200Tdi oil capacity variations

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brucecutts@aol.com

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This may have been addressed before so forgive me if it's the case. I have a 1965 s2A and a 1986 range over classic both with 200Tdi's from a 200 series discovery.

When I did an oil change on the RRC and used 6.8 litres as many suggest (in searches) it showed way over the dipstick max mark. This seemed odd but I drained some out and educed the level. I have asked lots of folks who know 200Tdi's and they all seem to say 6.8 litres with a new filter.

In my hunting around I have come across an oil capacity chart on the Rimmer Bothers page which seems to show that 200Tdi in different applications (defender, discovery RRC) has different oil capacities.

https://rimmerbros.com/PopUp--id-444

This chart shows that;
  • Defender 200Tdi should have 6.85 litres
  • Range Rover 200Tdi should have 6.85 litres
  • Discovery 200Tdi should have 5.8 litres
So the most common 200Tdi donor for series and converted range rovers is the Discovery 200Tdi which it seems should have only 5.8 litres of oil (with new filter) I suppose this will be accounted for my turbo location and or sump profile.
 
might well be 6.8ltrs from dry.
But when you drain the oil to change it, some remains in the radiator so it's more like 5 3/4ltrs you'll put back in as is the case with my 200tdi when I change the oil.

The 6.8ltr is handy if you need to set the dipstick which I've had to do in the past.
 
windy81 said:
might well be 6.8ltrs from dry.
But when you drain the oil to change it, some remains in the radiator so it's more like 5 3/4ltrs you'll put back in as is the case with my 200tdi when I change the oil.

The 6.8ltr is handy if you need to set the dipstick which I've had to do in the past.
Click to expand...

But that doesn't explain the different capacities suggested in the table. When I put 6.8 into my (disco derived 200Tdi) I had to let a litre out to get it to the full mark on the dipstick.
I'm going to use 5.8 litres next time I do a change and my betting is it'll sit at the full mark on the dipstick.
 
I think it's possibly a mistake then with wet/dry fill capacities mixed up. The engines are the same except for the timing bits and the turbo.
 
Just chatted to Rimmer Brothers and they tell me that Discovery and Defender sump profiles are indeed different and so have a different oil capacity. A 200Tdi from a Discovery will need 1 litre less oil than from a Defender. So if you have an engine from a Disco in a Defender or anything else you need 5.80 litres for an oil and filter change NOT 6.85
 
However - just checked my Haynes manual (always correct??) and that says 6.85 with filter which is at odds with the chart I have linked above so who knows.
 
[email protected] said:
Just chatted to Rimmer Brothers and they tell me that Discovery and Defender sump profiles are indeed different and so have a different oil capacity. A 200Tdi from a Discovery will need 1 litre less oil than from a Defender. So if you have an engine from a Disco in a Defender or anything else you need 5.80 litres for an oil and filter change NOT 6.85
Click to expand...
Thats a known fact, the Defender was designed as a working vehicle for all terrains hence a bigger sump was fitted.
As for the oil quantity, it’s a normal practice to to refill the sump to the max mark on the dip stick. Simples just make sure you have the correct dip stick, its always possible that an incorrect replacement has be fitted on older engines.
 
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Rough rule is all oil capacities quoted are for a dry fill ie a new engine, knock off a litre for servicing and you wont be to far wrong.
Personally go woth 5.5 litres and check the next day, way easier to top up than drain.
All 200 are barstewards to check the oil on and have to be left standing for hours for the reading to be accurate.

I thought the sumps were both the same, I have both def and disco versions so will check and report back.

Only seems to be one part number listed for all 200 engines, ERR1790.
 
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So having done an oil and filter change today I have measured in 5.80 litres of oil and it comes to the full line on the dipstick. That is what the Rimmer Bros oil capacity chart says is the capacity of a 200Tdi Discovery - where my and many other conversion engines come from.
 
Just done an oil change on the replacement 200tdi (apparently from a 90) I had put in 5k miles ago. Five litres out, that's all, put five litres in and it's just under the H mark on the dipstick after running it for ten minutes to fill the new filter, then leaving it to stand for 30 minutes. I can't see any differences in sump size or profile between the two engines, but I was surprised that I didn't have to open the second oil can.
 
[email protected] said:
But that doesn't explain the different capacities suggested in the table. When I put 6.8 into my (disco derived 200Tdi) I had to let a litre out to get it to the full mark on the dipstick.
I'm going to use 5.8 litres next time I do a change and my betting is it'll sit at the full mark on the dipstick.
Click to expand...
I think you might find that the dipstick tube has pushed down a bit past the olive so it's reading high.
 
overdrawn said:
Just done an oil change on the replacement 200tdi (apparently from a 90) I had put in 5k miles ago. Five litres out, that's all, put five litres in and it's just under the H mark on the dipstick after running it for ten minutes to fill the new filter, then leaving it to stand for 30 minutes. I can't see any differences in sump size or profile between the two engines, but I was surprised that I didn't have to open the second oil can.
Click to expand...

Thats pretty much what I do, bung in 5 litres and run them measure.
My D3 is meant to hold 5.5 litres and 4.5/75 litres on a change is pretty mcuh bang on the max mark.

Dedenders and Discos do have different dipsticks, wonder if they are the same length?
Defender 200 stick has L and F plus and N in the middle of the other two marks.
 
Right dipstciks measured, why I dont know as they are so different its kind of obvious?
Obviously the dipstick tubes are aslo different lengths.
But it is interesting to note the difference between min/max on both sticks and you can see the defender (shorter one) has a much higher max mark in relation to the min mark, so maybe that is where the extra quantity comes from?
When it was my daily the oil stayed at the N mark all the time and when topped up to Max, oil would get used until it had dropped to the N mark.

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