I’ve just noticed the engine oil has a bit of a smell to it. It was apparently changed, but it might have been sitting for a couple of years allowing sludge to sludge into it. What is the best way to clean everything out before replacing?

I’ve been told to drain the oil and change filter, drive it around on a couple of short trips then do the same again, but that sounds costly and like a waste of oil, and I’m not sure if t would even get it very clean.

I’m also wondering what the best type of oil would be for Northan Pennsylvania (quite cold). I’m thinking Purple Royal, but they have a large selection of synthetic at different weights. I’ll probably use a Purple Royal filter too, unless anyone can suggest anything better?

This would be for a 2004 Landrover Discovery Petrol.

Edit: worth adding it’s got 260k miles on it

 

I would agree, drive it some then change the oil and filter again. Some would recommend adding some Seafoam to the oil, then driving and changing the oil. Personally I wouldn’t use an additive.
As for type of oil, it’s recommended to use an oil with a higher zinc content than standard oil for petrol engines, or use a good oil and add ZDDP. Most of us use a diesel engine oil like Rotella.
As for viscosity, your climate is probably similar to mine. I use 5W40. This should be good year round. In the UK, a lot of people use 20W50, but that would be too thick for our winters.

 

If you change the oil every 3,000 miles, the difference between the oil I use and any other oil from a reputable producer is likely very small.

FWIW, I have had success with Rotella 10-30 (cold) or 15-40 (hot) and a bottle of STP oil treatment. I change oil every 3,000 miles. For me that means 3-4 changes per year.

Frequent changes has the biggest impact.

 

agreed, just use Rotella and change frequenlty. there are all sorts of additives that may or may not work. I have used the luquimoly products to good success, probably the least snake oily of them?

 

I use Royal Purple HPS 10/40 and my Disco seems to like it just fine, it does have the higher zinc.

 

I was looking at HPS and HMX. Any idea if one is better than the other? I have a small gasket leak, thinking the gasket might have hardened from sitting for 4 years. I’ve heard HMX can potentially soften them back up and is generally better for high mileage, but I have no idea

 

I recently mixed some DMSO (maybe 100mls) in with the oil in my DIsco 1 3.9, ran it a while and dumped it. I then did it again, with some really cheap 15W-50, and it came out a horrendous colour! I then filled it back up with Penrite 5W-40 full zinc and have been running it as normal, since. The one noisy lifter it has is noticably quieter on a cold start in the morning and the oil is quite a lot cleaner than it's even been.