There are some forum members who have changed their engine oil before the recommended service interval (1 year / 15,000 miles). I would like to know how many agree with this practice.

Not worth the time and trouble and expense in my humble opinion. Maybe worthwhile if you intend to run the fl2 for huge mileages/ lots of years, but I suspect most of us will trade in after 3years/end of warranty. At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Its a throwback to the old days and some people just can't come to terms with modern oils.

My Viva had oil changes every 6k. The stuff I put in each time was cheap rubbish but was to spec. After 6k it was like water. The poor quality of the oil plus the poor tolerances of the 1970s engine allowing fuel and fumes into the oil meant that it needed changing by 6k at the latest. It was these that people were changing every 3k or so. it made good sense. Poor oils are still widely used in the US where cheap lube shops line very street corner. Regular changes there are common too but the stuff they put in, wouldn't be allowed within 50 feet of either of my cars!

I've not done the LR yet but the merc spec is fully synth and ruddy expensive. (dealers bill shows over £70 for oil alone). To be fair, I'm told I can get it from costco for £40 but thats as cheap as it gets.
Someone I know runs a merc van with the same engine. He did 18k before the service light came on, took it in and, suspicious, had the old oil analysed. The report came back that it was still fine and would have provided good protection for good few thousand miles yet.

I dare say that fl2 spec oil is as good as the merc stuff and so will still be perfectly servicable when it is removed, so to take it out any earlier would be a waste, both financially and environmentally. It won't do the car an ounce of good.

If you live in a dodgy climate and regularly thrash the car, offroading every week etc then it maybe worthwhile as the engine wear will be greater than the wheel mileage, but otherwise, if you use it as a normal car 99% of the time, don't bother. 07 Freelander 2 TD4SE Tambora Flame, side steps, privacy glass, mud flaps, boot liner and a tow bar. Ok it's the Wifes but she lets me drive it occasionally - if I've been good!

If Landrover had spent a couple of quid in developing the engine then yes i would look at changing the oil

But since they spent at least a tenner on this I see no point in wasting money changing the oil until a service oil change is due. Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I don't think I will do 24k Km until first service is due so don't think I will bother with an early oil change. Will try to convince dealers to put a better oil at next change thought.
Anyway just in case I decide to make an early oil change I had a look and found out the proper way to do it so I share it with you all:

Oil Change instructions for Men:



Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, write a check for $50.00.
Stop by 7/11 and buy a case of beer, write a check for $20, drive home.
Open a beer and drink it.
Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
Find jack stands under kid’s pedal car.
In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
Place drain pan under engine.
Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
Give up and use crescent wrench.
Unscrew drain plug.
Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process.
Cuss.
Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off face and arms. Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.
Have another beer while watching oil drain.
Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.
Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly, hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties.
Drink a beer.
Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
Remember drain plug from step 11.
Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
Drink beer.
Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil spill.
Get drain plug back in with only a minor spill.
Drink beer.
Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame removing any excess skin between knuckles and frame.
Begin cussing fit.
Throw stupid crescent wrench.
Cuss for additional 5 minutes because wrench hit bowling trophy.
Beer.
Clean up hands and bandage as required to stop blood flow.
Beer.
Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.
Beer.
Lower car from jack stands.
Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during any missed steps.
Beer.
Test drive car.
Get pulled over; get arrested for driving under the influence.
Car is impounded.
Call loving wife, make bail.
12 hours later, get car from impound yard.
Money spent:

Parts: $50.00
DUI: $2500.00
Impound fee: $75.00
Bail: $1500.00
Beer: $20.00
Total: $4,145.00
But you know the job was done right! FREELANDER 2 TD4 SE (XS UK) IZMIR BLUE SIDE STEPS COLD PACK BI-XENON TINTED WINDOWS - AND PROUD OF HER

Matei wrote:

I don't think I will do 24k Km until first service is due so don't think I will bother with an early oil change. Will try to convince dealers to put a better oil at next change thought.
Anyway just in case I decide to make an early oil change I had a look and found out the proper way to do it so I share it with you all:

Oil Change instructions for Men:



Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, write a check for $50.00.
Stop by 7/11 and buy a case of beer, write a check for $20, drive home.
Open a beer and drink it.
Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
Find jack stands under kid’s pedal car.
In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
Place drain pan under engine.
Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
Give up and use crescent wrench.
Unscrew drain plug.
Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process.
Cuss.
Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off face and arms. Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.
Have another beer while watching oil drain.
Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.
Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly, hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties.
Drink a beer.
Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
Remember drain plug from step 11.
Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
Drink beer.
Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil spill.
Get drain plug back in with only a minor spill.
Drink beer.
Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame removing any excess skin between knuckles and frame.
Begin cussing fit.
Throw stupid crescent wrench.
Cuss for additional 5 minutes because wrench hit bowling trophy.
Beer.
Clean up hands and bandage as required to stop blood flow.
Beer.
Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.
Beer.
Lower car from jack stands.
Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during any missed steps.
Beer.
Test drive car.
Get pulled over; get arrested for driving under the influence.
Car is impounded.
Call loving wife, make bail.
12 hours later, get car from impound yard.
Money spent:

Parts: $50.00
DUI: $2500.00
Impound fee: $75.00
Bail: $1500.00
Beer: $20.00
Total: $4,145.00
But you know the job was done right!

I guess I am one of those that cannot get over the fact that they have extended the length of time between oil changes, I am from the old school.

In this part of the world we have many quick oil change joints which in my opinion have access to lesser quality and certainly cheaper oil products. The same is true with the filters that are available. Here you can purchase a "Fram" oil filter from a parts store called "Canadian Tire" for a fraction of the cost of a similar looking "Fram" filter from a reputable parts supplier. Although the products look the same the fact of the matter is that the do not weigh the same???????? There is a difference inside the filter???

We spend a great deal of money for to drive around in a LR. For the few bucks it costs me for my own peace of mind is well worth the expenditure.

I would imagine that most of the members of this forum are like me, I am not just a car nut, I am a maniac. At least my wife thinks so. I spend some of my most pleasurable time tinkering with mechanical things, a little squirt of oil here and there, and what do you know, at the end of five years my engine compartment looks just like new.

One other experience I would like to pass is to do with the fact that my son and I used to race go-karts, (formula A) we were sponsored by Castrol and they supplied us with an oil that was not available in Canada. The incredible difference we experienced in the wear and tear in the engine was nothing less than amazing. My point being is that using a good quality oil is important. Freqency of changing the oil for the small cost to me is equally important.

I am not promoting Castrol, I am using another product in the LR.

From an old schooler.

Vic Vic Benson

I guess I am one of those that cannot get over the fact that they have extended the length of time between oil changes, I am from the old school.

In this part of the world we have many quick oil change joints which in my opinion have access to lesser quality and certainly cheaper oil products. The same is true with the filters that are available. Here you can purchase a "Fram" oil filter from a parts store called "Canadian Tire" for a fraction of the cost of a similar looking "Fram" filter from a reputable parts supplier. Although the products look the same the fact of the matter is that the do not weigh the same???????? There is a difference inside the filter???

We spend a great deal of money for to drive around in a LR. For the few bucks it costs me for my own peace of mind is well worth the expenditure.

I would imagine that most of the members of this forum are like me, I am not just a car nut, I am a maniac. At least my wife thinks so. I spend some of my most pleasurable time tinkering with mechanical things, a little squirt of oil here and there, and what do you know, at the end of five years my engine compartment looks just like new.

One other experience I would like to pass is to do with the fact that my son and I used to race go-karts, (formula A) we were sponsored by Castrol and they supplied us with an oil that was not available in Canada. The incredible difference we experienced in the wear and tear in the engine was nothing less than amazing. My point being is that using a good quality oil is important. Freqency of changing the oil for the small cost to me is equally important.

I am not promoting Castrol, I am using another product in the LR.

From an old schooler.

Vic Vic Benson

I can fully understand you as I allways look under my car for leakages and from time to time turn off the CD just to see if new sounds have appeared but if the service 24000 Km are not sort of in range I would still wait to do the oil change with the dealer as I assume that they will provide a good quality oil.
You are complaining about doggy oil and oil filters we surely have this problem here and therefore I would rather go to the dealers for anything engine related. No risks worth.
Anyway I understand that you were satisfied with Castrol so it maybe be that LR recomandations with Castrol ight be right
 FREELANDER 2 TD4 SE (XS UK) IZMIR BLUE SIDE STEPS COLD PACK BI-XENON TINTED WINDOWS - AND PROUD OF HER

Thanks to all who contributed to this poll.
I had asked my dealer if I should change my oil before the service interval. He said that was not necessary due to increased tolerace of newer engines plus a 2 micron oil filter which would strain all but the minutest of particles. I wonder what YF, our resident oil guru, would say?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with changing the oil more frequently than a manufacturer’s recommendation. It can only be good! Every time you pull the dipstick out there is a risk that debris (read crap) can fall down into the sump, so getting rid of that crap sooner rather than later can only be good.

Not sure where the comment about manufacturers adding additives to new engines to clean them out comes from....what is there to clean out on a new engine exactly? Anything crap left over from manufacturing shouldn't be there as that will be detrimental to the engine.

We use 4 different brands of engines (one of which is our own) both diesel and gasoline models and never do we add or are instructed to add oil, and still we see engines the equivalent of 300,000 miles on them.

Having said the above I voted "Not necessary" because with the cost of top quality oils and filters it is not economical at all to replace the oil more frequently than once a year, not in Europe anyway. In North America it's a different kettle of fish due to how cheap quality oils are.

I had a little skidsteer loader and when I checked the oil I discovered that the whole dipstick had fallen into the sump all was left was the handle .... so I did what seemed right sold it on ebay and bought a different one  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

chicken george wrote:

Not worth the time and trouble and expense in my humble opinion. Maybe worthwhile if you intend to run the fl2 for huge mileages/ lots of years, but I suspect most of us will trade in after 3years/end of warranty.

3 Years is what I said about the last car, but it was 8 years before it got swapped for the Freely
Now I am saying the same again 3 years but time will tell
The oil will be changed when the display says it should be changed - this was the same practice as my beloved 8-year old BMW - no problems here and there wont be with the Land Rover  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

AndyC wrote:

chicken george wrote:

Not worth the time and trouble and expense in my humble opinion. Maybe worthwhile if you intend to run the fl2 for huge mileages/ lots of years, but I suspect most of us will trade in after 3years/end of warranty.

3 Years is what I said about the last car, but it was 8 years before it got swapped for the Freely
Now I am saying the same again 3 years but time will tell
The oil will be changed when the display says it should be changed - this was the same practice as my beloved 8-year old BMW - no problems here and there wont be with the Land Rover

3 years just makes sense what with the warranty etc. 2.5 years is also good time as the dealer can then sell it on with a few months LR warranty, see he should be offering a good price  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

When I was out in Florida last year I hired a Chrysler 300C with a 5.7 ltr engine. Nosing through the handbook I was surprised to see how often it needed a service(either every 5k or 6k miles IIRC)
This might explain it if the oils out there are not as good as ours.