Member Since: 26 Jan 2008
Location: Cuneo
Posts: 327
Sahara driving
Dear friends,
in one month I'll make a tour in the Tunisian Erg. I'll drive few hundred kilometres on the sand with my D3. I kindly ask you, if you have had similar experiences in the desert, can you please write me back if you had any technical or particular problems with the car? So that I can try to prevent them.
For instance, in the Italian Forum Piadina told me that the little pipe that allows air to escape from the authomatic gear of his D3 was filled by sand, but he didn't have a real problem.
Thanks for your help
Ciao
VxX
18th Feb 2009 9:03 pm
Spanish Fly
Member Since: 09 Jul 2007
Location: somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 217
Ciao VxX!
Some advice on Sahara driving...
1. Don't overload the car
2. Buy a decent air compressor
3. Lower the tyre pressures as much as possible (10 psi works on 18" AT2)
4. Drive it like you stole it
5. Don't mess about with the suspension level sensor rods! If you do, the D3 will most likely leave you for dead in the middle of nowhere
You will love El Borma!
Chay
18th Feb 2009 11:06 pm
Roel
Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
My front diff breather was blocked so my LR mechanic cut the top off and put a filter on and this should solve the problem.
Click image to enlarge
Probably you can do this to all breathers.Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
18th Feb 2009 11:17 pm
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
3 trips, 16 disco3's, no problems 8) don't forget there are new travel restrictions requiring permits, also, you need to register GPS at the port of entry
19th Feb 2009 12:33 am
nwoods
Member Since: 04 Apr 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 563
Turn DSC off and keep it off. Experiment with Sand Mode, but don't be afraid to to play with the other modes. Don't use HDC on descents in the sand. Master the art of the running shift into and out of low range. Low Range in second or third gear are awesome for soft sand, but I don't think slogging through hundreds of miles/kilometers in low range is a good idea.
Best thing you can do is replace the OEM tires with something, anything, better. I like the BFG AT's and Cooper Zeon LTZ's, Stay under 31.5" in size (285/60/18 ). The proper BFG size is 265/65/18.
Cheers,
NW
Last edited by nwoods on 19th Feb 2009 8:08 pm. Edited 1 time in total
19th Feb 2009 4:44 pm
VxX
Member Since: 26 Jan 2008
Location: Cuneo
Posts: 327
Thanks all of you for the infos!
A special thank to Roel who gives me the idea to put filters on top of the breathers. I had a talk with my mechanician and he also thinks that it's a good idea.
Thanks in advance to everyone who will give me any useful advice for my travel
Ciao
19th Feb 2009 8:05 pm
wvlenthe
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
Quote:
4. Drive it like you stole it
meaning?
WiljoD3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
19th Feb 2009 8:29 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72790
10forcash wrote:
3 trips, 16 disco3's, no problems 8) don't forget there are new travel restrictions requiring permits, also, you need to register GPS at the port of entry
Still pulling sand out of mine!!! Good job it's going to jkp for detailing!
19th Feb 2009 8:37 pm
VxX
Member Since: 26 Jan 2008
Location: Cuneo
Posts: 327
In order to decide if it is better to put or not the filter on top of the differential and gear breather, I would like to ask Roel:
- did the blocking of the breather cause serious problems or damages to the differential?
- how many kilometres ago did you put the new breather filter?
- do you reckon it is a reliable and longlasting solution?
I would also ask 10forcash: since you have had a lot of experiences with D3 in the desert, what do you reckon? Is it a good idea to put that filter?
Someone of you knows if the steams coming up from the breather together with the dust can block this kind of filter?
Thanks again to everybody
20th Feb 2009 10:52 pm
Roel
Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
The LR mechanic checked my breather when he saw this:
Click image to enlarge
He noticed the leaking front diff and then looked at the breather and it was blocked. He said that that a blocked breather is one off the main causes for a diff to start leaking. He hoped this would also stop the diff from leaking but to much damage was done to the seals already.Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
20th Feb 2009 11:01 pm
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
There is a modified breather to prevent this, safe VIN coincides with 08MY - ish... what about the rear diff & transfer box? it's a good mod but you need to keep an eye on the filter - perhaps mount it the other way round so that the muck is visible?
20th Feb 2009 11:19 pm
Sonic3d
Member Since: 22 Nov 2005
Location: Ross on Wye Herefordshire
Posts: 872
Be sure to take a Defender with you and a rope I can resist everything except TEMPTATION
Can Am Commander 1000XT
Seen the light and bought a 4Motion T5
20th Feb 2009 11:23 pm
Roel
Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
That's a good idea I didn't think about that. I will change them at next service anyway and will put it otherway around that time.
I had a gearbox leak too. Breather? I was planning to do the other breathers too but did get to it yet.Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
20th Feb 2009 11:24 pm
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
Sonic3d wrote:
Be sure to take a Defender with you and a rope
That's not fair, why would you want to hang yourself? deafeners aren't that bad
20th Feb 2009 11:30 pm
Sonic3d
Member Since: 22 Nov 2005
Location: Ross on Wye Herefordshire
Posts: 872
Nice one TFC i like it I can resist everything except TEMPTATION
Can Am Commander 1000XT
Seen the light and bought a 4Motion T5
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
deafeners aren't that bad 
