Range Rover L405 2017 4.4SD V8 too regular oil changes needed

I am regularly (every 2-3 months) getting a "service needed" warning on the Land Rover app. When I take it to JLR they say the oil viscosity is weak and needs an oil & filter change "due to my type of driving" ie short journeys. I do not always do short journeys. In fact I do a motorway run at least twice per week. This is becoming tiresome and expensive. A friend has an identical L405 and never has this problem. Are the parameters set too high? Is there an underlying problem which needs fixing? JLR quite happy to change the oil & filter and take my money but offer me no credible underlying reason for this recurring problem. Any help welcomed. Thank you. Tony

Hmm, I have a client with a peugeot van 2022, supposed to be every 30k for a service but due to his extended motorway driving is actually every 14k in reality!!!
I know the freelander 2 has a 6mth or 9k service twice a year. It does seem a bit excessive. Are there any landrover independents nearby that can either explain or even check the schedule for you ?

Mark Piercy said:

Hmm, I have a client with a peugeot van 2022, supposed to be every 30k for a service but due to his extended motorway driving is actually every 14k in reality!!!
I know the freelander 2 has a 6mth or 9k service twice a year. It does seem a bit excessive. Are there any landrover independents nearby that can either explain or even check the schedule for you ?

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I thought motorway miles were supposed to put less wear and tear on an engine?

The oil dilution issue is well know, look it up

Here you go

Mark Piercy said:

Hmm, I have a client with a peugeot van 2022, supposed to be every 30k for a service but due to his extended motorway driving is actually every 14k in reality!!!
I know the freelander 2 has a 6mth or 9k service twice a year. It does seem a bit excessive. Are there any landrover independents nearby that can either explain or even check the schedule for you ?

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I am doing exactly that next week. Thank you

Your welcome my mate.

Shove Duckhams 20/50 in it. That should solve the viscosity issue.... and it smells nice.!

kermit_rr said:

I thought motorway miles were supposed to put less wear and tear on an engine?

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Apparently not

DanClarke said:

Shove Duckhams 20/50 in it. That should solve the viscosity issue.... and it smells nice.!

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And some fairy liquid to break the diesel up....

Mark Piercy said:

And some fairy liquid to break the diesel up....

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Well, I suppose a few squirts of WD-40 might be ok.

Update. After taking my car to a local RR specialist (and not JLR who are less than useless) it turns out that my oil viscosity is fine at 10.9%. The soot levels in my DPF are c.7g. The problem was a blocked MAP sensor which, when blocked, can give false readings and activates the "service required" light on the dash. A simple clean of the MAP sensor cured the problem. I was told that the garage I took it to - Dakar Cars in Wilmington, Kent - clean the MAP sensor routinely when servicing diesel RR's. Main dealers do NOT apparently. Dakar Cars told me that if a "service required" light comes on the dash or on the In Control app when it is not due, either by time or mileage, there is a high probability that it is caused by a blocked MAP sensor. A very common problem with diesels. Shame the JLR main dealer I took it to TWICE didn't even bother checking this sensor and just changed the oil. Thank you to everyone on here to tried to assist me

I’ve just joined this forum specifically to reply to this thread ! I recently bought an SDV8 and although it was serviced (by a main dealer) 6k miles ago it was asking for another one already. Following this advice I checked the MAP sensor, very easy job, and this is what it looked like before & after. I’ll keep an eye on the service countdown and see if it stays in line with the mileage now.

Thank you !

I wonder how many other modern oil burners the same applies to ?

The service interval problem or the gunk ? All of them get gunked up. This is the first car I’ve encountered where it messes up the servicing schedule though.

Hi @pwood999 ,

Found the same happened to my 2005 D3 Map sensor of it blocking solid , after cleaning it I blanked both Egrs which has dramatically improved it from blocking up again

Don’t know if the same can be done on the TDV8 ?, plus of course some would also req a software update patch as on the D3’s it’s required from 2007 onwards if there blanked

It's the egr that makes the most mess.. you know.. that clean emissions jobby

Original D3 Map sensor


The one on the RH side is for the later D4 , I fitted one in mine seeing it had a larger orifice , considerably better

No, it's low speed / temperature / short journeys that lead to oily soot accumulation on many parts of the charge air tract. EGR's will feed back in exhaust gases at any temperature, if they're too cold, you'll get oily soot build up. The EU emissions regs combined with too short / slow / low energy drive cycles causes it. If you suffer this, then you should consider a petrol engined vehicle.

kermit_rr said:

It's the egr that makes the most mess.. you know.. that clean emissions jobby

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Indeed my friend , took me hours cleaning the egr pipes, throttle body , replacing the large O rings, plus was great fun trying to get the egr pipe clips back on, in the end got some knipex clip R pliers

Since doing the blanking it’s really helped , also found an air leak on both egr pipes where they joined the throttle body

At the end of the day was well worth it and the engine was far more responsive, particularly up hills