Just an update, I solved the rough start the car was giving me after I removed the swirl flaps. I replaced the diesel filter, air must have been getting in somewhere through the connections either in or out of the old filter,

Follow up to my manifold installation as well. Tested the old glow plugs & one was duff. Noted that I'm getting an increase of about 5 MPG mixed urban. Which I wasn't expecting.

As mentioned previously I have also replace the fuel filter, air filter & blanked the ERG. The fuel filter is replaced bi annually & the air filter annually. Not particularly dirty.

I did wonder if the swirl flaps upset the fuel flow effecting the MPG some how. Bit like porting, removing them. Probably a combination of everything but a good result. I use the higher grade fuel as well.

It would seem that the smooth running was short lived... my Freelander 2 has started to idle roughly on a regular basis. I’m wracking my brain as to where I may have gone wrong as it ran really well prior to the swirl flap removal. I’m guessing maybe an air leak somewhere???

Bit of a further update on the rough start and occasional hiccup the car was suffering after I had removed the flaps. I happened to have the car idling when I noticed a series of air bubbles go through the fuel line coming out of the fuel filter to the injector rail, this was followed shortly after by several brief hiccups of the engine. Suspecting it’s the o rings in the connection out of the fuel filter I put a temporary o ring in and wrapped the outside of the connection in plumbers tape. It’s working, the car now starts as it should and idles without missing. I will look to now replace the connection with a new one.

Thanks Luke. Good one to know. I was wondering how long the seals would last in the filter connections seeing as the filter is changed relatively often. I did have an O ring in my last filter kit but couldn't see where it went.

Just changed the glow plugs in mine (2008 - 120,000 miles) so picked up an evoque flapless intake to put in having read through this thread. On removing the original intake I found all four flaps in place and in good condition! Brass bar had no play and the actuator appeared to be working fine! I put the evoque one in anyway though.

Hey guys,

Does anyone know what 'extras' are needed when removing swirl flaps? I'm keeping existing manifold and going to remove the flaps. I presume I need the seals for the intake. Anything else?

Just the inlet manifold seals for where it connects onto the head (there is 8 of them from memory, 4 o rings and 4 rectangular looking ones). I would be very tempted to do the glow plugs while you are there if they have never been replaced before and have some sealant also on hand for blocking up the hole where the little actuator that controls the flaps is located.

Thanks that's very helpful! I will do the glow plugs too! Just need to find the seals now, anyone got some part numbers? eBay just throws up random seals

AF Factors, site. Sponsor has some parts diagrams.

Try lr005364.

That's a great site! Thanks guys!

Hi all,

I have just bougth a second hand inlet manifold that has 70k miles on the clock. My car has 178k miles done. EGR blanked since 130k miles, so the plan is to replace the manifold on a preventive basis. I have inspected the flaps on the "new" manifold. looks like all of them is in one piece, standing in the open position. I find some play between the shaft and manifold body. Is this normal or should the shaft be sitting firmly in the "bearings" in the body? I will inspect it closer. Not sure what to do. After reading this thread, I am not sure if my old manifold is that bad after all??

I don’t think I’d be adding a manifold with swirl flaps? 🤔

MRRover75 wrote:

Hi all,

I have just bougth a second hand inlet manifold that has 70k miles on the clock. My car has 178k miles done. EGR blanked since 130k miles, so the plan is to replace the manifold on a preventive basis. I have inspected the flaps on the "new" manifold. looks like all of them is in one piece, standing in the open position. I find some play between the shaft and manifold body. Is this normal or should the shaft be sitting firmly in the "bearings" in the body? I will inspect it closer. Not sure what to do. After reading this thread, I am not sure if my old manifold is that bad after all??