Checking oil level

[mojo]

Should a 2013 TDV6 have a dipstick? Mine doesn't, but it does have the on screen gauge that you access through the service menu.

The manual says it should have one, and that only the SE and HSE use the on screen gauge.

I would much rather have a dip stick, if for no other reason than on at least 2 occasions when I've tried to look at the on screen gauge it's told me "not accessible" or something similar.

Cheers
Sean

[pprass]

I get the same "Not available" message on my MY15 Discovery. I took it to a dealer that we were passing and they said that they are "temperamental :(" and that I should wait until the oil cools down before looking at the gauge. When I told them that I tried looking at it first thing in the morning before I even started the engine, I was told - oh no, you have to get it to a certain temp :mad:
At the dealer while all of that discussion was going on (about 7 minutes) he then accessed the gauge - and guess what - it worked!
So it seems that you have to wait about 10 minutes after switching the engine off to get a reading and not in the morning when it is really cold.

[WhiteD3]

Got to wait 10 minutes. So stop for fuel, do your thing then check it before you drive away. This would be what's called "progress". :wasntme:

[dazray]

I always check my MY11 SE in the
morning before I start the car without
any issues. If you want to check it when you stop the car, you have to wait 10 minutes.
Interestingly the manual says.
Prior to checking the oil level ensure that:
- The vehicle is on level ground.
- The engine oil has reached working temperature (oil is hot).
- The engine has been switched off for 10 minutes, as the system will not give an accurate reading until the oil level has stabilised.

For the 2.7 diesel with the dip stick it says.
Check the oil level when the engine is cold.
If it is necessary to check the oil level when the engine is hot, wait for 5 minutes to allow the oil to drain back into the sump.

Daz.

[letherm]

Got to wait 10 minutes. So stop for fuel, do your thing then check it before you drive away. This would be what's called "progress". :wasntme:

Exactly right.

You have to wait 10 minutes after the engine stops for the oil check to be available. Alternative is to do the check before you start the engine (providing of course it has been more than 10 minutes since you turned the engine off ;) )

It never ceases to amaze me that some dealer staff don't know the simple things about the cars they sell. BTW it should be in your manual. If all else fails etc.

Martin

[Graeme]

As per the WSM, press the cruise control cancel button twice within 2 seconds if the display shows the level is N/A then go through the menus to have another look. Same process applies when topping-up to get an updated display.

[mojo]

Thanks for the replies guys. Seems a bit odd to have something as important as oil level checking left to a system that's "tempermental". Although I guess if you follow their recommended steps it might work every time.

I'm still not sure if I should have a dip stick or not. The manual definitely says a TDV6 should have a dip stick. Perhaps this changed when they moved from the 2.7l TDV6 to the 3l TDV6, and they didn't update the manual?

Cheers
Sean

[Tombie]

Thanks for the replies guys. Seems a bit odd to have something as important as oil level checking left to a system that's "tempermental". Although I guess if you follow their recommended steps it might work every time.

I'm still not sure if I should have a dip stick or not. The manual definitely says a TDV6 should have a dip stick. Perhaps this changed when they moved from the 2.7l TDV6 to the 3l TDV6, and they didn't update the manual?

Cheers
Sean

Correct - all 3.0L engines use the in dash read out...

And yes, I would consider it progress... As unlike a "stick" the sensor can warn you when the oil drops below a preset level - on a long drive a dipstick wont tell you anything until your oil light comes on!

[scarry]

Correct - all 3.0L engines use the in dash read out...

And yes, I would consider it progress... As unlike a "stick" the sensor can warn you when the oil drops below a preset level - on a long drive a dipstick wont tell you anything until your oil light comes on!

But does it actually do that?

There are many vehicles around that have a dip stick and a low oil level light as well.Mitsubishi come to mind,then again they also have a reputation for using oil.:D

[Melbourne Park]

... unlike a "stick" the sensor can warn you when the oil drops below a preset level - on a long drive a dipstick wont tell you anything until your oil light comes on!

But ... if the vehicle will warn you of low oil on a long drive, why can't the software access you in real time? Or when stationary before the 10 minute interval?

Does the vehicle do a self check 10 minutes after being switched off? If not, then there "must be" (IMO) a live level system operating.

[Melbourne Park]

IMO the oil system on the D4 3 litre can be explained (and I am a fan of dip sticks):

- Wait until the add oil warning comes on
- Use the oil level / level ground / hot oil system to work out how much oil to add.

It's concerning that evidently over topping oil into the diesel motor can damage the motor.

Good news is that the 3 litre doesn't seem to use much oil.
Bad news is that may not mean much, because distillate leaks into the lubrication oil (this happens to all diesels). This is more of an issue when LR change oils at long intervals (26k KM for non towing or non harsh driving). Which is why Toyota change oil in diesels more often.

Do LR test the oil for dilution when they change the oil?

I do wonder too what defines harsh driving - for instance, is Darwin classified as harsh, or Alice Springs in the summer time?

[pprass]

...then there "must be" (IMO) a live level system operating.
I can tell you from personal experience from just a few weeks ago that while driving our MY15 TDV6, a warning light came on (red triangle) with the words "Critically Low Oil" below it. I stopped, switched the engine off, waited about 5 minutes, started again and no message. However about 10 minutes later it came on again.

[LandyAndy]

IMO the oil system on the D4 3 litre can be explained (and I am a fan of dip sticks):

- Wait until the add oil warning comes on
- Use the oil level / level ground / hot oil system to work out how much oil to add.

It's concerning that evidently over topping oil into the diesel motor can damage the motor.

Good news is that the 3 litre doesn't seem to use much oil.
Bad news is that may not mean much, because distillate leaks into the lubrication oil (this happens to all diesels). This is more of an issue when LR change oils at long intervals (26k KM for non towing or non harsh driving). Which is why Toyota change oil in diesels more often.

Do LR test the oil for dilution when they change the oil?

I do wonder too what defines harsh driving - for instance, is Darwin classified as harsh, or Alice Springs in the summer time?

Toyota change oils in diesels more often because they are DIRTY engines,they turn sump oil black,and if you dont change it often it will set in the sump.All older jap engines are the same,having owned a diesel triton and worked with the 4.2 toyota,4.2 nissan,3.0lt Rodeo,2.8lt and 3.0lt Hilux.If you dont change the oils in these,and the reccomendation is 5000km the soot in the oil glazes the bores.One then needs to use a de-carbonising product to stop them using oil and regain lost output.
My D2 had been on synthetic oil since new,20000km service intervals,sold it at 290000ks.The oil may have looked discoloured on the dipstick,however it was never dirty enough to stain your fingers,try that with a dirty diesel.
Our engines are built to eurospec rules,the others arent.
Andrew

[Melbourne Park]

Toyota change oils in diesels more often because they are DIRTY engines,they turn sump oil black,and if you dont change it often it will set in the sump.....

My D2 had been on synthetic oil since new,20000km service intervals,sold it at 290000ks.The oil may have looked discoloured on the dipstick,however it was never dirty enough to stain your fingers,try that with a dirty diesel.
Our engines are built to eurospec rules,the others arent.
Andrew

Firstly, I don't know how dirty my oil is in my D4. Because it doesn't have a dip stick. Maybe the oil filler area would show me the oil - I should have a look I guess.

Secondly, while the motors you've mentioned are dirty, they are not common rail diesels. The Toyota D4D engine oils get contaminated very quickly, because of the EGR setup (exhaust gas recirculation). The EGR setup was done I understand, to satisfy Euro Nox standards - some say though that Nox is converted in the catalysers anyway. Such contaminants going back into the inlet some say also cause engine wear. A common cure is to put a blocking plate into the EGR, with a 6 or 7mm hole in the middle of the plate. This restricts flow, yet avoids error lights occuring. Some experts say that the much lower amount of crankcase air and particles that gets through to the inlet can be handled by the engine without worries. While the oil of a D4D is sooty and black at 1,000km, some experts claim that a D4D motor with an EGR restrictor plate will result in lubrication oil that will be clean at even 13,000km. But all D4D owners I think do change oil by 10k, and many stick to 5k. Because its a safe practice, and the oil is cheap. Unlike the very strict oil that LR specifies, which is also costly. An oil and filter change on a Prado or Hilux D4D costs $60, if you do it yourself. Its cheap to do and hence most regard it as sensible.

I am not sure if the EGR blocks things in the Dagenham 3 litre diesel motors. Or if there is a way around the issue of crankcase goo in a Disco common rail diesel. Because I tow at times, I am changing the oil at 13,000km intervals. I suppose I should test the oil, perhaps I am wasting money. But many think its cheap insurance.

[Meccles]

I find the in dash system temperamental as well. There should be a dipstick supplied for quick check when doing long haul trips. They have effrontery to put sign on fuel cap that oil is to be checked every 1000km, then have a system that only seems to work under very strict conditions. Not once after fueling, going in to pay, then returning to car, did oil level check work during two return trips Sunshine Coast to Melbourne. Sometimes, only after say lunch, it did. I reckon pretty useless really as gauge for owners to verify that oil level is ok. There should be a dipstick for quick verification. This on a car that was at time blowing oil smoke so you want to keep an eye on it.

[BobD]

Even if you checked with a dip stick you would be required to wait for the proper conditions to get an accurate level. The D4 system just does this for you. However, with a dip stick it is possible to do a quick check to estimate the level near enough, even though it doesn't comply with the specified conditions.


My BMW motorcycle is even worse, although it has a dip stick. You must check it with the engine hot after at least 30 minutes of riding and after idling for 60 seconds after the fan comes on. You then have to wait a set time for the oil to settle before checking it. If you don't, the oil doesn't touch the dip stick, which is very short and only measures a small amount of oil loss. It also does a self check but while riding to work, this check says it's unavailable until I stop at traffic lights for a long time after riding for at least 20 minutes. I think it is the modern way, unfortunately.

[Meccles]

Understood it is "modern" way however sometimes the technology hasn't yet caught up with the idea. My bet is in years to come these systems will be far better. Unfortunately for manufacturer to go "backwards" and fit say a dipstick means admitting that perhaps the system wasn't flawless. Which they never seem to do:)

[scarry]

Understood it is "modern" way however sometimes the technology hasn't yet caught up with the idea. My bet is in years to come these systems will be far better. Unfortunately for manufacturer to go "backwards" and fit say a dipstick means admitting that perhaps the system wasn't flawless. Which they never seem to do:)

Exactly,once again technology for technology's sake.

With no real advantage for many.

As I have said,dipstick and level switch,which many vehicles have,no issues at all.

[Meccles]

:clap2::clap2::clap2:

[lpj]

Personally, I find the dash check very convenient. My other car has a "real" dipstick and probably gets less attention. I wear a suit most days so I end up putting off the oil check.
Never had a problem checking 1st thing in the morning.

[Eevo]

my little peugeot, when you jump in tells you the oil level for a few second before reverting back to oil temperature. seems to line up with the dipstick pretty well.

[BobD]

Personally, I find the dash check very convenient. My other car has a "real" dipstick and probably gets less attention. I wear a suit most days so I end up putting off the oil check.
Never had a problem checking 1st thing in the morning.



Mine always works first thing in the morning as well. Must be a temperature thing and perhaps it doesn't work below a certain temperature as it will read low. In sunny WA I have never had that problem.