cam belt

Hi all new here, my 300tdi is dropping oil and I have just booked it into Chelmsford 4x4 but I have just heard that they have had some bad feedback recently. Has anyone heard the same or has some positive comments or should I take it to Fortune 4x4. Any advice greatfully received.

Dave

Don't have any experience of either of them, I'm afraid!

What's dropping oil got to do with the cam belt?

It's generally reckoned to be bad news if a LandRover DOESN'T drop oil, it means there's none left inside!

JohnB

Dave:

I've always used Chelmsford 4x4 [Daryl]. I've never had any issues with him and he works on both my Defender and RRC. Always friendly and seems to look after the cars very well. I believe he was trained [apprenticed] at Candol many years back and he certainly knows his LR's in side out.

The oil thing could be anything - I have virtually replaced everything on my 300Tdi overtime and it still drops a little oil.

While I'm recommending garages - I also use Speedwell Garage [Joe] in Margaretting for my MOT's and I get an equally excellent service. 300Tdi just passedwithout any problems.

Hope this helps -would like to know what negative feedback you received.

Regards,

Joe

The oil is coming out of the hole at the bottom of the front cover where the pullies are. Apparently there is a seal behind this cover and this may have failed, however to get at it the seal the cam belt need to be replaced.
About Chelmsford 4x4 when I told my friend where I had booked it into he made a call to another garage who then did a bit of bitching so it may be their way to get some extra buisness.
Thanks for the advise will see how I get on with Daryl thanks Dave

What you don't want is oil leaking past the front crankshaft seal and onto the cam belt. This will cause the belt to breakdown and probably snap or strip the teeth, in a very short space of time.
It's always worth replacing the seal as part of the cam belt change along with the tensioners.
While not often terminal due to the pushrods being the weak link, it's damned inconvenient if the belt goes!

I always used Chelmsford 4x4 for my V8 90 and never had any problems with them including a full engine out oil leak fix. Always kept me well informed and never had any problem with any of the work they did. My SIII will go there if it is beyond me.