Thread: Landrover Defender Td5 oil level

Originally Posted by popotla

The Defender 110 Td5 handbook stresses the great importance of not allowing engine oil to be above the upper of the two marks on the dipstick.

This is the case with my vehicle when the oil is newly changed. However, as the oil gets older (progressively thins, I figure), the level DOES come above the top mark.

Is this a problem? Am I risking causing some kind of damage?

ummm unless you have mirical oil you should be burning it dropping it so it should get lower with time...

If its getting higher then either your dieso or your coolant is getting in there.

Could be a leaky injector.
Not nice.
Shouldnt get higher at all.
Andrew

The main stealer overfilled my Td5 on the rare occassions I took it there during the warranty period.
I complained, they said it didn't matter, and I drained the well over half a litre excess out!
I was always told too much oil can lead to over pressure in the engine and ruin seals so why don't they take more care?
They just couldn't care less I suppose which is why I stopped using them.
I try to do my own servicing whenever possible then I know that more than just the engine oil has been done.
Alan.

what Dave said. Not uncommon in a TD5 to leak an O ring and not unknown to crack a head casting leading to fuel diluting the oil.
Oil cooler can also fail, as can head gasket and contaminate the oil.
Get an oil analysis done ASAP to rule fuel or coolant out.