When to service the D4?

[kenl]

I notice some owners are getting their D4 serviced at 12,000km, my dealer said 12k servicing, but the book and elsewhere says 24k.

It would be nice to see the oil colour has anybody made a dip stick yet.

Just wondering what others are doing, it's a 9 hour round trip to the dealer I bought it from and 6 hours to the nearest (who I'm not keen to deal with) so I'm not really keen to have an extra service unless it's going to affect the warrenty.

Ken

[Scouse]

Australia has 12k/6mth service intervals.

The additional 'services' are just a basic health check (oil change/check over) though so you could do this yourself if you wanted to.

[mowog]

The table form the Land Rover site says 24000/12

Land Rover AU - Servicing & Maintenance - Service Interval Table (http://www.landrover.com.au/au/en/ownership/about-my-land-rover/servicing-and-maintenance/Service_Interval_Table.htm)

Says the same in the owners manual. The 12k is for lots of towing or other harsh conditions.

[Disco4SE]

I just had my 12,000Klm service which does not include an oil & filter change. I requested it and had it done. 24,000Klm's is too long to go without an oil & filter change, especially on a new motor. It is expensive though, as the oil itself is $200.00. The filter was $30.00.
A very good investment though I think.
I wouldnt use your own oil because of possible warranty issues. Also, I beleive that the oil that they use is far superior than the oil you buy from Autobahn etc.
Go for the oil change.

[mowog]

The oil is...

CASTROL SLX PROFESSIONAL POWERFLOW C1 5W-30
Castrol SLX Professional Powerflow C1 5W-30 is an advanced synthetic SAE 5W-30 high performance motor oil. Castrol SLX Professional Powerflow C1 5W-30 is recommended where the following current and superseded specification or performance levels are cited: Specifications: • SAE 5W-30. • ACEA A1/B1, A5/B5, C1. • Meets Ford WSS-M2C-934-B.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I would take scouse's advice as your Bible,,,

or to put it another way,,

disregard his D4 advice at your peril;):D

[Scouse]

I would take scouse's advice as your Bible,,,

or to put it another way,,

disregard his D4 advice at your peril;):DPlease don't take my advice as gospel.

I've double checked the schedule & the oil allowance that LR pay for under the corporate plan is actually only a top up amount ($9) so Disco4SE is correct - there is no oil change on the 12k services.

Another thing I've noticed is that the 5.0 & 2.7 D4s are 12k intervals where as the 3.0 is 13k.

[Scouse]

I'm now even more confused after checking GTR :confused:.

One section says that Austraila has 1yr service intervals (24k or 26k depending on engine) & says to use the service schedule for UK & Europe (EUR-JLR 14 71 21_1E). I'm sure that cannot be correct as we have never used the UK schedule in all my time with LR.

Looking through all the service schedules listed, I think Australia should be following the ROW schedule (ROW-JLR 14 70 21_1E). This actually shows an oil/filter change at 12k/13k intervals.

Every other country in the Asia pacific region (except Japan) uses the ROW schedule.

[trobbo]

if in doubt change it out. ;)

Look at what there is to loose in NOT spending $200 for oil in a 100K car as opposed to one that has had it done come trade in time. In the second hand D3 market, a vehicle without a service history just keeps getting ovelooked by potential new owners.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, changing the oil would be it. The long term benefits of oil changes have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis or reliable then my own meandering experience.

Edit - would also add that I would be prepared to change the oil myself 6 monthly but send it back to the dealer annually for it's 'proper' service.

[Disco4SE]

Hi again Scouse, just change it mate. I have always fetched good money for my vehicles mainly because of regular maintenance and servicing. As Trobbo said, when in doubt, just change it

[brad72]

I had the same question when i bought the D4 a few weeks back.
The service manager said if you are doing high km's then the 12 month/24,000km is ok but for city driving/short trips he recommended the 6 month/12,000km service. The later suits me as I would rather be sure, even if the modern oils perform pretty well.

[sniegy]

Let the fun begin....;)
2.7Ltr Originally 12M/24K Km's, 3.0/5.0Ltr Originally 12M/26K Km's.

Corporate Servicing.
LR will now pay the labour time for the 6 Month health check but this does NOT include oil & oil filter-If customer requests this, then the customer must pay for oil & oil filter & yes it is expensive.

NON Corporate/Private buyer.
It is recommended to do, but not compulsory, If the customer does want the 6 month health check to be carried out & yes the customer must pay for this also which again does not include labour, oil & oil filter this time.

It is recommended to do 6mnth wise as if the vehicle is regulary looked at
then LR will look favorably at your vehicle when warranty expires.

HTH.

[Watpub]

Are we talking dealer service here?

I've always had my new (Toyota) cars serviced by the guy down the road who does a full by-the-book dealer service but has the advantage of being cheaper (less overheads) and is only a walk away. To date he's done a spot on job. In fact I'd have to say I always felt more confident having him do it than some "unknown" at the dealer. If I have to take my D4 back to the dealer its a full on hike cross town.

I know car manufacturers always "insist" that cars be dealer serviced, but are there any valid reason for choosing dealer service over standard garage service when it comes to Landrovers???

Ron

[sniegy]

Yes,
Thats not from me either working for a dealer, but.

If you purchased the vehicle & never returned.......
If there is a bulletin that needs to be done to your vehicle, It will never get done.
Also recalls, if you move while owning your vehicle LR will never be able to send out the info you reqire. Again a NON delaer will not have access to the LR computer to check what Recall, Actions &/or Service Bulletins are required to be done to your vehicle albeit an expensive one!

Some of the service bulletins are quite handy, If u have a small niggling problem, you may find that the delaer can fix rather quickly while the NON dealer is charging you hours to repair!

Also all warranty work must be carried out by a LR dealer.
Unless authorised by LR (ie Darwin)

Cheers.

Watpub, have a look in the D4 Electric trailer brakes as this has the photo of the Red Arc controller i promised. :)

[Watpub]

Thanks Pete,

The good thing about the D4 service is that it's not required as often as the Toyota was (every 5,000 ks). Even though LR are talking 26k I'd still have it done every 10-12k. You're probably right that it would be to my advantage to get a dealer service. Might even bring it into town and go shopping while it's being done! ;)

And, I saw the RedArc controller pictures the other day. Looks good, and I think they're more practical than the Prodigys give the in-dash mounting. I've now been told my D4 has gone to build so I'll be in touch in the next few months. I'd be pretty keen to hit the road with the van for a shake down soon after getting the car.

Is there any recommendation for running the vehicle in before towing? I'm getting conflicting stories from salesmen. Old salts recommend the tried and true 1,000 kms while the young guns reckon they've run in on the benches and should be fine from the start.

Regards,

Ron

[mowog]

Speaking of small funny problems...

Sometimes my reversing camera wont turn off. You have to stop and start the car to reset it.

[sniegy]

Ahh Land Rover Glitches.......:p

Mowog, Wait for the Q093, there is a heap of downloads (I am talking hours here) to fix a lot of niggling little things.

Ron, Yes the vehicles are bench run prior to fitting & then run in the vehicle for a short while.
It is always best as i did for the first few hundred K's to just basically take it easy on baking, varying rev's etc etc. I am still from the old school & doing it this way wont hurt anything anyway.

Cheers

[mowog]

I have a big road trip in June will Q093 be done before then?

I might couple that with a once over and an oil change.

[sniegy]

It should, but i would ring your dealer & book in a month prior to going away.;)

[kenl]

I didn't expect so many replies!! First up the only Bible I have (at hand) is the one that came with the car and it CLEARLY says that service intervals are 12month / 24,000 km. And that's not some rest of world assumption it says "Australia"

It makes no mention at all about recommended, but not compulsory services. I do rack up the kms fairly quickly with most of it on the open road. I've averaged about 1000 km a week since getting the D4.
I totally agree that regular oil changes can only be good but these new fully synthetic oils preform very well. On my D2 I only serviced it every 20k and now it's got 300k on it and still going, it's had problems with everything else but the lubrication of the engine and drive train.

And as for LR looking favourably upon an owner after warranty ..... Please:D:D:D:D:D... They will drop you like a hot spud unless there are likely to be statutory warranty issues . (like bolts falling out of oil pumps etc)

Unfortunately I'm still none the wiser on what to do, if I could see the oil I may have a better idea, may dip a length of silver solder down the tube tomorrow and see what I reckon. If the dealer was around the corner I'd probably have it changed But LR Aust shut down our local..


Does anyone know if the D3 dip stick works on a 3.0l D4???

Still pondering

[RoverLander]

This is good info on when to service. I will do one at 12K even though the manual clearly states 24K.

I've noticed that my oil level has dropped slightly since new. Nothing to worry about. I'm about to do a 5K trip and wont be near a LR Dealer. I want to take some oil in case I need a top up.

Today I went to the local dealer to see if they could sell me some. Answer... No they just have big drums of the stuff. What oil do I buy then I asked. Castrol Magnatec 10W-40 and its fully synthetic they say.

Went to buy some at Supercheap...its available but its not synthetic and does not meet the oil specifications stated in the owner manual. Checked website... no such Magnatec synthetic oil available.

So... what do I take in case I need to do a top up somewhere... does anyone know?

[mowog]

There is a rumor that VW dealers sell CASTROL SLX PROFESSIONAL POWERFLOW C1 5W-30 in 5 or 1 liter bottles.

[CaverD3]

If you intend servicing with your local dealer they should have topped it up for you. Mine did with the D3 when it used some oil from new. I assume the D4 is doing the same as the D3: the block absorbing oil to begin with?

[Dingmark Jim]

In amongst all the verbage in my owner manual, page 204 footnote 1 says that if you can't get the full spacification (bla, bla, bla), "...an SAE 5W-30 engine oil meeting specification ACEA:C2 can be used". A bit further down it says that "Land Rover recommends: Castrol". I've found that most (but oddly enough, not all) Castrol Edge Sport 5W-30 oil containers meets spec C2.

That said, page 206 "Topping up the oil" says to leave the ignition on (push button with foot off brake) when topping up oil to have the computer register the oil level being filled and leave it on for a further 5 minutes. Somewhere else (the Disco3.co.uk website?) I recall reading that it takes the diagonstic computer (or the BlackBox Solutions computer, not just fault resetter) being plugged into the D4 to get an oil change registered. If someone bit a bit more solid information than my muddled memory can correct/update how to top-up and/or change the oil it may help us all. This has certainly put a bit of caution in my mind to just doing my own oil change without more knowledge.

[rick130]

if in doubt change it out. ;)

[snip]
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, changing the oil would be it. The long term benefits of oil changes have been proved by scientists
[snip]


:eek:

I doubt they were the same 'scientists' that watch over and advise on oil change intervals of 100,000km in large over the road semi's.

[rick130]

This is good info on when to service. I will do one at 12K even though the manual clearly states 24K.

I've noticed that my oil level has dropped slightly since new. Nothing to worry about. I'm about to do a 5K trip and wont be near a LR Dealer. I want to take some oil in case I need a top up.

Today I went to the local dealer to see if they could sell me some. Answer... No they just have big drums of the stuff. What oil do I buy then I asked. Castrol Magnatec 10W-40 and its fully synthetic they say.

Went to buy some at Supercheap...its available but its not synthetic and does not meet the oil specifications stated in the owner manual. Checked website... no such Magnatec synthetic oil available.

So... what do I take in case I need to do a top up somewhere... does anyone know?

Take a clean container in and ask for it to be filled out of their bulk (220l) drum.
I've done this before with Land Rover PAS 14315, etc.
Most dealers will be fine with this.

If there's no fuel dilution don't sweat the longer intervals too much unless you do a lot of short trip, (under 20km) or stop/start city commuting.
If you do mainly highway/interstate runs 24k km OCI's are easily achievable on a modern premium syn oils running <10ppm sulphur diesel. (if TD)

I used to go 20,000km easily on an IDI Nissan when fuel was still 500ppm and then 50ppm sulphur running premium syn oil (all highway/country towing miles)

[Disco4SE]

I have probably mentioned this before, but I don't think any oil is good enough to go 24,000Klm's on a new engine. If you are spending top $ on a Disco, changing the oil at 12,000Klm's is a tiny investment.
By chnaging the oil every 12,000Klm's, your engine will last longer and you will get more money for your vehicle when you go to sell it.
Cheers, Craig

[mowog]

I had my oil and filter done at the 6 mth 12k service. I was told I didn't need to. I explained that my D4 tows a caravan and that I will be doing oil and filter every 12k.

[Disco4SE]

I had my oil and filter done at the 6 mth 12k service. I was told I didn't need to. I explained that my D4 tows a caravan and that I will be doing oil and filter every 12k.
My LR dealer said the same to me and response was the same.

[RoverLander]

Problem fixed.

I had a quick friendly talk with the service manager at the local dealer who suggested I bring in a suitable container. He gave me 5 litres of the correct oil (the stuff only dealers can get).

Good service and my impression of the dealer has just gone up a few notches.:)