I got my car about 18 months ago and the dealer serviced it before delivery. 4.4 V8.

Only a few months later it started telling me Service Soon. I don't do many miles and I thought it a bit premature. So when soon switched to required, I bunged it in the indy for a service and all was well.

It wasn't long before the service soon message was back, way too fast in my opinion. So a couple of months ago I bunged it in the dealer who serviced it again and did some warranty bits on it. All was well again.

Now the message is back! I've probably not done 2000 miles since it was done.

So my question is what would cause the service required message to come up prematurely time after time? I was wondering if as I don't do that many motorway miles, could the DPF not doing its self regeneration thing as I'm not making long motorway trips be causing oil degradation? It depends on how the car knows it needs a service. It obviously isn't a simple mileage counter, so is it oil condition? Or if the oil is low would it bring it up? Something is triggering the message prematurely.

One of the things it had done under warranty was the oil jobby in the V of the engine that leaks. I'm not convinced it was entirely fixed as I still get the oily smell occasionally.

Can anyone advise? 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

Likely the DPF if you're only doing short journeys.

This thread should provide some insight

Yes, that thread makes sense, oil dilution seems the likely reason.

I wonder if the stealer might cough up an FOC oil change? If not, I guess I'll have to ask the friendly indy to plug it in and see how many missed regens it has? And if a lot, change the oil again and do more motorway work. 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

hi stuart

im a newby to L405 having owned a sport a few years ago, if your prepared to do it yourself i'd recommend an oil change. i bought my RR after having a full service and the interval message came on after 5 months. i read about oil changes and had a go myself. Its pretty easy TBH and you can the reset the service indicator. I purchased a vacumn pump from amazon, the oil from Halfords (correct spec) and a filter from europarts. i will defo do it again. i think you also need a 32mm thing to remove the oil filter housing.
in the 35 years i've driven i have never change the oil in any of my cars, but it was so easy.

With the right diagnostics tool you can check the oil dilution that the ECU is reporting, that'll tell you straight away if it's that which is triggering the service required error.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Mine does the same 2700 miles after last service and reset despite not missing a regen. Sent oil sample to miller's and only 1% oil dilution. I only do short journeys and car triggers regen at 75 miles but on longer trips at constant speeds it's double or more. At higher constant speeds passive regeneration helps prevent soot build up in the DPF because of higher temps or at least i think so just what I have learned from other members on here. It must be the short runs that causes the milage counter to drop quickly. I change oil at 3/4 k anyway just to be on the safe side. Don't think the cars ECU system can actually measure oil dilution it just bases calculations on algorithms?

The service light hasn't come up for a few days. It seems to come and go a bit. I am getting more confused now.

My wife has to go to Yorkshire over the weekend, if I get her to take mine, the motorway trip will no doubt trigger the regen its probably not had. 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

If it was serviced 18 months ago and again a few months after that. Then its still over a year since last oil change, so I would change the oil and filter anyway for piece of mind. Its cheap and easy to do with a vacuum pump.

All makers have a recommended service mileage or 1 Year, which ever comes first!

It is probably written in the algorithm when a Calendar year is passed before the limit on milage is reached that service light is registered. Or it could actually be oil dilution- your call. 2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

No, the last service was February, probably 2-3000 miles ago. 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

Service was done 28th feb 2024 and just got the service lite yesterday, only done 2275miles, rural short journeys.
Oil is cheap, Enjgines are not  2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

True. I've read your regen topic and a lot of stuff on the forum about this now. It's obviously oil dilution caused by short journeys. It looks like I will just have to change the oil three times a year.

The curiosity that remains is the service warning that flashes up when you start the car. Sometimes it doesn't, I haven't seen it in days. Maybe it cant decide if it wants a service...... 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

Linking into this - I would like to do a 6 monthly oil change in between services on mine as well.

Does anyone know how much oil comes out when one does a change using a pump - I see a vast range of vacuum pumps as well - I reckon a 9L one would suffice.?

I assume its not the old days where I warm the car, crack off the sump plug and just let it drain....

Many thanks Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB

I have the 10L Draper manual vacuum pump, it fills that even though I always only put in 9.2L new oil. 2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

I usually use supermarket fuel (with occasional tankfuls of v-power ) and I do short journeys (but at least one long one each week to clear the DPF) and so far haven't had a problem. But the V-Power and the fact that I change the oil every 6 months is what I do to maintain the status quo - i.e. no problems so far, hedging my bets.. As Kot says oil is cheap and I actually find changing it and the filter is no real biggie. Geoff

Forum wisdom was correct, it seems to be fuel dilution.

I popped into my local indy today, he plugged it in and it should have 9.5L of oil apparently, and it has 11L. He said they are known for this and it will bring the service light on intermittently.

So, they are changing the oil and filter next week. And I need to make the odd longer motorway journey. 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc