Member Since: 13 Apr 2016
Location: Alford
Posts: 19
Oil Level warning
Since buying my 65 plate Disco 4, I've had occasional issues with a red warning coming up telling me that the oil level is critically low. I'm pretty sure that there is an intermittent wiring fault - but, for obvious reasons, would like to be certain!
So, a couple of specific questions :
- Is there an orange "your oil level is getting a bit low" warning? It would seem sensible, but I've never seen it - the car simply flashes up a red critical warning, which makes me think it's a wiring / sensor issue.
- Is there an Oil Pressure warning light / message? Again, I've never seen this - and, from memory, the Owner's Manual mentions one, but doesn't go into specifics.
Thanks in advance!Disco 4 65 Landmark
9th Jun 2021 10:44 am
Dondiddy
Member Since: 26 Dec 2019
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 309
When was the oil last changed? If your only doing short journeys then the oil gets diluted with diesel quite quickly and the thin oil can confuse the sensor into giving false readings /messages. I change mine every 6 months to avoid any issues as I do a lot of short journeys. The sensor for the oil is inside the sump so is very labour intensive to do as you have to remove the front diff to get at it but it can suffer from oil leaking into the wiring and causing issues. Good luck!
9th Jun 2021 11:50 am
InTheHighlands
Member Since: 13 Apr 2016
Location: Alford
Posts: 19
Thanks - I do mainly longer journeys being based in the Highlands.
But a useful idea - oil not changed since last service in ? Oct.
However, the oil level warnings first started a couple of months after I bought the car from a reputable dealer as serviced. And no low oil / oil pressure warnings. Which made me think intermittent fault.
With the latest, I then checked the oil level with the electronic system - showed half way between min & max. I added about 1L - later that day, critical oil level warning again & electronic gauge showed below minimum. No warnings since.......Disco 4 65 Landmark
9th Jun 2021 12:45 pm
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1670
Dondiddy wrote:
When was the oil last changed? If your only doing short journeys then the oil gets diluted with diesel quite quickly and the thin oil can confuse the sensor into giving false readings /messages. I change mine every 6 months to avoid any issues as I do a lot of short journeys. The sensor for the oil is inside the sump so is very labour intensive to do as you have to remove the front diff to get at it but it can suffer from oil leaking into the wiring and causing issues. Good luck!
I believe there is a specific oil service warning that appears should oil dilution be an issue ( as calculated by the car)Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
9th Jun 2021 5:41 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8230
Do a search for my thread "emergency DIY dipstick" it may help.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
9th Jun 2021 5:53 pm
Dondiddy
Member Since: 26 Dec 2019
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 309
About 3 months ago I had the oil critically low message show twice in a week.The oil showed full on the display when checked. I changed the oil so that I knew exactly how much oil was in it in case it was a faulty gauge and the oil really was low. There was more came out than the measured amount that I put in and the oil warning has never reappeared. I will continue to change the oil (and filter) every six months due to the high number of short journeys that I do as its not that expensive or hard to do.
9th Jun 2021 6:02 pm
InTheHighlands
Member Since: 13 Apr 2016
Location: Alford
Posts: 19
Thanks all - I made an emergency dipstick a while back but wasn't able to see a clear enough level to be confident.
Back to my original questions.....
Does anyone know / have seen a yellow "Oil level a bit low" warning? It would seem bizarre if LR designed the system to go from "All's OK" to "Critical" without any intervening warning
And anyone seen a low oil pressure warning light / message?Disco 4 65 Landmark
10th Jun 2021 8:29 am
robpenrose
Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2138
I dont believe there is any warning.
If the oil gets too low, it will just damage the engine.
Yes, Crazy considering all the sensors and electronics on the engine!
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10th Jun 2021 8:53 am
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1670
I believe I have seen on this forum reports that there were no oil pressure warnings before engine damage occured. There is , somewhere on here, a quite in depth discussion about the process of crank failures where this is mentioned.Gary
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