Member Since: 26 Jun 2010
Location: North
Posts: 786
Oil reading on D4
I love my D4, its easily the best car I have ever owned!
I must say, apart from 1 "gearbox fault" error message on the dash (which was a computer gremlin)it has been
Very reliable, getting me and all the family (parents, grandparents, children about this winter!
It was the general shopping trolley for most of my non 4x4 (incl X5's ) car owning friends! And general taxi! (quite a few tanks of diesel used)
But, if there is one thing I don't like, it's the way to check oil level! I nearly Myself when I first tried it and it
Indicated it had no oil in it! Then I realised in the handbook you had to leave it for 10 minutes on a flat surface with engine off and all that...
Eventually it indicated it was was full of oil and I could relax.
Wouldn't it be easier if there was a dipstick. I could have done that in 2 minutes. I am all for electronic advancement in LR's D3's nd 4's are awesome! But dont you think LR have taken it too far with that feature...
Would rather check it manually in the desert than relying on computers!
1st Apr 2011 1:33 pm
PaulD3
Member Since: 11 Mar 2006
Location: Herts
Posts: 141
I must admit I'm not one for regularly checking these things on cars but I'd just filled up and noticed the little yellow sign reminding me to check oil at 600 miles. Get home, lift bonnet and spend the next 15 minutes looking for the dip stick. Found a little pipe sticking up with a turn arrow on it but it was not in there. I then decided to seek help from the manual and found it was electronically displayed. Discovery 4 HSE Santorini Black 2012
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1st Apr 2011 2:09 pm
MJIbex
Member Since: 13 Sep 2009
Location: Reading
Posts: 195
Re: Oil reading on D4
mickyd4 wrote:
Wouldn't it be easier if there was a dipstick. I could have done that in 2 minutes. I am all for electronic advancement in LR's D3's nd 4's are awesome! But dont you think LR have taken it too far with that feature...
Would rather check it manually in the desert than relying on computers!
I can check the oil in 15 seconds without opening the bonnet, getting my hands dirty or needing to find a rag or kitchen roll - thank you that's definately an improvement .
Since most people don't check the oil, making it a bonnet opening free operation should cut excuses for not doing it. Plus come cold weather, rain, desert sand storm, it can all be done from the cabin in ones finest clothes.
Best practice is to check from cold to get a precise reading and prevent overfilling. Since it is now so easy why would you not check before you started your journey .
Mark
1st Apr 2011 3:14 pm
mickyd4
Member Since: 26 Jun 2010
Location: North
Posts: 786
You may have a point... I just usually jump in and roar off
But, all this having to be flat business is a bit of am issue with my drive being slightly
hilly. I just worry as I plan to have this car long term that when it gets older, I may not be able
to rely on this reading as you know how the electronics can do unexpected things on LR's!!
Just rather have a dipstick!!! Something to tinker with too
1st Apr 2011 3:28 pm
ChrisA
Member Since: 02 Feb 2011
Location: Dorking, Surrey
Posts: 87
It says in the on-line manual that the oil should've reached working temp and then left for 10 mins.
Member Since: 11 Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 57
Because the oil needs to be warmed up and then the vehicle left on level ground for 10 minutes for a Toyota Land Cruiser as well, which does have a dip stick, the amount of time to check the oil for both vehicles is therefore the same.
The only advantage that the Toyota has is that you can look at the CONDITION of the oil which you can't on a D4 because of the lack of a dipstick.
11th May 2011 8:34 am
Reginald Molehusband
Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: West Calder
Posts: 632
Given that it has an electronic 'dipstick' isn't it going to put up a warning light when the level gets low anyway? In which case why do we need to 'manually' check it?2016 D4 Landmark SDV6 (Euro6), Zanzibar (late run D4)
2009 D4 HSE TDV6, Bali blue (first run D4)
2007 RRS TDV8 HSE, some blue
.
Member Since: 11 Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 57
Exactly!
The Land Rover will send out a low oil warning so no need to run the oil check (and lose 10 minutes of your life which you will never get back).
11th May 2011 11:39 pm
GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
tempestv8 wrote:
The only advantage that the Toyota has is that you can look at the CONDITION of the oil which you can't on a D4 because of the lack of a dipstick.
Another advantage is that one is never left wondering if the electronic sensor is working properly (including being properly calibrated).Home of LLAMS, for LRs and Jeep GCs
12th May 2011 3:26 am
seanc
Member Since: 17 Oct 2010
Location: Townsville
Posts: 4
I thought that an electronic dipstick would have a low level alarm but I now suspect it does not. I had a similar issue when checking the oil on our D4 and it read bottom scale, so I parked the car up for a couple of days until I could get suitable oil (another story).
Re read the manual again after getting the oil and it does state that the gauge does not work until the level is stable.
The oil needs to be at operating temperature and the engine off with sump level stable before this level indication will give a reading. I don't see how it would be possible to set a low level alarm into a gauge with these constraints. I re read the manual looking for information on a low level alarm and have been unable to find any reference. I therefore believe it does not have one.
Don't understand why they would not have both a manual and electronic one.
sean
25th May 2011 12:46 pm
Dexter
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 1394
I don't find it a problem tbh, it's easier and cleaner than using the D3 dipstick which took me a bit of working out. I check mine after a drive to work, park in the level car park, go in, make a brew then pop out and the jobs done in 20 seconds with clean hands
I'd prefer that my car's engine oil is checked in preference to waiting for a warning light which may not come on before it's all too late
Dex
25th May 2011 1:51 pm
a517458
Member Since: 01 Mar 2011
Location: California, USA
Posts: 12
tempestv8 wrote:
Because the oil needs to be warmed up and then the vehicle left on level ground for 10 minutes for a Toyota Land Cruiser as well, which does have a dip stick, the amount of time to check the oil for both vehicles is therefore the same.
The only advantage that the Toyota has is that you can look at the CONDITION of the oil which you can't on a D4 because of the lack of a dipstick.
100% agree with that. the importance of that dipstick is not only to check the level, but also check the condition..
1st Jun 2011 6:10 am
CMG
Member Since: 12 Jul 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 956
Agreed, and checking the smell of it too, make sure it's not burnt or anything.17 Discovery 5 HSE Si6, Fuji White on brown | 07 LR3 SE 4.4 Java Black on Alpaca
Club V8/Club OCD
I too would opt for a simple dipstick....
for a variety of reasons that have been listed before
Whats even worse with my XK is the wierd oil that is used that can only be had from the dealers
Does the D4 have a special Castrol "professional" oil type ?
Also my 1000th Post..!!BREXIT - done properly.
Right now ...We need Government - not Politics
Save the Dipstick Flagbearer-keep it simple, less likely to fail campaign-agenda items:Starting Handles, Acetylene Lamps.
Founder: Dipsticks-R-Us Inc
D3 HSE-perfectly formed, passenger friendly...has real DIPSTICK
Jag XK-but sadly no DIPSTICK...HUGE design fault
FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
VW Golf wondermobile (?)..has real DIPSTICK
Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY.
2nd Jun 2011 12:50 pm
CMG
Member Since: 12 Jul 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 956
Heard at least for the 5.0 it does, but I think any good quality synthetic (which I think is required for the 5.0) should do.
The filter is $30, ouch.... 17 Discovery 5 HSE Si6, Fuji White on brown | 07 LR3 SE 4.4 Java Black on Alpaca
Club V8/Club OCD
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
) car owning friends! And general taxi! (quite a few tanks of diesel used) 
Myself when I first tried it and it
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