How much oil did your Diesel D4 Consume?

[SilvaD4]

Hi to all 2013 to 2014 D4 3.0L Diesel Owners.

Just curious to know if anyone has a recollection as to how much engine oil was consumed from new in the 1st 6 to 12 months of ownership.

The reason being I just had an issue over the weekend when my 12 month old (18k km) produced a critically low engine oil warning while driving out of Brisbane (about 70 km north towards the Sunshine Coast).

A check of the service menu screen indicated the engine oil was "below minimum". If the oil was at the top when I took ownership this meant it could have lost as much as 1.5L.

This resulted in a tow truck trip back to Brisbane as I had no top up oil handy (and no one in Beerwah had any correct spec oil in stock) I just could not risk another 30 km drive to the nearest major town which had a Super Barn our Auto Cheap.

What? I hear you say. Surely a bees thingy below minimum will not hurt the mighty D4!

The issue is that without a dipstick one cannot tell how much "below minimum" really is. It could be a bees thingy or it could be a lot more. So, to play it safe - tow truck.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[WhiteD3]

Neither my '09 D4 2.7 or '13 3.0 used any oil.

[Silenceisgolden]

Nor my MY2011 2.7. Never a move on the dipstick between (12K) services.

[mawhite]

Our MY15 TDV6 (from new to 1st service) dropped 0.5 litres. Told by the dealer this was nothing as the capacity on the engine was something like 8 litres.

[JamesH]

My 2012 3 litre dropped probably 5 or 6 notches on the gauge in the first eighteen months. I also suffered from excessive smoke after tramping it for the first time in a while.

These symptoms led to the installation of the drain upgrade and this appeared to fix the problem as far as I am concerned but later on a small oil leak led to a decision by the dealer to replace the second turbo.

Oil use stopped but has started again, only a notch or two between services but I'm monitoring it.

I suggest you take it to a specialist. Does it smoke when you give it the welly?

[Celtoid]

My 2012 3 litre dropped probably 5 or 6 notches on the gauge in the first eighteen months. I also suffered from excessive smoke after tramping it for the first time in a while.

These symptoms led to the installation of the drain upgrade and this appeared to fix the problem as far as I am concerned but later on a small oil leak led to a decision by the dealer to replace the second turbo.

Oil use stopped but has started again, only a notch or two between services but I'm monitoring it.

I suggest you take it to a specialist. Does it smoke when you give it the welly?

My 2009 D4 never 'used' oil at all .... as any usage was being masked by the DPF system but my 2013 used a little when brand spanking and none since then.

Don't all Non-DPF diesels smoke when you give them welly? Mine certainly does and a few other blokes I know with D4s report the same. Much more obvious at night when you have the headlights of the car behind you illuminating the 'fog'. Black smoke that is.

[pprass]

I recently had a "Critically Low Oil" warning in our D4 TDV6 MY15 which had done 17k. However nearly all of that was towing a 3 tonne van!
When that happened I was also in the middle of nowhere, but when I got some phone reception I was told that it would be ok to put in 2 litres of 10W oil to get out of trouble, but to replace all of the oil as soon as possible - which I did.

8k later and the oil is down about a 3rd on the gauge, but again I am using the vehicle to mainly tow a massive van, so I am putting the oil usage down to that?

Doesn't really explain anything for you, just my experience.

Peter

[l00kin4]

My MY14 has done 15k since service in January (it's at 40k now) and I recently topped it up with about 600ml

Mostly relatively short local trips, a couple of longer ones (Stockton etc.) and a run up to Fraser Island and back. No towing.

Going in for a service again soon.


David

[LandyAndy]

Mine is about to turn 15000km.
I got it topped up at the dealer,about 200ml as it was down 3 marks on the dash,that was at around 1000km,no charge for the oil either.Couldnt buy any as they have it in 1000lt plastic cubes,have to take a container next time.
Hasnt used any since.
Andrew

[LRD414]

MY14 just clocked over 30k. Two oil changes in that time. Never had any movement on the oil gauge, including about 9k towing a 1.5t camper trailer.

Scott

[jonesy63]

As the blocks are made out of compacted graphite iron, there is often a varying amount of oil which is naturally sucked into the pores of the block. From my reading and experience over 2 motors, usually 200-400mL within the first 10,000km. Note that this is on the 2.7 block made from the same material, but with one less "hair dryer" and dodgy plumbing! :p:wasntme::D

[aus86inch]

Just checked my oil level, 29000 on clock and have towed 3t van about 7000km guage still on full. And yes blows plenty of smoke when given the weĺly😊

[Meken]

Black smoke is from the diesel - it's the blue smoke you don't want ;)

[Celtoid]

Black smoke is from the diesel - it's the blue smoke you don't want ;)


That's where I was going ;-)

[LGM]

I have (as of today) 151400 and something km on the clock on my 2011 D4 3.0L HSE.....between oil changes at every 13,000km my vehicle did not use (according to the electrical gauge) any oil. however I have noticed over the last 12 months is that after an oil and filter change the oil level drops slightly then sits steady until l the next change.

The electronic gauge shows that in the first week or three after an oil change the level drops one notch then that is where it sits.

What that means....well.....I haven't got the faintest!

Over the last four plus years I have lived with the D4 there has never been a requirement to top up the oil between changes....I do tow trailers and a 1.5t camper trailer......and as I said I am changing oil at a higher frequency that that recommended for most!

[jonesy63]

The electronic gauge shows that in the first week or three after an oil change the level drops one notch then that is where it sits.

What that means....well.....I haven't got the faintest!

Maybe the empty filter and plumbing to it after the change takes the oil level down a bit?

[discojools]

My 05 D3 and my 2011 2.7 D4 have never needed a drop of oil in a combined 300,000 kilometres.

[SilvaD4]

A check of the service menu screen indicated the engine oil was "below minimum". If the oil was at the top when I took ownership this meant it could have lost as much as 1.5L.

Firstly to all who replied I would like to thank everyone for the excellent feedback, this has been a great help.

Just to update.....

On the Monday during a phone call to the dealer in Brisbane (not the purchasing dealer) they said "could not find any leaks". They also pointed out that my 1st service was due by about 2 weeks (by time, not distance) and would I like to have the service done while they had the vehicle. They could then investigate further (e.g. drop the sump and measure contents etc) I said okay but I did mention that there was no indication on the dash display that a service was due.

One day later they called (left a message on my mobile) to say that the service was done, and that the oil level was quite low (but no detail). As it was quite late in the day I called back to say I would pick up next day (Wednesday).

On Wednesday at 8 am I dropped in. They were very busy and the guy I had spoken to earlier was not in. A different service manager went through the service report with me (what they did etc).
There was no mention on the front service sheet as to what they found. I asked about the oil level (he was not aware of why I had dropped the car in). He then paged through the sheets to look for any notes left by the technician (stuff you normally do not see).

According to the technician's notes he found only 2.5L of oil in the sump:o.
The comment by the technician as to the likely cause was "oil level not checked by selling dealer":o:o.

The service manager was a bit concerned that I had read this comment (obviously not for me to see) but did agree that this was the most likely cause (as there were no leaks and my exhaust levels were normal). As they were very busy at the time and I had work commitments I left the SHMBO to bring the D4 home.

We now have the D4 back and all is well again (oil level now to the very top) however should I be worried?? Will my engine last just as long??

I will be monitoring the oil level a bit more closely from now on and am seriously considering buying the extended warranty