thought I'd do the usual cheeky hello and HELP!!!

We are Rob and Lisa with the newly appointed surf dogs Sam, Spike and Bear. We were lucky enough to pick up our first 3.0td on Friday and we totally love it and have already done lots of miles...hence my problem.

I've driven lots of trucks and my last but one was a 2.5td disco. The surf seems really low on power compared to the others to the point that we were almost going backwards up some hills on the motorway with trucks and vans flying past us. There is lots of noise and next to no action. On the flat she will accelerate up to and beyond legal motorway speeds with little problem and does not get too hot etc.. I've just done my mpg conversion and I reckon it's been doing around 15mpg with two adults, 3 dogs and a tent.

[Ava_Banana]

Hello....welcome.


I'll bounce this as some may have missed it.


When looking for my Surf I drove a couple of 2.5td disco's and they were poo compared to the 3.0TD Surf.

You don't say which model you have, but my 3.0 is positively spritely compared to virtually every other 4x4 I have tried.

...and I get nearly 25mpg...


...is the handbrake still on?

[MattF]

What does 'lots of noise and next to no action' mean, exactly? Is it auto or manual?

[Ava_Banana]

What does 'lots of noise and next to no action' mean, exactly? Is it auto or manual?

That's what my wife called my bedroom performance........

....until I told her it was manual not auto

[MattF]

Can't say as I've ever had that complaint myself.

[Maverick]

My first question would be how are you driving it?
My father (who knows better than anyone else and doesn't need to listern), borrowed my sisters 3.0 to collect a boat, and travelled slower using more fuel than I did in my 2.4 (he also enguaged the 4wd on road as well, did I shout at him!!).

This was mainly because he was driving like a normal car, and planting the throttle when he wanted to go faster, or gain speed up hill. That way of driving gets loads of revs, loads of noise, but very little results, because all that happens is the auto box drops a gear or two and revs it's nuts off. The best way I have found is to drive relaxed, apply the throttle gently, and plan you hills in advance (remember I'm driving the underpowered 2.4, yes I'll admit it's underpowered for all those 3.0 owners out there).

However saying that 15mpg appears low for a 3.0, my brother in law gets better than that and he drives as if he's still at work (policeman).

Has it been serviced, what state is the air filter in?

You'll find you're dogs will love it, especially if you get a rear dog guard so you can travel with the back window down, that wind blown look is so in

[Diezel Weazel]

Agree with ya last post Duane regarding a 2.4 n with ya "planning" ya hill strategy.
Coming outta Dover is a typical eg, 2.4 manual race for the hill n it starts to peter (sorry about the Pun if ya names "Peter") out of puff in in 6 n half years I did a few Dover runs.
Then again same Truck n same hill cruise up gently, ya just need to keep up the momentum you'll be amazed at the difference....

Myself 3.0l auto n Dixie.t 2.4 auto proved just that up to Drumclog n back over the weekend ...

There's always a Payback .... Don't know where n don't know when tho !!!!

[Tallyman]

Hi Folks,

Thought I'd do the usual cheeky hello and HELP!!!

We are Rob and Lisa with the newly appointed surf dogs Sam, Spike and Bear. We were lucky enough to pick up our first 3.0td on Friday and we totally love it and have already done lots of miles...hence my problem.

I've driven lots of trucks and my last but one was a 2.5td disco. The surf seems really low on power compared to the others to the point that we were almost going backwards up some hills on the motorway with trucks and vans flying past us. There is lots of noise and next to no action. On the flat she will accelerate up to and beyond legal motorway speeds with little problem and does not get too hot etc.. I've just done my mpg conversion and I reckon it's been doing around 15mpg with two adults, 3 dogs and a tent.

It would help if you could let us know the model and year, then you might get some useful info about what is wrong, as 15 MPG is really bad. It's not a Gen 2 and you're using it in 4WD on the tarmac are you? If so, low MPG and probably a wrecked drive train would give you that sort of MPG.

[Vultch]

Agree with all above..mine went through horrendous MPG for a while .. the problems were...
(i) One of the UJ in the prop shaft was badly corroded - no noise until the end thou,
(ii) my exhaust rear box thou still intact had a big split up its lenght the surf was only slightly noiser
(iii) a dirty air filter...after all was repaired I noticed a big change in MPG but for a 3 litre 23-24 mpg is good if driven easy

also after repairs more power.....

[joecuba]

If going uphill, take the transmission out of overdrive, this will limit it to 3rd gear and may help. On really steep hills, put the gear lever to 2. The max torque is about 2000 RPM (quite low), reving way above this (4000 / 5000) you will loose torque and burn fuel for not much benefit. High revs going uphill will overheat the transmission fluid.

Get the truck serviced. Get the auto fluid changed, and get a general service done. Make sure there are no seized brakes (feel the wheels after a 10 min normal drive on flat ground, are any hotter than the rest?).

[yoshie]

A 3.0 surf will out perform any landy by a mile.
You have a problem a 3.0 surf auto or manual and I have had both, will pull all day long up hills. If as suggested you need to start hitting the OD off, or drop to 2nd in an auto, then the hill will have no tarmac and be covered with wool hats and climbing ropes.

Belive me mate your truck needs looked at, not your driving.

As a very basic start point check the intake pipe is not split.
Change the fuel filter and through some redex in the new one.

[joecuba]

If as suggested you need to start hitting the OD off, or drop to 2nd in an auto, then the hill will have no tarmac and be covered with wool hats and climbing ropes.

Good point LOL

I'd place money on a ceased brake / handbrake being the prob - especially if the surf was unused for a while before purchase.

[JUDWAK]

welcome dude

bet its ya clutch

[PDR]

I regularly drive from the Wirral (Cheshire) to Ruthin (N. Wales) and there are some reasonably steep hills and my Surf goes up them easily... no noise or struggling. I have never needed to turn off the overdrive, even up the steep track to my mate’s farm house.

It does sound like you need a good service.
I have the 3:0 V6 petrol (150bhp) and it does around 16 mpg, which isn’t great, but at least it has some useful power and is smooth & quiet.

[joecuba]

And the outcome is???

2:1 it's the clutch
3:1 it's the brakes

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