Hi All,

Yesterday, after running the car stationary for 30 minutes with the aircon running full blast to run Ozon through the aircon system and otherwise sanitise the interior of the car, the Amber DPF full warning came on when I was driving in the local town.

I immediately drove afew miles through town, onto the motorway and drove the car for about 50 miles in Sport mode at 70mph with revs at above 2500rpm. Exited the motorway and parked up for a while. Restarted the car and the Amber warning was still on.

Drove at the same speed and revs on the way back down the motorway and after a further 40 miles the Amber DPF warning disappeared.

Checking the oil level before going on a 100 mile round trip this morning, I noticed that the oil level had increased by one mark to the full level. The car does not use oil and is not losing any cooling water. I have read on the forum that the DPF regeneration does affect the engine oil.

The car has always regenerated the DPF on a normal basis and has never shown an increase in engine oil level. I therefore assume that this abnormal increase in engine oil level is due to the Amber DPF warning and the resultant regeneration.

I have yesterday ordered the GAP IID Bluetooth tool from Island 4x4 to have better understand the various systems in the car. It will arrive on Wednesday by Fedex.

Everything is normal apart from the increased oil level.

I had changed the engine oil about 500 miles ago.

I have a trip through Europe covering about 3000 miles planned for the end of July / early August.

The question is whether I should do another oil change now or drive the car for another 4,500 miles before changing the oil again?

Your collective expert advice will be greatly appreciated.

John. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Current
2015 E220 with AMG Sport Pack - Currently driven by my son
2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue - Written off by my son

I'd not worry about it too much if the Amber has now gone after a run. It was probably near it's limit when you had it idling on the drive and the run out cleared it. The owners manual states the recommended speed and duration needed to clear the amber. Revving the off it is not needed.
The IID will show the soot level has decreased all going well. With the IID you're basically looking for the exhaust temps to rise and the soot level to drop.
The oil dilution should be below 7 and the pressure voltage around 0.7V.
See my screenshot below for the Live Values to save as favourites on the IID. Most are found in the "Engine" sub menu in Live Values.
If I was you, I'd take it for another few runs out to see if the light stays off. Had you done lots of short journeys before it sat idling on the drive? Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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Last edited by DrRob on 3rd Jul 2020 7:28am. Edited 3 times in total

 Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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John,
You don’t say which method you use to change your oil, but if you are a “sucker”, ie using a syphon pump to get the old oil out, then I would suck out a cup full for starters.

Secondly, you will get your answer once your new iid arrives, because you will be able to measure the oil contamination fuel dilution figure.

I did an oil change recently, so can confirm that new oil gives a zero reading.
The maximum reading is 7.

Personally I would monitor it for the next few weeks, but irrespective of reading, would change it again before any long foreign trip.

Mike. G reg 2.5VM Vogue Portofino red 1991- 1999
V reg 2.5td P38 Rioja red 1999- 2006
53 reg td6 Vogue Oslo blue 2006- 2015
11 reg 4.4 TdV8 Vogue SE. Baltic blue 2015- date.
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic56162...tty+affair

Just to clarify, it’s the fuel/oil dilution Reading we are all talking about, not the engine oil level. If it is making your oil reading increase by that much I am surprised. Best get a fuel dilution reading on your new IID ASAP as it may point to something else causing it.

When the car does a regen, it pumps in extra diesel to raise the temps in the exhaust to Initiate a soot burrn. Some of this excess fuel is unburnt and goes to the sump and dilutes the oil. This has caused some other vehicles (sport/evoque) to have early oil service reminders after only a few thousand miles. The warning level for oil/fuel mix as stated by blue is 7 which means you should change your oil. Mine was 12 which highlighted the fact that it was trying to regen but was impeded for some reason (split exhaust inlet manifold)

(Edit) sorry just re-read the OP’s first post again and see his point more clearly now, so what I have written is prob superfluous but will leave it up as someone else may gain from the detail.

I'll also add that the oil level indicator is not always 100% accurate. When you take a reading make sure to leave it for 30 seconds to stabilise. Sometimes mine adds another notch after, sometimes it doesn't. Dipstick was best!
I use 8.25L of oil when replacing it to allow for some leeway. Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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You definitely don't need sport mode or revs.

Regen can happen at very low revs.

What you need is cruise control on, 50mph steady - and ideally an IID Tool otherwise it's impossible to know what's going on.

You also need more than 1/4 tank fuel.

Loads of info in the wiki: 'What to do if your DPF is full'



. Cheers, Greg
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

Many thanks to every one for your replies.

As always very helpful.

Just arrived home from a 200 mile round trip from Bucharest to a nature reserve in the the mountains. Originally thought it was a 100 mile round trip. I have been stuck in Romania due to the lockdown both here and in the UK. Hopefully will get back to the UK late July early August.

Appreciate the advice on not needing to exceed 2,500 revs for a regeneration. Don't know where I got that idea.... Was thinking about that all day today as the car very seldom exceeded 2000 revs other than when booting down for overtaking.

Anyway the car ran perfectly as always.

The GAP IID tool will arrive on the 8th from Island 4x4 via FEDEX - will then have a look at the various readings.

A few pics of the day out today...

Click image to enlarge

Lovely scenery
So, no amber light after 200miles sounds like it’s all ok. It was probably near it’s limit before it sat idling which then tipped it over.
Don’t get obsessed with IID monitoring...you’ll end up going bonkers  Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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