Oil consumption in D4

[giskard]

Hi all. I have a query on oil consumption in the Disco 4 TDV6. I have an MY13 Disco that I picked up in December 2013. It's done circa 4000 km's to date. Lately, we've perceived that the engine has been a little noisy. I notice more of a diesel 'rattle' at idle etc.

On a hunch, I've just checked the oil levels. Parked flat. Waited 15 minutes. The service menu shows 1 notch above half way. This seems like a lot of consumption for 3 months of use.

So a couple of questions. Is this normal or should I be worried? Should I pop it back to the dealer or just buy some oil to top it up? Would the low oil level be contributing to the noisier engine?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[WhiteD3]

In 3 years and 72,000k (50% city/50% Hwy) my MY11 has used no oil.

[DI5CO]

I used to work for a dealership (not LR) and their cars sometimes used oil. I had customers say that in the 1st 15k, they had to top it up then no use after that. I had some say they constantly filled it up between services and others never had to touch it😳. As I said, not land rovers, so not sure if the same applies.
Dave.

[sniegy]

On Just about every vehicle in the D3/D4 range at first service i have had to add oil, including my own vehicle. The amount varies with every engine also.
With our customers we just top up free of charge. Would recommend you drop in to your dealer you purchased the vehicle from & ask for it to be topped up.
Cheers.

[Mungus]

How many notches are there above halfway? Seeing as it is only 4 months old therefore under warranty, I would take it back to the dealer so it's documented, get a sample tested, topped up and continue monitoring.

[JamesH]

I got a 3 litre 2012 Model and in the first six months it used oil. It also blew a big cloud of smoke when you booted it after a period of quiet driving.

When it went in for that six month check up I think it was down to half way on the gauge, maybe one notch above. The dealer thought that was a bit much (along with the smoke report) and did the drain upgrade in the turbo that you read about on the net. After that at the main 12 month service it had dropped down to one notch below full, but it had done a run from Perth to Adelaide and back, and also another 800km trip within WA not counting other country runs. I think it had got to about 18000km by that stage.

Anyway it came back from its first major service and in in 6000kms since then then guage has not moved from full.

In summary, I have been in your boat, and I kept the Dealer abreast of what was going on and it got sorted.

How is the smoke level when you give it some welly? Mine will still smoke of course when I tromp it but it is much improved and within what I would call acceptable. Before the upgrade it was too much, it never had any other symptoms, just a big cloud under load after a period of sedate driving.

For the most part I am a very sedate driver, probably too sedate for the motor, always going for economy, but there are certain places on a country run when I will deliberately plant it to give it a blow through. That is pretty much unanimous advice, including the dealer who has told me to show it who's boss at regular opportunities.

[giskard]

Thanks for the advice gang. There are 4 notches above the halfway point. So, at least visually, about 40% of the oil has been consumed.

Will call the dealer tomorrow and try to pop it in.

Cheers.

[pwillo]

My MY13 D4 was down 2 bars at about 3000ks, took it to another dealer as I was heading to a funeral in Maryborough.
Dealer added 1/2 a litre and gave me another litre for take home. Curiously they did no paper work so it will not be recorded on my service history.

2000 ks later, no drop in the gauge.

On a side note, they used Mazda C1 oil, told me it was the same and cheaper than LR home brand.

Regards

[giskard]

Hi James. Haven't noticed smoke at any time, even under load. I often follow it (wife driving) on my way to work and thus far, seems to run clean. No oil leaks that I can see either. Hopefully it's a porous block and will settle down in a few thousand km.

[VK3GJM]

I purchased a D4 my13 8 speed in March 2013. I clocked 5600km before a 7 week trip to Cape York and back towing a TVAN with many aftermarket accessories adding substantial weight and drag. The round trip was ~12300km. A full service, oil and filter was changed three days before the big trip. Oil level was full leaving and one notch down from full upon return.

I topped up with 120ml upon return home and the gauge went back to full. 100ml in 12300 km is remarkable given the flogging it got. I have read some competitors models would use 1ltr every 10000km, that sends alarm bells in my view.

Regards

Gerald

[JamesH]

Hi James. Haven't noticed smoke at any time, even under load. I often follow it (wife driving) on my way to work and thus far, seems to run clean. No oil leaks that I can see either. Hopefully it's a porous block and will settle down in a few thousand km.

Hi, good to hear. For the record, my car has and had no oil leaks and did not smoke (noticeably) at any stage under normal conditions, including acceleration. It was only under the heavy load of foot down and tacho racing to the red-line that things changed.

But as I said, keep the dealer informed of your concerns and be confident that it will settle down even if intervention is deemed necessary. :)

[letherm]

I noticed my MY13 D4 picked up in November had dropped a notch or so and mentioned it when I returned the car to get the trailer wiring installed that had been left out when it was built. The service guy said that these motors do use oil and that the gauge was not 100% accurate and that they do not recommend topping it up to full because of that concern. They did top it up though. I have not done a lot of mileage - less than 3000 km since pickup. I've done mainly short trips in city driving with a couple of expressway trips. Sure wish I had a dipstick to look at though :(

[giskard]

Agree a dipstick would be preferred. Sometimes analogue is best. :)

[nat_89]

Agree a dipstick would be preferred. Sometimes analogue is best. :)

I thought there was a dipstick under the bonnet on the left side of them engine? Maybe I'm wrong

[nat_89]

I purchased a D4 my13 8 speed in March 2013. I clocked 5600km before a 7 week trip to Cape York and back towing a TVAN with many aftermarket accessories adding substantial weight and drag. The round trip was ~12300km. A full service, oil and filter was changed three days before the big trip. Oil level was full leaving and one notch down from full upon return.

I topped up with 120ml upon return home and the gauge went back to full. 100ml in 12300 km is remarkable given the flogging it got. I have read some competitors models would use 1ltr every 10000km, that sends alarm bells in my view.

Regards

Gerald

I'll agree there I've had mine 2 months and done 10000kms with just the 3000km first service and oil change. Not once has it used any oil but I gave it a good hard run in and have given it a pretty good run when with hard acceleration and quick over taking so not sure if that makes any difference.

[West of]

Hi all, first post. Thought that I would share my experience with you all about engine oil level in the Disco. Having purchased D4 HSE in June and watching the oil level closely. Noticed that the level was dropping a bar at a time slowly so purchased one litre of oil from the dealer and waited for the day when the computer called for a top up.
Mostly highway driving as I am 200Km from major town. Anyhow at 8250Km engine called for 0.5 of a litre as top up. I may add that I was concerned that any engine would use this much oil in that period even my 18 year old lawn mower was better. Ok ended up adding 0.8 which bought the level back to the full mark.
At 10,000Km booked in to the dealer for a oil and filter change as I am from the old school and just could not let it go any longer especially for the first oil change.
Showed the service mechanic the remaining oil in the litre bottle and explained that the Disco asked for a top up which I thought was excessive. Mechanic said that he would drain and measure the oil to see what was in the sump. Dropped 9 litres of oil from the engine. I was not a happy chap. Looks like it was overfilled from the Factory/Pre delivery and the electronic DIP STICK was reading incorrectly.
12000Kms on the odo now and not one drop on the oil level indicator. Have a letter from the Dealer stating what they found in case there is engine trouble in the future. As LR manual states DO NOT OVERFILL as may cause serious damage.
Anyhow hope this helps?

[lpj]

I thought there was a dipstick under the bonnet on the left side of them engine? Maybe I'm wrong

You must have a special one!

[lpj]

Mine is using a bit. I do about 70k's a day- combination highway and stop start. I am not what you would call light footed on the right hand pedal.
This post prompted me to check the level this morning and it's down. I have had a full oil and filter change at 14K and another at 30k. It's now done 43K and this is where I'm at.


74751

I'll let them know at next service.

[nat_89]

You must have a special one!

I thought this was the dipstick I haven't pulled it out just a guess, but I could be wrong https://www.aulro.com/afvb/[/URL][/IMG]

[letherm]

Looks like it was overfilled from the Factory/Pre delivery and the electronic DIP STICK was reading incorrectly.
12000Kms on the odo now and not one drop on the oil level indicator. Have a letter from the Dealer stating what they found in case there is engine trouble in the future. As LR manual states DO NOT OVERFILL as may cause serious damage.
Anyhow hope this helps?

This ties in with what my dealer said about the inaccuracy of the oil gauge and about not overfilling.

[lpj]

I thought this was the dipstick I haven't pulled it out just a guess, but I could be wrong http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff243/nattherat89/Mobile%20Uploads/image.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/user/nattherat89/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image.jpg.html)

Perhaps its a breather? Sneigy will know.

[JayBee75]

This ties in with what my dealer said about the inaccuracy of the oil gauge and about not overfilling.

same, dropped mine in for a top up, dealer let it sit then told me it did not require topping up, even though it was just over half full. Said it was better to underfill than overfill, as they have lost engines due to overfill as they are extremely sensitive.

I think i will just stick to regular oil changes (changed oil at 10K) car is in for service next week, 20k. However have never seen the gauge at the full point.

[Dougal]

Thanks for the advice gang. There are 4 notches above the halfway point. So, at least visually, about 40% of the oil has been consumed.

Will call the dealer tomorrow and try to pop it in.

Cheers.

40% of the way between the marks is not 40% of the oil in the engine.

What do you lot hope to achieve with me frequent oil changes?

[letherm]

40% of the way between the marks is not 40% of the oil in the engine.

What do you lot hope to achieve with me frequent oil changes?

Interesting comment. I assumed that the display represented the total oil volume. It may well show (does anyone know?) a fraction of the actual volume so that the oil is topped before it's too late.

[lpj]

I know I read this in a post on here.

Is it 150 mls per notch??:question:

[West of]

At the half way mark on the readout a message popped up advising that 0.5 of a litre should be added

[sniegy]

Perhaps its a breather? Sneigy will know.
It is NOT a Dipstick. If you twist it, it will come off. BUT do not leave it off. Will cause issues & vent-engine doesn't like it:o
Its a sucker hose connection. That is where you connect the hose that sucks the oil from the engine out (Used for Jaguars as they done have drain plugs-yes its true, same engine different sump!)

Not sure if the quantities have changed but assume they have? but used to be 200mL per notch. It is also true to have the level at one notch down (as this is now how we prepare every new vehicle) but 99% of vehicles now turn up full.

I wouldn't stress too much over it. It is a NEW engine wearing itself in, there is bound to be some engine oil use.
Cheers

[CaverD3]

Yup, both my D3 and the D4 used oil at first then no use at all between services.

[Tombie]

I'll agree there I've had mine 2 months and done 10000kms with just the 3000km first service and oil change. Not once has it used any oil but I gave it a good hard run in and have given it a pretty good run when with hard acceleration and quick over taking so not sure if that makes any difference.


Exactly....

Bed them in, make them work...

Mines never used a drop since new.

[giskard]

Just a quick update guys. Popped it back to the dealer. They topped up and it's reading full again. Good to know the indicator isn't showing total capacity. Dealer wasn't too concerned. Said usage varies, but not too much to worry about.

Thanks for the tips and advice. I'll keep an eye on it. Will be interesting to see how it goes.

[Orangi]

Great to hear I am not the only one with these concerns. I picked my D4 in December 2013 and it is just below half 5k on the clock

[nat_89]

It is NOT a Dipstick. If you twist it, it will come off. BUT do not leave it off. Will cause issues & vent-engine doesn't like it:o
Its a sucker hose connection. That is where you connect the hose that sucks the oil from the engine out (Used for Jaguars as they done have drain plugs-yes its true, same engine different sump!)

Not sure if the quantities have changed but assume they have? but used to be 200mL per notch. It is also true to have the level at one notch down (as this is now how we prepare every new vehicle) but 99% of vehicles now turn up full.

I wouldn't stress too much over it. It is a NEW engine wearing itself in, there is bound to be some engine oil use.
Cheers


Cheers mate I didn't open it just saw it there and guessed it could be a dipstick but after my wife got home I checked it out.

[nat_89]

Exactly....

Bed them in, make them work...

Mines never used a drop since new.

That's what I do with all my cars from new give them a good hard run in no towing, but your right make them work and yeah none of mine have used any oil as I said even after 10000kms not a drop used

[discojools]

Had to top up my D3 early on and then never again. My D4 2.7 hasn't need a topup at all now at 98000k.

[giskard]

Quick update on the oil usage. A couple of months on and I popped it back to the dealer for another top up. He said they popped in half a litre.

I'm not noticing any fresh oil leaks in the garage. I might poke my head under the car tomorrow and see if I can see any leaking seals etc.

It doesn't generally blow smoke, but I did give it a real boot the other day and noticed a reasonable amount of smoke in the rear view mirror. That was the first time I've seen it.

Dealer suggested when I pop it in for the 6 month check up to grab a loan car and leave it with them for a couple of days to have a decent look at it.

I'm not massively concerned at the moment, but it does seem a bit unusual. Should I be worried?

Cheers.