It's time to update my wife's car from her old Evoque to something newer. Either a Velar or a Sport. Most seem to have the 2-litre Ingenium engine. An engine I was advised to generally avoid by a pal.

So I did a bit of online research and it seems they are known to put diesel into the oil, something to do with the DPF, necessitating much more frequent oil changes. And some think they are generally unreliable anyway.

My wife's usage isn't big mileage, it's mostly local running about so I am not bothered about fuel economy. So in light of that, I am thinking of a petrol version or a 3.0 instead.

But I wanted to seek the advice of the folks in the know here on the Ingenium engine, please. Is it best avoided or is the bad press unjustified? 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

They suffer from...

Timing chains
Balance shafts
Turbos
Oil pumps
Pistons cooling jet solenoid failure
Thermostats
Water pumps
Cylinder bores going oval
Big end bearing pick up
Oil leaks
DPF cores crack
NOX sensor failure

I had the same dilemma when I bought the F Pace so I ended up going for the petrol engine rather than the diesel. 2017 Jaguar F Pace 25t Portfolio - still part of the JLR family 😀
2009 3.6 V8 (MY2010) - my first ever diesel! - now also gone
2004 4.4 V8 Petrol Vogue - now gone

Mikey wrote:

They suffer from...

Timing chains
Balance shafts
Turbos
Oil pumps
Pistons cooling jet solenoid failure
Thermostats
Water pumps
Cylinder bores going oval
Big end bearing pick up
Oil leaks
DPF cores crack
NOX sensor failure

One of the main issues is caused by the way the engine is fitted in certain models. Discovery Sports, Evoque and Jaguar E Paces have the engine fitted transversely to give extra interior space. In Jaguar XE and Landrover Velar they are fitted in line.
The horizontal figment led to issues in locating the Dpf - an emissions device - being mounted too far away from the engine. It has been suggested that this was recognised but JLR did not want to redesign the body shells to solve this.
The placement of the dpf which burns off exhaust dust means that it is less effective on short runs leading to aborted regents when additional fuel is added to cause the burn. Failed regents cause some of the additional fuel to enter the sumo and dilute the engine oil.
Couple this with extended service schedules where it is suggested not to change the oil for longer mileage gaps leads to poor oil condition and in turn poor component lubrication.
I would look at the frequency of issues by the various models in which this engine is used to see if this can be proven. 2012 tdv8 Westminster arrived Jan 19 gone Dec 23

200 TDi discovery bobtail gone
RR classic v8 bobtail gone
300 tdi Discovery 3 dr gone

The above is one possible explanation, but...

We've still replaced engjnes/turbos on longitudinal models

Make of that what you will

The main issue is the 'flash to bang' time was very short, a lot of testing was done by modelling rather than traditional testbed & 'muleing' of the engines. The DPF location is just one of the shoehorning decisions that has bitten them on the backside - but that in itself is not the cause of a lot of the issues caused by a rushed (IMO) design.
I remember these first being launched, right from the outset there were 'problematic' with software tweaks being flashed at each successive early service. We used to have take photos of the IPK showing the 'service required' message and the odometer reading to claim it under warranty rather than the customer having to pay.
The concept was good, but rushed implementation and lack of robust testing lead to a fragile product.

Thanks for the informative replies, chaps. I guess she is going into a petrol or a 3.0. 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

Mikey wrote:

They suffer from...

Timing chains
Balance shafts
Turbos
Oil pumps
Pistons cooling jet solenoid failure
Thermostats
Water pumps
Cylinder bores going oval
Big end bearing pick up
Oil leaks
DPF cores crack
NOX sensor failure

A gently used 3.0 Velar is being prepped at Sytner Sheffield now. I expect that might have a bit of go in it with a small bodyshell.

I feel like I've dodged a bullet with this topic.  2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

When you own a FullFat everyone who doesn’t have one wants to tell you how bad and how unreliable they are, which obviously we all ignore, even though we know we are going to be underneath them again at the weekend.
Similarly, I had a friend with a Velar which decided to completely shut down while they were doing 70 on a motorway. They sent it back to the dealer  2017 Jaguar F Pace 25t Portfolio - still part of the JLR family 😀
2009 3.6 V8 (MY2010) - my first ever diesel! - now also gone
2004 4.4 V8 Petrol Vogue - now gone

Stuart- wrote:

A gently used 3.0 Velar is being prepped at Sytner Sheffield now. I expect that might have a bit of go in it with a small bodyshell.

I feel like I've dodged a bullet with this topic.

I'm not sure of the configuration, it's a 67 plate 3.0 diesel is all I know. 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

There's a harrowing readers cars thread on PH where a guy does multiple engine out fixing attempts on a dead Ingenium F-Pace. He fixed it then it broke again. Dire. 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue

A 67 plate 3.0 Velar will be the V6 I believe.

Keep it under warranty as they snap crankshafts!

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior