Hi guys

Need some advice here, please.

I had a full service done by the LR dealer last December 2015. About 4 months after that, the Oil Service warning started coming out on my dash. I asked on here and was told it was likely the trigger on the system that had not been reset during my service.

So, i left it and tried to clear my self with instructions from thisw forum, with little luck. The warning eventually auto-cleared. It reappeared a feww weeks ago so i decided to take it into the dealer again today.

They tell me they need to replace the oil again becuase the current oil is black. So here is my question:

As far as i understand it, black oil only occurs when the oil has been running in the engine for a long period. If this is the case, it would imply that the original service last December was never really done. So i called them and told them this and they've responded saying the DPF could lead to this, the fact its done 6k kilometres since the last service in december, its been there for 10 months, etc. For me, it sounds like BS. but before i go there personally and tell them i'm never trusting them again, i'd like someone here to provide some advice.

Could the oil be so dark if its only been in use 10 months (6k kilometres)? Or is there only one cause for dark oil (as i have been told by colleagues) and this is that it was not changed 10 months ago as thought.

Thanks guys.

In a diesel the oil will always go black after a very short time - or at least that is what I have found with all the 6 diesels that I have previously owned which were a verity of different manufacturers.

With a diesel engine, unless it has been brought up to temperature and the oil has been left to drain for absolutely ages, chances are it will appear black within minutes of the new oil being put in. Some will always remain in the engine, more so if you have an oil cooler - that cant be drained. Even if you followed the long drain procedure, I'd expect it to look black after 500 miles.

It'll be clean if you changed it twice - once after the other but you cannot go by colour especially after 10 months/6000k

If you have a DPF, the light could be for the oil QUALITY which will thin out with fuel ,especially if you are doing short journeys.

The first time it cleared itself could have been because it had a good run. They wont replace oil just because it looks black. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Thanks Steve.

The dealer says they have proceeded to change the oil. £180. I will tell them is they have checked to see if it's more an issue with the DPF or related filters.

£180 for an oil change?

Black oil is normal for a diesel engine- I know this from owning Ford and Audi/VW diesels and changing the oil myself. I guess that's why they call em dirty diesels...

I would wonder why the LR dealer didn't reset your service warning light though... "We're in danger, we've got to get out."
"What are you talking about?"
"I've been called a ponce."

Use this post as a reminder to always check oil after a service,especially by a dealer.
That way you should have clean oil .
As said above,lube oil in diesels goes black quickly

Cheers

Jim A

Personally I feel you have no redress as oil soon goes black in diesels.

Is the oil level now above the maximum ? If so that would possibly point towards DPF burns due to short journey use and that would also be a good reason for the service indicator to kick in early. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

There is a thread running on this same issue on discosportforum and the fact oil now only needs changing every 2 years

It's been suggested diesel contamination of oil is occurring on some vehicles and this will cause premature wear of components

Quote:

Old ford mondeo engines used to do same, degradation issue and call for a service.

Reason was excess fuel is sent to catalytic converter to burn off soot at high temperature.
Any unused burnt fuel is returned to the engine sump, this is by design and Volvos by the way do the same , in fact in the Volvo your engine oil used to increase in quantity and danger high oil level light would come on!
I did ask my Volvo dealer why oil is so specific as to manufacturer and viscosity when it was filled with fuel he shrugged his shoulders in the exact same way the ford garage did with the mondeo.

Mine seems to USE more oil than it 'gives back' in diesel...

I've yet to work out how much it does use, but each time I've checked it (twice in the month I've had it) it seems to have dropped below halfway between the marks, so I top it up with the Ford Spec Mobil oil. "We're in danger, we've got to get out."
"What are you talking about?"
"I've been called a ponce."