Get the oil cooler sorted ASAP is my advice.
As recommended previously, Glenrands is my specialist of choice in Hampshire.
They use Advanced Factors if you ask them too. OEM parts but not stupid Genuine prices  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
--------------------------------------------------

I already have done Rob - Tom Lenthall did it along with some suspension work. 2012 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE: Buckingham Blue
2005 Defender TD5 110 XS: Cairns Blue - Gone but not forgotten

 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
--------------------------------------------------

Second MoT in my care, passed although with an advisory for leaking oil... the guy was most unhelpful "It was around the transmission, not too bad so I didn't put 'excessive'."

I wouldn't mind, it's a 10 year old Range Rover, but I've just spent a fortune with a specialist in Feb including doing the oil cooler and Bodsy did all the fluids underneath as well. It's driven 3,000 miles in the last four months, what the hell's wrong with it now!?  2012 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE: Buckingham Blue
2005 Defender TD5 110 XS: Cairns Blue - Gone but not forgotten

I’d be double checking the oil cooler hasn’t started leaking again for some spurious and annoying reason despite the O rings being replaced and oil cooler plus it’s gaskets (I assume they replaced the cooler and not just gaskets??). Cooler can warp apparently so if you put new gaskets on a warped cooler it will still weep.
As above, take it to Glenrands who are now a site sponsor  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
--------------------------------------------------

Bluebottle, after I bought my car I had the gearbox oil done at a ZF specialist and they told me the bell housing was covered in oil. It is now bone dry so I can only presume my cooler and/or the o rings had only just been done prior to me buying it.
Could yours just be the left over oil finding it's way down?

Just a quick update post - I celebrated a minor milestone for mileage recently:





Also discovered, after some investigation, that the cause of the ongoing oil leak is the oil pump at the front of the engine. Apparently this is a front off or engine out job and will be the thick end of £2k, anyone any experience of this? Tips or other things to look at while undertaking this job gladly received!
I’m currently postponing it under advice from my mechanic that it’s not losing that much, but because of the cooling fan distributing it everywhere it looks worse than it is…

In other news, had the wheels balanced and aligned (only the fronts as the rears were seized apparently) and discovered the driver’s rear tyre isn’t completely round! It is, however, fairly new and with a decent tread depth so I’m not rushing to part with £300 for that either. 2012 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE: Buckingham Blue
2005 Defender TD5 110 XS: Cairns Blue - Gone but not forgotten

Had the oil pump seal replaced soon after purchase when I had the aux belt and tensioner changed. All these jobs need the fan and cowl removing for access which is time consuming but it shouldn't need the engine out. If the Aux belt is oil contaminated it will squeal on cold starts in the morning and may well struggle to drive the alternator, AC compressor etc so I would get it sorted. Rear toe adjusters seizing is also common but was the alignment within tolerance? Just goes to show that even low mileage late L322's will cost you ££ as parts deteriorate with age and corrosion irrespective of mileage. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

bluebottle wrote:

Also discovered, after some investigation, that the cause of the ongoing oil leak is the oil pump at the front of the engine. Apparently this is a front off or engine out job and will be the thick end of £2k, anyone any experience of this?.

Yes! ( unfortunately): there are two common issues: 1.) the oil pump nut gallery 2.) the oil seal on the oil pump drive.

1) There is an LR technical service bulletin for the TDV8 4.4 on this. GlenRands advised me it was the smaller of the two jobs at 3 to 4 hours Labour.

2.) This needs removal/replace of the oil pump and specialist LR tools to accurately position the new seal in the engine block. GlenRands advised this can be done with engine in situ but it’s 18 hours Labour.

I have issue number 2.) My car is leaking around 0.1ltr of oil every 1k miles so for the time being, as I’ve just spent £2k on a suspension refurb, I’ve decided to keep a close eye on it and perhaps address it later in the year. My annual mileage is less than 10k per annum and luckily I don’t commute and have access to another vehicle in the event of a dramatic worsening.

I’ve had my car just over a year now…. Love it to bits! BUT with this job, the suspension refurb and various other upgrades I’ve chosen to have done I’ve probably spent upwards of £7.5k maintaining it! TDV8 4.4 2012

DrRob wrote:

I’d be double checking the oil cooler hasn’t started leaking again for some spurious and annoying reason despite the O rings being replaced and oil cooler plus it’s gaskets (I assume they replaced the cooler and not just gaskets??). Cooler can warp apparently so if you put new gaskets on a warped cooler it will still weep.
As above, take it to Glenrands who are now a site sponsor

They do  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
--------------------------------------------------

Oil pump leaks. Usually it’s from a hex bolt and is not a massive job. Fix is remove bolt, add sealant, refit. Again, depends on where the weep is from. Glenrands will review and advise  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
--------------------------------------------------

Very disappointing update, Glenrands suggest it’s the oil cooler and that to remedy will be 10 hours Labour plus parts… I paid my £72 diagnostic charge and took it back to Tom Lenthall because the oil cooler is a new Land Rover part fitted last February so still within its two year warranty.

Tom Lenthall tell me the leak is actually from the gallery plugs on the front of the engine, I presume in the top of the oil pump, and that this will be a 4-5 hour job. They go on to comprehensively rubbish the idea that the cooler is leaking because apparently the bell housing and so on at the back of the engine is dry…

Apart from not knowing who to believe, I can’t say either outfit is filling me with huge confidence.  2012 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE: Buckingham Blue
2005 Defender TD5 110 XS: Cairns Blue - Gone but not forgotten

I’ve made Ross at Glenrands aware of the above as I suspect the 10 hours was to cover additional leaks or issues they found on your vehicle inspection. They go through everything thoroughly I can assure you
He’s personally going to look into the quote for you and someone will be in touch no doubt  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
--------------------------------------------------

Hi DrRob - and others reading this.

Just on the 10 hour quote point - yes, there was a suspension issue and a couple of other things mentioned on the estimate, I hadn't realised that the labour was a global figure.

In any event, I took up the offer from Adam at Tom Lenthall's to come in to the workshop and have a look - the guys there showed me the front and rear of the engine on a borescope. Quite clearly a lot of oil on the front of the block which just simply cannot have come from the oil cooler, mounted as it is in the rear of the V of an engine which is canted backwards anyway. Long story short, the Rangie has been back with me just over a week (part delay from LR didn't help) having had the gallery plugs sealed in properly.

I don't think Glenrands were doing anything untoward, but had just missed this issue because of the fact that I guess pretty much everything under there was oily in one way or another.

I'm going to be watching the thing like a hawk though as I have about 70 days left on that LR warranty on the oil cooler - so guess when that will give out?! 2012 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE: Buckingham Blue
2005 Defender TD5 110 XS: Cairns Blue - Gone but not forgotten