so i picked up my 4,4 tdv8 on Saturday drove great i was told by the mot garage a light oil leek at the back of the engine, no biggie i thought its a land rover after all, i had read about the oil cooler and im getting it booked it to sort this and then new gearbox oil and filter, so today i checked the oil cold i know dont shout at me it was about half so i topped up left for 30 mins it showed 3/4 drove home 14 miles got on the drive i could smell burning oil my heart sank, popped the bonnet and smoke coming from rear of engine big smell burnt oil, i left it for 30 mins and checked the oil level its at Max and it says oil level ok, i looked at the oil filer cap its clean, the coolant bottle is an inch above the cold fill level, whats the advice from the forum, if the level is ok can i still drive the short journey to work until i can get it booked in or have a knackered it  2012 Range Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8
2006 Discovery 3 HSE 260k miles and still going strong with a new owner

My 2012 WM oil level did much the same, i.e. reading lower when cold, and also as the level is shown in segments rather than the finer level check possible with a dipstick it can seem to change more dramatically than really the case. It is also very sensitive to whether the car is exactly level or not. So if you are seeing 'max' when the oil is warm and has settled for the recommended 20 mins that would not worry me. I'd keep monitoring it, but not stop using it. It sounds as if the leak could do with attention sooner rather than later though. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Thanks for the reply it was fine till I put the extra oil in but when I got on the drive it stunk inside the car and then on lifting the Bonnet the burnt smoke from the back of the engine was not nice to see 2012 Range Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8
2006 Discovery 3 HSE 260k miles and still going strong with a new owner

Did a similar thing on our Westie. Seems fine 2+ years on.

The oil leak, until fixed, may stink...ours did and for a little time after too. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Baltic Blue, Jet interior
1997 P38 2.5 DSE auto & 1998 P38 2.5 DT Manual
1988 Vogue 3.5 EFI - Manual, gone.
2004 Volvo C70 2.0T convertible, had since new.
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Roadster/Coupé, had since new.
2024 Mini Cooper S cabrio, JCW kit, 2.0, DCT auto

I’m going to have a look this weekend to see if I can see where it’s coming from, 2012 Range Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8
2006 Discovery 3 HSE 260k miles and still going strong with a new owner

putting more oil in yours that it needs could have 'pushed' some out of the oil cooler at the rear which would cause the excess to burn and smoke.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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It is so easy to get the oil level wrong.
I had to suck out half a litre the first time I did an oil and filter change.
Check the “0” rings on the turbo feed pipe at the back of the engine., most likely cause of your leak.
Suck some oil out before any permanent damage is done.

I tested after 30 mins then an hour and it’s at max but oil ok, I’ll take it easy to work and check the o rings 2012 Range Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8
2006 Discovery 3 HSE 260k miles and still going strong with a new owner

The manual seems to indicate that you should only actually add any oil if it says it’s low..... otherwise don’t.

Not how I like it though, like mine on max.....

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

They found owners were not very good at checking the oil level so they design the engine to be filled to the max on a service and hopefully it will be fine until the next one, they then came out with the electronic checking and as engines were still designed as before they actually have far more oil than they need...

It is much better to have too little than too much, these days always err on the side of below max...

This applies to gearboxes as well, especially autos which hate to be over full...  Pete

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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-

thanks for the replies ill remove some oil and keep an eye on the situation, going to get the oil cooler gaskets and new o rings for the other leaking pipe and sort that out then full service 2012 Range Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8
2006 Discovery 3 HSE 260k miles and still going strong with a new owner