Apologies for the detail, but it may help you, me and thee in the long run.
I bought my 2016 Adblue SDV6 D4 last year (and despite what I'm about to say, I love it).
The service history when I bought it showed that each year it had a main dealer service as follows:
6 miles PDI (Jan 2016
9,468 miles - 16,000 mile 12 mth service (Nov 2017)
9,709 miles - New/used prep for sale service (Nov 2017)
15,905 miles - 32K, 24 mth service (Oct 2018)
28,208 miles - 64K 48 mth service (Jan 2021 - a COVID jump))
33,629 miles - 80K 60 mth service (Jan 2022)
45,480 miles - 96K 72 mth service (Jan 2023)
The I purchased it at 48,619 miles.
It was then serviced as follows:
54,038 miles - Cambelt and full service (Nov 2023)
59,047 miles - Oil and Filter service (April 2024)
The service in April was because I had the dash warning and the garage told me it had oil dilution. Checked on the IID and sure enough it was over the 6% threshold which triggers the service warning.
Two days ago I get the dash warning again "Service Required in 1900 miles". (Annoyed) Sure enough, Oil dilution just below 7% again. It has been to France and back plus long journeys too.
Two days later, the car has not moved on the drive since and it now says "Service required in 1700 miles".
So, there's 2 issues here.
1. The fact that oil dilution is happening, and once again after less than 6 months and 6000 miles I have to get it serviced.
2. The countdown has a mind of it's own and going on its current algorithm, I'll need a service in 9 days time if the car stands still on the driveway!
Is this usual for the late model D4 to need a service every 6k? If so it's frankly ridiculous.
I've read many threads about the oil dilution, that LR engineered it that way to squirt diesel into the bores to help with DPF regen etc, but the car does long journeys, hard slogs, short journeys. It should be a balanced thing.
I can make my peace with an annual service even if the car had only done 1,000 miles, but every 6K and twice a year is daft.
Can anyone suggest a fix, or another cause? Is there an engine software update (or from GAP) to prevent it squirting diesel or anything else?
Please help, cos a brand new eurobox with minimal servicing costs at a maximum of once a year is very tempting (plus less road tax, lower insurance, less likely to be stolen off the drive, never break down etc).
Adam1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
28th Aug 2024 2:45 pm
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1594
Yes, these Adblue models all seem prone to it for some reason. The oil dilution is only an inferred percentage though not an actual. You'd have to get an oil analysis to calculate actual ( might be worth doing). Another symptom is that they can show overfilled due to the fuel in the oil. I guess that is proof that there is an actual addition of fluid to the oil.
Yes, service countdown calculator is all over the place, can come down a lot on a restart. It's trying to calculate how long you've got, which is impossible to get accurate due to this issue I guess.
It appears they seem to do it more in later years but that's not a scientific observation, just based on reports on here. Possibly a clue.
The earlier D5s suffered with it continuously. If I recall, LR provided a software update to change the oil dilution calculation, which was apparently being over zealous.
Interested to see what people have to say about it.
CheersGary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
28th Aug 2024 3:03 pm
NC500
Member Since: 18 Sep 2017
Location: On the NC500
Posts: 522
My understanding is that fuel dilation is calculated on the volume of the oil in the sump. If oil volume increases, the computer assumes its fuel and carries out the calculation based on the volume.
The only short way of knowing is to send your oil off for oil analysis (please see one of my posts regarding oil analysis for further information).
28th Aug 2024 4:50 pm
RRUK Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 671
So far the car and the IID tool have not reported the oil being overfilled either1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
28th Aug 2024 5:20 pm
Ammdaz
Member Since: 17 Oct 2023
Location: Kent
Posts: 61
I've been through the exact same with our late 2015. The "service required" flashed up just after we bought it, even though it had only been serviced approx 4 months before and had not done a huge amount of miles.
After questions on here and getting some very helpful info and also my own research (which included buying a GAP tool) it appears the issue is with the gen 2 engines suffering from oil dilution due to failed part dpf regens.
I've just accepted that i do an oil and filter change every 4k miles to keep the oil as pure as possible. We love the car and it's just one of those things we have to put up with.
I thought i'd mention that ours had a new LR crate engine 30k ago so i believe overall mileage doesn't seem to have a bearing on this.
28th Aug 2024 8:54 pm
RRUK Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 671
NC500 wrote:
My understanding is that fuel dilation is calculated on the volume of the oil in the sump. If oil volume increases, the computer assumes its fuel and carries out the calculation based on the volume.
The only short way of knowing is to send your oil off for oil analysis (please see one of my posts regarding oil analysis for further information).
So, how do you go about that?
1- how to get some oil out and how much
2- where to send it1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
28th Aug 2024 10:04 pm
Jamiehol
Member Since: 13 Nov 2015
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 356
RRUK wrote:
So, how do you go about that?
1- how to get some oil out and how much
2- where to send it
I’d either use a suction pump to pull some from the sump or pop the oil filter out and try and get some out of the housing. But given your car says it needs a service I’d just do a full oil change and send a sample of it off.
29th Aug 2024 6:39 am
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1594
The flip side of this, is that some, on this forum, swear by more regular oil changes. Doing it every 6000 miles to avoid the engine issues reported on here ( rightly or wrongly). Essentially, the car is forcing you to do that.Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
29th Aug 2024 7:51 am
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8161
6000 mile oil change is highly recommended on all other LR and RR Sport forum sites.
This situation could be saving me money as I have a my14 facelift and I don’t have this issue and I was contemplating buying a later model either D4 or Sport solely for adaptive cruise but there seems to be so many having oil dilution problems I will stick with what I’ve got.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
29th Aug 2024 8:38 am
pjm-84
Member Since: 04 Oct 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2549
Just serviced the Volvo and the D5 engine is sensitive to oil level. This was reset by Volvo to a slightly lower level but it still catches some garages out.
Wonder if a similar issue is happening with the D4?
29th Aug 2024 9:50 am
Ammdaz
Member Since: 17 Oct 2023
Location: Kent
Posts: 61
This video by LR time goes someway into explaining oil dilution together with the failure modes of the engines. It's an interesting watch.
?si=IZFDQdb8uQbYqLXJ
29th Aug 2024 12:35 pm
Disco3newbie
Member Since: 26 Oct 2008
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 605
Oil dilution
Click image to enlarge
Just had this on 2016 D4 with 59K on clock, booked in for annual service in mid September (as usual) and started seeing servicing countdown mileage and then oil overfilled (never added any between services) Checked workshop manual and decided to extract some oil via vacuum tube (200ml syringe and plastic tube!) Extracted 0.5l to drop oil level below overfilled which is just over the 7% increase in volume quoted but that's a calculation not a true measurement (assuming 5.9l service change volume) Decided easy option was just to change the oil the old fashioned way even though service was only a month away.
Image is from workshop manual so obviously a potential issue. Having seen that the vacuum extraction pipe terminates at the side of the sump drain plug I'll be investing in a vacuum extraction pump and change oil at 4- 5000 miles just to feel happier that lubrication is with oil and not diesel and reakon it will only take 15minutes and no oily rags.
Although comforting to know that there was nothing untoward in the old oil.
Strangely engine runs quieter after the oil change and dilution probably explains why I've never had to top up oil between servicesClub RLD spare wheel protection
Club RLD skid plate
Club its all black
Club D3 - it's gone
Club D4 - just arrived and still all black
30th Aug 2024 12:04 am
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1594
Thanks for posting.
Interesting it states if the service required message is displayed the car will need a ‘full service’. If that’s correct it would require more than just an oil and filter change.Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
30th Aug 2024 12:31 am
RRUK Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 671
Can anyone post a link to one of these suction devices for extracting the oil?1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
30th Aug 2024 6:37 am
NC500
Member Since: 18 Sep 2017
Location: On the NC500
Posts: 522
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
6000 mile oil change is highly recommended on all other LR and RR Sport forum sites.
