I did a oil suction change on my SDV8 today and hit a problem refilling the engine, the level indicator said insufficient oil so I added more, and more and gave up at 9l with the screen still showing insufficient oil. The spec is 9.4l and I did not measure what came our. I did the service indicator reset using an OBD tool and then the oil level was not available.

I tried dipping the suction tube with 1mm wire but that didn't get down the tube more than 10cm before hitting an obstacle. A OBD scan showed no errors so I took the car for a gentle drive, to the local pub. Came out after 1 pint and the oil level indicator was restored, reading just under full.

It would be so much easier if there were a dipstick.

Yep, stupid idea from the designers

Yep, stupid idea from the designers

In fact I'd go further and say who's idea it was should never be allowed to work in vehicle design again and whoever signed it off as a good idea, should be kicked in the balls by whoever has an issue with it.... 👍

The 'idea' came from focus groups of previous model owners who basically wanted to have an oil level warning or method of checking it without having to dirty their hands....

Blame them, not the ones that implemented their stupidity & laziness.

The procedure is clear about getting it up to temp and then leaving it to settle along with other steps to take for it to properly assess the oil level in the vehicle … I think it reads a short term level and a long term level.

Personally, having changed the SDV8 oil for the first time recently and using the suction method, I cant believe it’s not been a standard way of doing it across all cars. The process was so much easier, cleaner and hassle free.

( I do agree that there should also be an actual dipstick on them too. ) V8 or else ...

I recall when I first acquired my MY 2017 L405 a year ago, oil level was totally unavailable, no matter what I tried.
Following a visit to my local LR indy, many fault codes were cleared and the oil level sensor was plugged back in after being left unplugged for some reason during a recent “service” by the selling dealer. I later obtained a copy of the service sheet, to see various items including an oil filter, but no OIL itemised on the bill!
I immediately instructed them to service the car again properly at a cost of £600, fortunately still within the required JLR period.  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

Instrumentation breaks down, a dip stick never does, the problem lies with the designers NOT potential/owners requests... 🙄

Its important to first check the digital level... Then empty the oil, measuring the amount you remove... Before refilling using the same amount or more engine oil, if required?

dingg1 wrote:

Instrumentation breaks down, a dip stick never does, the problem lies with the designers NOT potential/owners requests... 🙄

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

Its important to first check the digital level... Then empty the oil, measuring the amount you remove... Before refilling using the same amount or more engine oil, if required?

Phoenix, there's no accounting for the 'dipstick' using the dip stick 😂😂😂

I've never read that you can hit the cruise a few times to restore the oil level readout, is that a manual specified method or did someone just hit on it while beating the car up out of frustration?

IIRC you need the bonnet open to do the cruise cancel trick....  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Simply pull the bonnet release, get in and press the start buttton (without your foot on the brake).

Press "OK" to clear any warnings ( including'bonnet open' )- once they are clear, do the oil check as normal but when it comes up "unavailable" press 'cancel' on the cruise control twice - your oil level shows! 2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

Haylands wrote:

IIRC you need the bonnet open to do the cruise cancel trick....