Ingenium engines should have become the bridge between huge V8 powerplants and EV or hybrid models by Jaguar Range Rover. The manufacturer saw these engines as saviors of the ICE technology and relied a lot on them. Which apparently was a big failure that led to a huge drop in customers’ love in the UK, Europe, and the US.
Today, I will tell you about the 2-liter Ingenium engine that is installed in many Land Rover models. I will cover its common issues and durability. Also, I will outline some important maintenance rules that will help you save this engine for a longer time and avoid spending thousands from your budget.
Here’s what I will tell you about:
- What should you know about the 2.0L Ingenium petrol engine?
- How many miles should this engine survive in your vehicle?
- What are the key problems of the 2.0L Ingenium engine?
- Can you prolong the life of this engine?
Key facts about the 2.0L Land Rover engine
This engine was first introduced in 2017 and it’s thought to be the optimal combination of displacement and power. The Ingenium family also has the inline 3 1.5L and the inline 6 3.0L engine while this one is the inline 4 2.0L options. So, basically, these engines differ from each other by the number of cylinders and each cylinder is 500 cc in displacement.
The 2-liter engine does seem really good and balanced. That’s why Land Rover has been using it in almost all key models in the range: Velar, Range Rover, Evoque, Discovery, Discover Sport, Range Rover Sport, and even Defender. Also, this engine under a different code has been used in several Jaguar vehicles.
Here’s what we know about the 2.0L Ingenium engine:
- this is the inline-4 gasoline engine with 2 liters of displacement that is capable of producing 200-300 horsepower depending on the version;
- these engines are all turbocharged, there are versions with simple or twin-scroll turbochargers;
- also, there is a hybrid 2.0L engine with PHEV technology that develops 404 horsepower and is pretty expensive;
- the good fact is that all these 2-liter petrol engines are made in Great Britain, so the quality should be good;
- the engine has a direct injection system, there are no port injectors that would protect it from carbon buildup;
- this is one of the few gasoline engines that have the intercooler for its turbocharger;
- the phasers are installed in both camshafts for better efficiency, but they are also the sources of common problems;
- the timing system is powered by the chain which is, unfortunately, another common problem of the unit.
One of the key advantages of the 2.0L Ingenium petrol engine is that it’s extremely fuel efficient. It may show about 9.5 liters/100 km in the city when you drive the Velar. On highways, the average consumption will drop to less than 7 liters/100 km. But you should remember that the actual consumption highly depends on the driving style.
So, the Ingenium engine doesn’t seem like something super technological and impossibly complicated. This is a simple 2-liter turbo engine that burns petrol to produce some power. And not in all versions the power is that huge.
How many miles will this engine last?
The 2-liter Ingenium engine may last quite long if maintained properly. I believe the optimal average durability should be stated as 150,000 miles. Someone will lose this engine a little sooner while some owners will be able to drive their Land Rover vehicles to 200K miles and even more.
You may remember those magnificent 4.4-liter engines with 8 cylinders that could easily last twice as much. Yes, but they weren’t fuel efficient and they produced so much emissions that now installing such engines in new cars is close to illegal. And the British manufacturer just had to come up with some alternative.
I should say that the durability of this engine depends on the type of transmission. Some Land Rover transmissions can easily outlast this engine while others will require replacement or remanufacturing after just 100K miles making it impossible to drive your Land Rover for a long time.
Also, the driving style will affect the durability of this engine. If you have a Defender and go off-roading a lot, you aren’t likely to drive this engine to 150,000 miles even if the maintenance is of the highest quality.
What are the common problems with the 2.0L Ingenium engine?
This is one of the most popular and commonly used engines in modern-day Land Rover vehicles. I should say that it drives pretty great and offers a lot of power while burning just a little petrol. But still, this is a problematic engine that has so many reports that I had a hard time trying to make a short list of common issues.
Let’s see!
1. Timing chain premature death
Apparently, Land Rover doesn’t state a certain interval for chain replacement. Usually, at about 80,000 miles or 120,000 km, you can hear minor engine rattling that many owners just ignore. This may mean that the chain is stretched and the tensioner can’t do its job anymore. So, the chain may jump at any time and cause really fatal problems.
If the chain jumps in these engines, the risk of valve and piston damage is just huge. After such an event, repairing your engine will cost you more than replacing it with a new one.
2. Carbon buildup on intake valves
This is the direct injection engine and it means that the fuel is not going to go through the intake valves. So, the valves will get clogged with carbon buildup even if the engine works just as it should. After about 40,000 miles (65,000 km), you will need to clean the valves because the engine will start losing its power, consuming much more petrol than before.
Carbon buildup is a common problem for all direct injection engines, but not many Land Rover owners expect to have serious issues with their engines so soon after they bought the car.
3. Turbocharger pipes issues
If you own a 2017-2018 Ingenium engine, the risk of turbo pipe failure is huge. After 2019, Land Rover corrected this common problem. If you happen to have this issue, the best choice is to go to the dealer and ask if they have any programs to change these pipes for free or with some discounts.
Driving a car after the turbo pipe is broken is impossible, so you may even need to call a tow truck.
4. Oil pump problems in early engines
Again first 2-3 model years were bad because of poor oil pump mounting. The oil pump could have got stuck and the engine stopped getting lubricated properly. This may even lead to quick engine death if ignored.
Pay attention to the noises from under the hood or to quick engine temperature changes. If you notice something like this, better stop the vehicle immediately.
5. Phaser on the intake cam
Exhaust phasers are more or less durable while intake ones are crappy. These phasers fail and lead to issues with timing, power loss, and bad sounds from the engine. If ignored, the problem may develop into a serious issue that will just kill the engine.
A phaser should be replaced once found faulty. Also, you should know that this is not a cheap thing to repair.
What can you do to prolong the life of the 2.0L Land Rover petrol engine?
The 4-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine is relatively durable, so you will just need to follow the proper maintenance routine to let it live the needed time or mileage. But if you want to drive this engine longer than average, there are some specific recommendations.
Try the following:
- warm up the engine at least for 1 minute before you start driving;
- use only LR-recommended oil for maintenance;
- don’t ignore any problems like strange sounds, power loss, warning lights, etc.;
- adjust your driving style for better longevity of the engine – avoid abusing it;
- remember that at 100K miles (160,000 km) you should replace the timing chain kit;
- reduce the duration of oil change intervals after the engine hits 100,000 miles.
Even if you follow all the recommendations in the world, this will not automatically fix all the flaws of this engine. So, don’t ignore the symptoms of possible problems, and always have the engine inspected once you suspect that something is wrong with it.
To wrap up
I can’t say that the 2.0L Ingenium petrol engine is the best turbocharged powerplant in the world. But we should understand that car manufacturers are now in a bad position where they have to choose between revenues and reliability also trying to comfort emission control rules.
We will obviously think about buying EVs and hybrids once we have serious issues with the 2-liter Land Rover engine. But if you still want a pure petrol engine, then the 2.0L Ingenium option is right for you.