First off I need to say thanks to this forum in general. I've gotten so much information from all of you just by browsing and doing research here! Don't know what I'd do without it!
Now....my problem: So I go to check the oil level in my 2004 Disco last Friday, and to my surprise...there's no oil on the dip stick. I was pretty alarmed because I just had the oil changed almost exactly 3k miles ago. So I immediately go and change the oil again and only drain out about 2.5 qts. When I crawled underneath to drain the old oil, I noticed there was oil all over what I assume is the starter and different things near the engine and on the side of the engine itself. I just had the head gaskets replaced 3k miles ago and had the engine looked over by a trusted british cars mechanic here and no major problems reported. Has anyone else experienced this, or does anyone have any clue what this might be....and if I'm going to have to sell another kidney to fix this problem?! Thanks for the help guys

Joseph

 

Dont you check your oil once a week like a good car owner should?

I am going to say it is a loose oil filter or a ripped oil filter "O" ring.

 

You need to become more pro-active with your truck or you will be paying out big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'s soon.
As Spike, check you oil all the time, along with your coolant level and do it while the engine is stone cold.
Go to your local car wash and do a good power scrub of you entire under side as well as the engine compartment and then,"DAILY", until found, check for fresh leakage.
Let us know what you find.

 

I have been a little slack on the maintenance, but not as bad as it seems. There was a laundry list of problems that had to be taken care of when I first bought the car and I've been slowly working my way through them starting with those of greatest importance. So far I've changed the plugs and wires, new head gaskets, oil, wheels with tires, diff service, transfer case service, air filters, and other random things that slip my mind right now....and I've still got about a 1000$ to go. But basically the previous owners didn't do any kind of maintenance to the vehicle, or just sold it when they all piled up. I'll definitely power wash everything down and keep checking for signs of leakage. Thanks for the advice and I'll keep you posted on what I find....I never realized owning a Discovery would be such a learning experience.

 

Mikes and mine #1 concern is that you went 3,000 miles without checking the oil.
I dont care what you drive you MUST check the oil at least once a week.
I do it every Sun morning before going to church.
While the dog is in the backyard doing her business I pop the hood on both cars and check the fluids, it takes all of 5 min to do both cars.
Think about it, a new Rover engine is $7,000+.
You stated you only had 2.5 qts of oil left, your truck takes 6 qts.
Thats less than half of what it requires.
How pissed off at yourself are you going to be if you are out the $7k for the engine plus the price of your new truck?

Anyway, do like Mike said, clean the engine and look for the leak.

 

Ok Mike this is pretty much directed at you. I'm gonna try to attach some pictures with this, but I'm not that computer savvy so we'll see how well this works out.

Mike since we talked, I have changed the oil including an engine flush and installed a K&N 3001 series filter. I gotta say, 13$ for a filter is outrageous, but worth it if it helps save my oil pump. (and Autozone has a pretty sweet deal going right now on Syn oil and K&N filter for like 26$, I bought two!). So oil is changed, engine was degreased and power washed clean. I have been checking my oil regularly and just had to add more oil yesterday. The underside of my oil pan, and what I think is the starter is covered again, as well as that entire area of the engine.... and I noticed that there was oil, just a BIT, leaking from a bolt I tightened today. I don't know enough about mechanics to know the bolt I tightened, but I took pictures. I checked most to all of the bolts around the "oily" area and they were tight. You can't really see any oil from the top side of the engine, but it is very apparent from the underside. I checked the oil filter, and around some gaskets, but I have no idea where to start looking now. I'd like to have a pretty good general idea before I take this thing to a mechanic and pay out the @$$ to get it fixed. Any ideas? Mike if you still have my # feel free to call me, if not PM me and I'll send it to you agian. Thanks guys

Joseph

 

Ok here are the pictures I was talking about. Sorry if they're upside down or not that clear. But this is the area I was talking about. You can see the bolt I was referring to, close to the starter, on the side of the "engine". (I don't really know what I'm reffering to). I noticed the oil had leaked down the tubing pictured and dripped onto the top of my diff. I looked around, but the area pictured is where it seems to be coming from. Any ideas? i can take more/better pictures if needed.

Joseph

 

Go do a total engine degrese and power scrub so you can find where the oil is coming from. Do a complete top to bottom clean, make sure the valve cover bolts are tight.
Let us know where it starts leaking from afterwards.

 

Like they said, clean it again and check after a few miles. Don't wait for a quart to leak out, find the leak when it first starts so there isn't oil spread all over making it more difficult to pinpoint the source.