Alex, a very good point! My comment was largely "tongue-in-cheek" and, of course, any leakage of oil looks a lot worse than the actual volume might indicate.

...but at the same time, I challenge anyone to get an accurate prediction of oil level from the useless piece of kit that is the TD4 dipstick!  2005 D3 2.7 Auto
Previously:
2010 MY FL2 TD4e GS - Now gone at 199,500 miles, about 135,000 of them mine.
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel

Absolutely agree about the useless dipstick. I am rarely confident about the level it shows - most of the time it indicates I have 20 litres too much oil in there.
However, I am planning a cunning little modification to help. I'll let you know how I go. MY11 SD4 SE Auto

Last edited by ozjeff62 on 28th Nov 2020 12:45 am. Edited 1 time in total

I've always checked the oil the second day, after the car sat for at lest several hours.
After that period of time it's always easy to check the oil level. Just retract the dipstick and read the oil level at first glance.
I know the oil level should be verified when hot, after 5-10 minutes of engine off, but the difference is minimal for when is cold.

Worms wrote:

I don't think I could resist having the occasional look in the can long before October '21! Given the amount of oil seeping out of the junction after my organ pipes, the can could be full in no time!

Worms great shout there for anyone else doing this modification, I didn't see worms comment before checking my catch can today I was bored and fancied a check under the bonnet as I have suffered a rough idle one early morning last week but all looked well?

Anyway I could not believe the level of sludgy oily cr@p it's caught in less than 1k of miles. What do you guys think? Look normal? I can't imagine the amount of this rubbish that has been recirculating through the engine the last 106k of miles prior to fitting the catch can

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

ozjeff62 wrote:

Absolutely agree about the useless dipstick. I am rarely confident about the level it shows - most of the time it indicates I have 20 litres too much oil in there.
However, I am planning a cunning little modification to help. I'll let you know how I go.

Is your catch can metalic? I would guess you are getting condensation in it which might make it look a bit mayonnaisey. 
Hung like Einstein, smart as a horse.

yes it is metallic so hopefully that answers that concern although there is no sign of water consumption, or the old mayo check under the oil cap comes back clear so will keep my eye on things