2004 Discovery - Excessive Oil Consumption?
#21
12-24-2015, 06:03 AM
I've had this issue for the entire 130k life of this engine which was a free factory replacement for the "03 VIN issue."
I had the dealer fix the rear main seal leak before the extended warrante ran out and that didn't change a thing.
My best guess is that the dealer broke the engine in with Castrol 5w30 synthetic which is what the new trucks were using by then, 2007. I kept complaining and they kept telling me it would stop. Then they kept telling me that a quart every 1000 miles is considered normal and they would not do any more unless the oil "consumption" increased even more.
Anyway I've been using Rotella 15w40 ever since, which did slow it down to about a quart every 1200 miles... Recently however I had an oil change at a different LR indy shop who uses Swepco 20w50 and the that made a difference. With the heavier oil I've used 2 quarts in 4000 miles.
One bonus, I figure I don't need to be religious on changing the oil every 3k as by then it has already had quite a bit of fresh oil added in.
I too would like to really know whats up and have not found anybody who could tell me for certain. Or maybe I haven't paid anyone enough to tell me for certain.
I should have had the rings redone when the heads were off but that was already a large expense that I didn't need to get larger at the time.
I had the dealer fix the rear main seal leak before the extended warrante ran out and that didn't change a thing.
My best guess is that the dealer broke the engine in with Castrol 5w30 synthetic which is what the new trucks were using by then, 2007. I kept complaining and they kept telling me it would stop. Then they kept telling me that a quart every 1000 miles is considered normal and they would not do any more unless the oil "consumption" increased even more.
Anyway I've been using Rotella 15w40 ever since, which did slow it down to about a quart every 1200 miles... Recently however I had an oil change at a different LR indy shop who uses Swepco 20w50 and the that made a difference. With the heavier oil I've used 2 quarts in 4000 miles.
One bonus, I figure I don't need to be religious on changing the oil every 3k as by then it has already had quite a bit of fresh oil added in.
I too would like to really know whats up and have not found anybody who could tell me for certain. Or maybe I haven't paid anyone enough to tell me for certain.
I should have had the rings redone when the heads were off but that was already a large expense that I didn't need to get larger at the time.
#23
12-24-2015, 11:56 AM
Bill, The "03 VIN issue" is the legendary misplaced front cover alignment dowels which prematurely detonated the oil pump gears in some 03 and 04 models commonly identified as being within a specific range of VIN numbers for those years... Most all of those engines were replaced or repaired similarly by now of course.
As I said before, 20w50 seems to work better and I've recently noticed, keeping it under 70mph seems to lead to less oil consumption...
Does anyone know why going 75 or 80 would lead to more missing oil?
As I said before, 20w50 seems to work better and I've recently noticed, keeping it under 70mph seems to lead to less oil consumption...
Does anyone know why going 75 or 80 would lead to more missing oil?
Last edited by Dave03S; 12-24-2015 at 12:19 PM.
#24
12-24-2015, 06:03 PM
Does anyone know why going 75 or 80 would lead to more missing oil?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_%28physics%29
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#25
12-25-2015, 09:19 PM
I get the rocket surgery part... However not everyone goes through this amount of oil whether it leaks or is consumed.
I was figuring it is a symptom for something...
Or else not many people drive their trucks at >2700 rpm for hours on end...
So my question was what is it about some engines that will consume oil under load while others don't??
I was figuring it is a symptom for something...
Or else not many people drive their trucks at >2700 rpm for hours on end...
So my question was what is it about some engines that will consume oil under load while others don't??
#26
12-26-2015, 09:59 AM
Under load at 2700 RPM there should be more internal engine pressures and higher oil temps than 2200, this may allow a bit more vaporized oil/air mixture to slip past rings and be consumed during the combustion process.
No two engines will have the same clearances once assembled/run and oil use will always vary. Sounds like you've finally discovered about the right weight oil to use in your individual engine and probably now closer to typical. Too many variables involved to get a "concrete" answer to your questions.
From 2000 OM, RR using 4.6:
I've had this issue for the entire 130k life of this engine
From 2000 OM, RR using 4.6:
#27
01-11-2016, 12:43 PM
I have a theory. The PO of my '04 was very vocal, and very proud of the fact that the truck had been serviced exclusively with synthetic oil since the day he bought it. What he failed to mention, was that it consumed a quart every other fuel fill up (or so). These being motors of the "old school" variety, I wondered if the synthetic was just to slippery for the tolerances, and if the rings had ever seated properly to begin with. I changed out to Rotella 15w-40 and noticed an immediate improvement. After reading these posts, I think I'll try 20w-50 next change.
#28
01-11-2016, 02:11 PM
D2 Workshop Manual recommends the higher viscosity oils for non-NAS engines with same engine clearances. Synthetics are fine if not too thin and one wants to spend the few extra bucks. According to API chart no reason to use the 5w stuff unless ambient temps below 0 F. 40+ years of using 20w-50 year-round in most of my vehicles living in MD, TN, FL, VA & GA with no failures.
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#29
01-12-2016, 06:46 AM
Baja
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