Land Rover Repair: Rebuilt Landrover Discovery II SE engine, faulty engine, lame excuse

Question
We have asked a question a couple of days ago about problems
we are having with a reconditioned engine bought online and
istalled by our local mechnaic
Please see at the end, an outline of the problem as it was
put to John Mc, and his response.  
We had not been very specific about the use of silicone, so
this is to expand and see if you still believe we have been
sold a faulty engine.

Our mechanic who installed the engine explains that he used
silicone to help seal the upper intake gasket around the
water jacket.
The suppliers claim that he should not have done that, and
that silicone leaked into the engine and fouled up the
valves with a resulting loss of compression.
The engine was sent back to the supplier who said that they
stripped it down again, cleaned silicone out, and sent if
back to us for installation a second time.  There is no
improvement!  We are still not getting compression in number
3 and sometimes in 4.
At the request of the supplier we have run the vehicle for
250 miles - with still no improvemnet.  As JohnMc says, it
sounds like a lame excuse.  With this additional explanation
, are you still of the opinion that the rebuilt engine was
faulty.

Thanks,
Dave



Answered Question


Subject     Rebuilt engine
Question     WE ordered a rebuilt engine for our
Discovery II SE 2003 but our mechanic has never been able to
get sufficient compression for it to run properly.  The
suppliers claim our mechanic used silicon to install the
engine and that has caused the problem.  They state the
engine is fine.  Although they did take it back and claimed
to have cleaned it up and sent it back again, but the
initial problem still existed.  This situation has now
continued for two months, with their mechanics asking our
mechanic to try different things and take readings.  Could
silicon have caused this problem?
Answer     Hi June,

I'm not sure how silicon got into the installation process
in the first place.  Sounds like a lame excuse from your
supplier - the one responsible for the rebuilt engine.

If you are having compression problems on a rebuilt engine,
its the suppliers job to fix it NOT your mechanic.  Your
mechanics are simply installing the engine NOT rebuilding
it.

Give back the engine and go elsewere.  Consider a salvaged
engine and save yourself some money.  Try www.car-part.com
to help locate a rebuilt engine near you.

Best of luck,

JohnMc
   Best of luck,

JohnMc

Answer
I think the rebuilder's excuse is bull***t.  If the engine lacks compression in two cylinders that has nothing whatsoever to do with silicone on the intake.

Just make sure that your statement really is correct, and that you really lack compression in two cylinders.  If so, I'd ask for my money back and start with a better supplier.

Best of luck with it

John Elder Robison

check my car blog at http://robisonservice.blogspot.com