sprintmaker

New Member
Have a 3.9 disco with only 85K and it uses about half the level of oil from the min to max mark on the dipstick over around 100 miles.

It's an auto, pulls well, no smoke from exhaust not even on the overrun.

New to v8s and used to Tdis so was wondering if this is normal.

Using Millers 10 - 40 as this is the grade the handbook states.

Should I be using a slightlier heavier oil like 15 - 40 or even 20 -50 considering these engines are quite an old design? or should I fire in a can of STP oil treatment with each oil change.

The oil was last changed about 1300 miles ago. :confused:
 
Mine uses nearly that much on the motorway if I work it hard.

Uses none round town, Unless you want to spend out on a rebuild I would just run for as long as it runs!

(wont be that long its a rover v8 lol)
 
what is your coolant like?

you could try 20-50 to see if the thicker oil makes a difference
 
Coolant is fine and never drops, temp gauge does not move even when towing large caravan. Engine quiet even on start up.
 
Have a 3.9 disco with only 85K and it uses about half the level of oil from the min to max mark on the dipstick over around 100 miles.

It's an auto, pulls well, no smoke from exhaust not even on the overrun.

New to v8s and used to Tdis so was wondering if this is normal.

Using Millers 10 - 40 as this is the grade the handbook states.

Should I be using a slightlier heavier oil like 15 - 40 or even 20 -50 considering these engines are quite an old design? or should I fire in a can of STP oil treatment with each oil change.

The oil was last changed about 1300 miles ago. :confused:

that amount of oil loss is excessive to the extreme, if it's not coming out the tail pipe as smoke then it must be getting forced out of the cooler pipes somewhere, or outa the front or rear crank seals.
 
I agree with ssmn, I've never experienced anything like that sort of consumption from four Rover V8's even those with a lot more miles under the belt than yours. I use a good mineral 15/40 though you could try a 20/50, but the oil is certainly going somewhere if it's not being burnt.
 
I have found that mine is a bit tappety for a few seconds on the first start of the day with 15w40 but not with 10w40, I hope its not hurting it!

I reckon I use 500ml of oil on 130 mile motorway run at 70+ (ish lol) but none round town , I wonder if the plenum sucks it in out of the breather tube at higher revs?
 
to put that into perspective, mine takes over 500 miles to drop that much and I'm dropping oil out of the sump plug all the time..
 
Mine does drip too, not much but like I say only on the motorway high speed runs does it use any, none round town even if I am harsh on it.
 
Definitely no leaks at crankshaft seals, coolant clean oil clean but I do only use the V8 occasionally and mainly for towing the caravan on motorway at around 60ish.

Don't really drive it hard just the odd time to smoke a boy racer if he ****es me off.

Front of caravan never has any black deposits on it from exhaust.
 
hi my 4.0 ltr was doing the same when i stripped down it turned out that the oils expander rings where stuck in the grove although it run well and started ok.
 
yes you are probably right, will maybe give it a good flushing oil and see what happens but don't want to strip the engine at this stage as I only do about 1500 miles a year in it so can live with the oil consumption.
 

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