The 276DT 2.7 TDV6 generated 700 UK replacement enquiries in 2025 — a significant volume for this earlier V6 diesel. This page breaks down its failure rate in context, typical mileage at failure, the most common faults, and what it actually costs to fix.
The 276DT 2.7 TDV6 engine – fitted to Discovery 3, early Range Rover Sport L320, and some Jaguar models – accounted for 700 replacement enquiries in our 2025 UK data [EM-VERIFIED]. It typically fails between 80,000 and 140,000 miles [PATTERN DATA], with oil pump housing failure, crankshaft failure, and turbo issues being the most common problems. A reconditioned supply costs £5,000–£7,500 [EM-QUOTE], and the engine carries a ⚠️ Watch flag on our replacement‑to‑value index – meaning on typical Discovery 3 and early Sport values (£4k–£14k), the decision is finely balanced and requires careful assessment.
Full context, mileage‑at‑failure distribution, ranked failure modes, and our verdict are below.
How does the 276DT compare to other Land Rover engines in our 2025 enquiry data?
Our 2025 CRM data recorded 4,935 Land Rover‑specific engine enquiries [EM-VERIFIED]. The 276DT contributed 700 of those – about 14% of the total. That places it third in the overall Land Rover engine ranking, behind only the 204DTD (1,150) and the 306DT (980) [EM-VERIFIED]. This is a significant share, reflecting both the engine's popularity across the Discovery 3 and early Range Rover Sport range, and its known propensity for oil pump failure.
It is important to read this number in context: the 276DT is an earlier design than the 306DT, and it is fitted to a large number of vehicles that are now reaching the age and mileage where failures become more common. Its enquiry volume is high, but so is the size of the vehicle parc. The 276DT does not necessarily fail at a higher rate proportionally than the 306DT – it simply has a larger absolute number of vehicles on the road.
Unlike the 306DT, which suffers from catastrophic crankshaft bearing failure, the 276DT's primary weakness is the oil pump housing – a known single‑point failure that can destroy the engine without warning. This makes preventative inspection particularly important. The engine carries a ⚠️ Watch flag on our R‑to‑V index: on a Discovery 3 worth £4,000–£14,000, a £5,000–£7,500 replacement cost can be a significant proportion of the vehicle's value.
For a full ranking, see our Engine Failure Index 2026.
When does the 276DT typically give up?
Our proprietary failure pattern data [PATTERN DATA] indicates that the 276DT most frequently fails in the 80,000–140,000 mile bracket. Within that band, we see a significant cluster around 100,000–120,000 miles, which is when the oil pump housing is most likely to fail if it hasn't been inspected.
The oil pump housing failure is a well‑documented issue on the 276DT: the tensioner mount can fail, leading to a loss of oil pressure and catastrophic engine damage. This failure often occurs with little or no warning, making early detection difficult. Other failures, such as turbocharger issues and crankshaft problems, tend to occur at higher mileages, often after 120,000 miles.
These figures are based on customer enquiry descriptions and workshop notes from our specialist network. They are not exact failure rates against the total vehicle population – but they do represent real patterns observed across hundreds of 276DT replacement requests.
Owners who maintain their 276DT with regular oil changes (every 10,000 miles or annually) and have the oil pump housing inspected at around 80,000 miles often see the engine exceed 140,000 miles without major internal failures. However, the enquiry data shows that a significant proportion of failures occur before 120,000 miles, suggesting that preventative maintenance is frequently neglected.
For more detailed mileage‑at‑failure data across all engines, see our Average Mileage at Failure page.
Ranked by frequency in our 2025 enquiry data.
The following table lists the top five failure modes we see for the 276DT, based on workshop notes and customer problem descriptions [PATTERN DATA].
| Rank | Failure Mode | Typical Repair Cost (Indie) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oil pump housing failure | £1,500–£3,000 | Single‑point failure; can destroy engine instantly. |
| 2 | Crankshaft failure | £5,000–£7,500 | Often secondary to oil starvation from oil pump failure. |
| 3 | Turbocharger failure | £800–£2,000 | Contamination from oil debris is a common cause. |
| 4 | Injector failure | £300–£800 | Leak‑off issues, rough running, black smoke. |
| 5 | EGR valve / cooler issues | £400–£1,200 | Clogging, reduced performance, emissions issues. |
Costs are indicative independent specialist rates; main dealer may be 30‑50% higher. All figures [EM-QUOTE].
The oil pump housing failure is the most critical issue – it can occur suddenly and without any prior warning. If the oil pump fails, the engine loses oil pressure, and the crankshaft bearings and other components are starved of lubrication, leading to catastrophic failure. This is why we recommend a pre‑emptive inspection of the oil pump housing on any 276DT approaching 80,000 miles.
If you experience any of these symptoms, our 276DT oil pump or engine knocking noise pages can help you narrow it down.
Real‑world lifespan based on owner data and workshop feedback.
There is no single answer, but our data and interviews with specialists point to a typical service life of 120,000–160,000 miles for a well‑maintained 276DT [PATTERN DATA]. Engines that have had the oil pump housing inspected and replaced proactively (if necessary) and have received regular oil changes (using the correct 5W‑30 spec) tend to exceed 150,000 miles without major internal failures.
Conversely, vehicles that have had irregular servicing – particularly with extended oil change intervals or neglected oil pressure warnings – are far more likely to experience oil pump failure before 100,000 miles. The 276DT is a robust engine overall, but its single‑point oil pump weakness means that preventative inspection is essential for long‑term reliability.
One interesting data point: among the 700 enquiries we logged in 2025, the average declared mileage at the time of enquiry was approximately 105,000 miles – though this is self‑reported and may skew towards higher‑mileage vehicles. For a more rigorous look, we track this in our Engine Lifespan analysis.
If your 276DT is approaching 80,000 miles, we recommend a pre‑emptive oil pump housing inspection – the cost of this check (around £300–£600) is modest compared to a full engine replacement if the pump fails.
Applying the 60% threshold to the 276DT.
The Land Rover ownership guide uses a 60% replacement‑to‑value (R‑to‑V) threshold: if the cost of a reconditioned engine supply and fit exceeds 60% of the vehicle’s current market value, we consider scrapping or selling as a serious alternative.
For the 276DT, the typical host vehicle values are:
A reconditioned 276DT supply costs £5,000–£7,500 [EM-QUOTE]. Adding labour (14–18 hours at ~£65/hr indie) gives a fitted cost of £5,910–£8,670 for a reconditioned unit.
Worked example: A 2008 Discovery 3 worth £6,000. Fitted recon cost (mid‑range) = £7,500. That's 125% of the vehicle's value – well above 60%. In this scenario, the engine replacement is not financially sensible; we would advise scrapping or selling for parts.
On a higher‑value example (e.g., a late‑model Sport L320 worth £12,000), the same £7,500 fitted cost represents 62.5% – just above the threshold, but borderline. Some owners may still choose to replace if the vehicle is in excellent condition and has high sentimental or practical value.
Our ⚠️ Watch flag reflects this: the 276DT can be a good economic choice on higher‑value hosts, but is often a write‑off on lower‑value Discovery 3s and early Sports. Always use our Repair vs Replace Calculator for your specific vehicle and engine combination.
For a deeper cost breakdown, see our Discovery engine replacement economics guide.
Most failures occur between 80,000 and 140,000 miles [PATTERN DATA], with oil pump housing failure being the most common issue at the lower end of that range.
Supply‑only prices range from £5,000 to £7,500 [EM-QUOTE]. With labour (14–18 hours), fitted costs are typically £5,910–£8,670 at independent rates.
It is moderately reliable when maintained correctly, but its oil pump housing is a known single‑point weakness. With proactive inspection and regular oil changes, it can exceed 150,000 miles.
It depends on the vehicle's value. A Discovery 3 worth under £6,000 is often not worth replacing – the cost of a recon engine (fitted) frequently exceeds 60% of the vehicle's value. Use our calculator for a personalised answer.
Regular oil changes (10,000 miles or annually) using correct‑spec oil, and a pre‑emptive oil pump housing inspection at around 80,000 miles can prevent the most common catastrophic failure. Also, address any oil pressure warnings immediately.
700 Real Enquiries The 276DT‑specific dataset behind every figure on this page.
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