Member Since: 12 Sep 2013
Location: Andover
Posts: 16
Possible Oil Overdose
I feel a bit of an idiot on this as I think I may have dropped a clanger!
Just prepping the car for a drive down to the South of France so though I'd stick my head under the bonnet and check my levels.
Lets just say I'm not a mechanical type of bod and looking for brightly coloured things with levels on them is about my limit! Anyway after I had got through the whole wheres the dip stick thing? and gone to the service menu I was totally panicked when the oil level was showing minimum.
Anyway, after a flustered trip to halfords and the parting of fifty quid I dumped about 2 liters in to the engine.
Its only now that I'm reading further that I realise that the engine needs time to stabilise after coming to temperature before it gives you a reading. So I guess I'm asking if anyone out there can tell me if I've dropped a serious clanger here?
The wife is in the car today so I haven't had a chance to recheck the levels yet now that I know the secret. It had a bit of a cough of smoke after I filled it up but seems OK after about 60 miles. It was serviced about 8 weeks ago and had a full oil change then.
1st Sep 2014 8:21 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Overfilling is really bad so if in doubt you should not be running the engine!
That said the car is equipped with an overfill detector so the absence of the warning does give some hope. Adding 2 litres as a top-up in one go is excessive. It is more correct to add some and recheck the level and, for a D4, it gives the car a chance to tell you the remaining amount that needs to be added.
It is dead easy to suck some oil from the D4 engine via the dedicated suction tube if you have added too much.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72788
My folks overfilled their old ML a few years ago, as punishment for blaming me (I said check the oil level, not top up) I made them get it back to the proper level by repeatedly inserting & wiping the dipstick. Took them about an hour. See, another use for a dipstick.
1st Sep 2014 8:58 am
mse
Member Since: 27 Jun 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2702
Not to add to the worry and noting any oil is better than no oil.
Are you sure you bought the correct spec from Halfords - last time I checked, they didn't sell the correct spec, low saps for the DPFMike
1st Sep 2014 10:08 pm
Bstokemike
Member Since: 12 Sep 2013
Location: Andover
Posts: 16
Hi, well at last got a reading after sitting on the drive waiting for the oil gauge to come in to life, what a faf! And as expected it went to full. Well the advise seems to be don't worry to much if it's not belching smoke. It's done over 100 miles now since I over filled it.
Well on the spec front my first visit to halfords I went away after computer says no. And yes mse your right they said they didn't stock disco juice. After that I had a look in the book and it recommend a type of castrol that after another trip to halfords the guy shoved in my hand.
But I am worried now that I just took his word for it! Will check the container tomorrow!
1st Sep 2014 10:45 pm
mse
Member Since: 27 Jun 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2702
You will find it isn't the correct spec, it will be the correct grade though.
im sure the computer tells you how much oil to put in when you need to top up too
But correct grade oil is better than no oilMike
1st Sep 2014 11:17 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Bstokemike wrote:
Well the advise seems to be don't worry to much if it's not belching smoke. It's done over 100 miles now since I over filled it.
I would question this advice as it is not appropriate for a modern diesel. The engine, engine systems, cat and dpf are all working hard not to belch smoke but the pressures caused by potential overfill will still be stressing parts of your engine.
It does not take long to suck some oil through the tube so why risk damaging your engine?
Anyway, if it is the wrong spec oil you will have to change it so this is an opportunity to fill correctly.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
I would also question that if it was serviced 8 weeks ago, why is it showing a low level?Joined the BMWX5 45e group
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2nd Sep 2014 7:11 am
Bstokemike
Member Since: 12 Sep 2013
Location: Andover
Posts: 16
All, well I think the way I'm going to go is to try and suck some out. Can anyone give me a bit more info on this dedicated suction tube??????
It was showing low because I'm an impatient sod and didn't realise you have to wait for paint to dry before it gives you a reading. The menu oil gauge just defaults to minimum when you switch it on and as the book doesn't mention anything about waiting for the engine to stabilise after coming up to temperature I just assumed it was telling me that all my oil had some how vanished or not been replaced as part of my recent service, so it was a case of PANIC!
2nd Sep 2014 7:45 am
mse
Member Since: 27 Jun 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2702
Im almost positive the manual says you have to wait and the screen says not available, when it needs topping up im sure I read it tells you how much to add...mainly for the future.
Might be worth just asking how much an oil change would be at a garage...you could also buy the correct spec oil from opie oils, I think there are 2 makes readily available - if memory serves one of them is Shell and can be bought from a shell garage too.Mike
2nd Sep 2014 8:46 am
steveraspberry
Member Since: 18 Sep 2011
Location: Nr Sevenoaks,Kent
Posts: 2081
I think the advice here is clear fella. Halfords are unlikely to have the correct oil for the D4 and they are sensitive to the oil used. To prevent the possibility of causing serious damage to your engine, I'd personally be doing a full oil and filter change. Even if it was only done recently, if you have A) overfilled it or B) used the incorrect grade of oil or C) Both then you could be faced with a massive bill for a wrecked engine As MSE says above, if you're not comfortable doing it yourself, the dealer or a reputable local garage will do it for you but don't forget to change the filter too just in case it WAS the incorrect grade of oil. For the sake of an hours labour charge ( or so) it's got to be better than a bill for a wrecked engine surely?
Hope you get it sorted
Best,
Steve My17 Volvo XC90 Inscription
MY15 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian
RGK Tiga Fx Wheelchair,
Large Alsation called Abbs
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2nd Sep 2014 10:18 am
Bstokemike
Member Since: 12 Sep 2013
Location: Andover
Posts: 16
OK thanks all! right all booked in for an oil change this Friday (£115)
Thanks for the advice all, that will teach me!
2nd Sep 2014 11:12 am
steveraspberry
Member Since: 18 Sep 2011
Location: Nr Sevenoaks,Kent
Posts: 2081
better safe than sorry mate Hope you have a great trip!
Best,
Steve My17 Volvo XC90 Inscription
MY15 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian
RGK Tiga Fx Wheelchair,
Large Alsation called Abbs
Medium blue Staffie called Piglet
Medium Alsation called Bailey
2nd Sep 2014 12:44 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Bstokemike wrote:
It was showing low because I'm an impatient sod and didn't realise you have to wait for paint to dry before it gives you a reading. The menu oil gauge just defaults to minimum when you switch it on and as the book doesn't mention anything about waiting for the engine to stabilise after coming up to temperature I just assumed it was telling me that all my oil had some how vanished or not been replaced as part of my recent service, so it was a case of PANIC!
Great news that you are getting this sorted so I hope you don't mind me focusing on your comment that the display appeared to default to minimum as I have heard this once before from another MY10 owner.
This certainly does not happen on my MY13 as it will only give me 3 possible displays: display the level when completely cold and without a recent start; display the level when warm when the correct interval has elapsed or display a not available message when warm but without sufficient time elapsed. There are no circumstances where it will default to a minimum display.
As a result I wonder if there is a software issue with the IPC that allows incorrect readings to be presented to the owner and I also wonder if the later versions of the IPC software has corrected this anomaly. Clearly the IPC software can be updated if this really is the root cause of the problem.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 30 Jan 2012
Location: St Ives
Posts: 877
For my 2 cents worth I would deff take it to a dealer and ask for oil and filter change before going to France, a very long high sped drive with wrong oil or even worse overfilled with oil could cause a lot of damage.
Yet another argument for retaining the dip stick!Club Narpy Torch
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As MSE says above, if you're not comfortable doing it yourself, the dealer or a reputable local garage will do it for you but don't forget to change the filter too just in case it WAS the incorrect grade of oil. For the sake of an hours labour charge ( or so) it's got to be better than a bill for a wrecked engine surely?
