Land Rover Repair: land rover 1997 discovery 1 oil change, sump drain plug, oil filler cap

Question
Hi, I got a landrover 1997 discovery 1 and I'm changing the oil alone for the first time since I got it. I looked up in the owner's manual to know how i could do it properly.First took off the cap of the oil reservoir then I drained the sump, i replaced the nut and added oil, I'd ought a 4,4 liters container of oil and there is about 1 liter left in it. after all that I checked the oil level but it was far too high (1 1/2 inch over the full line) so I waited 5 minutes and it was the same reading. So I replaced the oil filter with a new one and it checked the oil level again still too high. Am I doing somenthing wrong or the level reading stick is wrong? please enlighten me.

Mark-antoine
Sept-iles, quebec

Answer
Salut Mark-Antoine,

oil change seemed ok but here is what I would have done:

remove oil filler cap;
remove and clean oil dip stick - do not replace;
remove oil pan (sump) drain plug and drain oil;
remove oil filter (always replace oil filter with oil change);
add oil to new oil filter (about .5 litres), smear small amount along filter gasket, then install new oil filter;
verify oil pan drain plug washer is in good state, replace if needed;
install oil pan drain plug;
add oil (capacity is 6.1 litres IF you added oil to filter as suggested above -  if NOT - capacity is 6.6 litres)
verify no leaks from oil pan or filter;
replace oil dip stick;
start engine and run for a minute or so;
check oil level;
verify no oil leaks from oil pan or filter;

you're done!

Make sure you change your oil when the vehicle is level. I always measure the amount of oil I remove from the Disco - just to see if much I may have lost.  Its a good indicator if you have engine troubles - burning too much oil? oil leak somewhere?

If you really are not sure of the oil level, take a look at the amount of oil you removed.  Is it about 6 litres?  If its not - maybe something trapped the oil in the pan (sump) - rust shaving plugged drain or something like that.  You could remove the oil pan and scrap the pan clean to prevent flakes from plugging the drain.

Best of luck,

JohnMc

NB: you can email me if you need more info on the oil pan removeal.
jmcinnis64@hotmail.com
Laurentians, QC