Unusual Oil Usage

[Ace]

Hi guys the disco has been using oil, however it isnt a regular burn that you would associate with worn rings. I changed the oil a few thousand km's ago, i checked the oil about 1000km later and it was where i had filled to, i checked the oil this morning and it was only half way between the add and full line at about 2-2500km after the change. There are a couple of leaks on some of the oil lines going to and from the oil filter assembly. Any ideas? Is there a common problem where a seal goes where the oil might leak to a place where it cant be seen when looking in the engine bay? Matt

[Wortho]

Had a petrol engine blow a whole heap of oil into the airbox once didn't see it till i checked the air filter.
Would diesels do that????. you wouldn't see it in the engine bay!. Sorry thats all i got i'm only new to diesel engines.

[Lindsay]

Hi Ace

I have noticed on my tdi disco, that the level indicated on the dipstick is VERY sensitive to 2 things:

Slope of the ground-any deviation from level alters it a lot

Amount of time since engine stopped - makes a huge difference

I now dont bother checking unless the engine is cold and is on level ground as I know the indicated level is wrong-I did once top up after a check only to find it over full when I checked it properly.

Hopefully you dont have a problem at all???

Lindsay

[Ace]

The air box is fine i had that out the other day to make extra room to get at the welsh plug i had to change.

I drained the radiator the other day and all appearwell there wasnt any oil or anything in the water, and when the oil is changed there isnt water in the oil so a head gasket problem isnt the issue, or that i can see.

Hi Lindsay, i have also noticed that the dipstick is sensitive, i checked it on flat ground but had started the engine to move it to flat ground so i could check it, i let it sit for ages before i actually checked it and it was halfway between the full and the add line. I slightly overfilled it when i changed the oil, i had the oil a couple of millimetres above the full line. I checked it sometime later and it hadnt moved, when i checked it the engine was hot and it was on flat ground.

It did the same last time i changed the oil, i was a couple of thousand km's overdue and the oil had dropped to the add line, but as it seems most of the time up to the 5000km mark it doesnt use much at all. Another member had mentioned that they had had the same problem where the engine didnt use any until it passed the magic 5000km mark.

I recently changed engine oil to Valvoline from Caltex Dello400 (the local distributor closed down so i cant get the Caltex) would that cause it, maybe the oil is to thin or something, i did get the all that valvoline specify for my model. Matt

[rsrichie]

the only advise i can offer may not apply to deisels. I use to run Mobil 1 which is a very good lubricator and high in detergent which was great for the bottom end. but it ran to thin and would get forced past the rings and end up on my tailgate via the exhaust. I spoke to a rep from a oil company who was pretty clued up and he advised that although the mobil 1 is a great oil it is made for engines that that run tighter tolerances ie motors designed in this milenium.
He recomended to run a good quality mineral oil which i have since changed to and since then use very little oil and have none on my tailgate anymore.

[Disco300Tdi]

Maybe buy a longer dipstick Matt https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[camel_landy]

G'Day Matt... https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Those oil pipes are known for leaking. FWIW... Landrover have changed the design and the new ones don't have the same problems. Can't comment on aftermarket ones though.

The other thing that will use oil is if you use the gearbox for engine braking while slowing down (while out on the bitumen).

HTH

Mark.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:#333399">when checking your oil level...make sure the vehicle is always on level ground......
and try and always check it at the same temperature....as the oil expands to some degree when hot
and will give you a higher reading than when checked cold.......

and yes....different brands and grades of oil will do different things.....some of them basically "evaporate"
quicker than others......next service use a different brand and see what happens......</span>

[LoadedDisco]

Oils aint Oils. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LoadedDisco &#064; May 17 2006, 11&#58;19 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Oils aint Oils. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
[/b][/quote]



<span style="color:#660000">no...thats castrol oils aint oils.....just ask sol....</span>

[amtravic1]

What type of oil are you using? my Rangie for exampe hates Penrite oil and it just seems to burn away. I dont have a problem with other quality oils though.

Ian

[Ace]

Hi guys, i am using Valvoline Diesel oil, i have found it good but will be sourcing another Caltex supplier and going back them next time, i have never been keen on Valvoline oils but i am mates with the guys who owns the Bathurst Auto 1 and he recommended it (they are the supplier https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ )

I shuffled it around the yard yesterday looking for a flatter spot and it read closer to the full line which i think is more accurate, i think i am loosing small amounts from the odd leaking oil line which is my next project.

I always check my oil when the engine is at operating temp (the book says to it that way anyway) because i like the oil level to be at the full line after the oil has been pumped around the engine, when cold all the oil is in the sump so when its running the oil level is lower than the full line.

Other than Caltex and Penrite what are people using in their 300Tdi engines? I have always been a fan of Castrol oils and have always used them (and still do) in all the petrol vehicles i have owned and still own and had very good results, my VP Commodore had nearly 340000km on the clock and the oil level didnt move from full between 5000km services. Matt

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:#3333FF">park it under your carport where its level and check it....or check it at the servo when you fill up....
its always level ground at the bowsers.....</span>

[Ace]

<span style="color:#3333FF">park it under your carport where its level and check it....or check it at the servo when you fill up....
its always level ground at the bowsers.....</span>

I would if i could get into the carport its full of building gear at the moment, but i will check it next time i am at the servo, i dont think it has used as much as i first thought, the second time i checked it it was more level and it was only just below the full line. Matt