V8 Engine oil loss? Quite a lot!!!

[Strong Stuff]

:shock:

1998 Discovery 1 3.9 V8i

Have just checked my oil and the level wasn't even on the dipstick!  :shock:

I did an oil change about 5 or 6 weeks ago, using a new filter and Valvoline semi synthetic 10W40 oil, (around 6 litres of it)

There don't appear to be any major oil leaks from the engine, certainly not where 3 litres have gone .............  :?
Have just topped it up, and it took the best of 3 litres to get it to the minimum mark on the dipstick, have run out now so am off out to buy more in a bit.

Any suggestions where it might have gone to? Is there a little oil fairy that comes in te night and steals it?

All help very much appreciated!!!

Thanks!

[thermidorthelobster]

If it's not leaking it, it must be burning it.  What's the exhaust look like?  Have you checked the emissions recently?

[Skibum346]

Iseem to remember something about 10w40 being too skinny... perhaps that's helping it get past vavle seals and piston rings and into the burning chamber...

I've always used 15w40.

Skibum

[Strong Stuff]

Mr Lobster, firstly, thank you for your reply and suggestion, it is of course going somewhere, you might be right about it being burned, exhaust does look a bit sooty:



Skibum, I can see how that would work, it certainly sounds reasonable as I always park my car in the same place and there are no marks on my drive, it's certainly a better suggestion than my oil fairy one!  :lol:

The worrying bit is that the oil light hadn't come on ..........  :?

[doris]

Please excuse me for what may be a silly suggestion.........  but the dip tube hasn't moved up has it??

I had something similar when a garage fitted my new engine and didn't drift the dip tube fully home...........  it was running with 11+ litres in it for 1000miles 'cos I kept topping it up and the engine kept chucking it past the rear crank seal, and burning oi via no2 (i think) cylinder...........  which is where the breather comes in.

Its just a thought............  I would imagine you would notice it dropping 3 litres somewhere.

Damon

[clbarclay]

Mr Lobster, firstly, thank you for your reply and suggestion, it is of course going somewhere, you might be right about it being burned, exhaust does look a bit sooty:

Skibum, I can see how that would work, it certainly sounds reasonable as I always park my car in the same place and there are no marks on my drive, it's certainly a better suggestion than my oil fairy one!  :lol:

The worrying bit is that the oil light hadn't come on ..........  :?

The soot could just be the engine running a tad rich. Its best to check the exhaust when its running ang look at the smoke coming out, particuarly under acceleration. If it chucking out blue smoke then oil is exiting the engine via the exhaust.

If so then chances are the cause of the problem is either worn valve stem, a blown head ghasket, or worn piston rings.

The oil light (unless different on latter engines) is only triggered by low oil pressure not oil level. so whalst the is still enough oil in the sump for the level to be above the pump intake then low oil level won't trigger it.

[Strong Stuff]

I haven't noticed a particularly large amount of blue smoke, and I do drive it erm "reasonably hard"    like £35 of fuel per 100 miles .............  :shock:

I'm a bit at a loss to say that it was absolutely on the level on the dipstick when I did the oil change, am doubting myself now, so have filled it right to the full level and put a Wynns oil treatment in today, I will be keeping a very close eye on the level and will report back in a few days when I've done some miles in it.

The dipstick tube looks like it is the same place but it is also a very reasonable suggestion, I think I need to find another one to look at and see.

Thank you for your input fellas, it is appreciated, hopefully I'll be able to help as you have helped me sometime soon, this is my first LR so I'm on that very steep learning curve!