Oil change conundrum

Doing an oil change on defender 200tdi engine. Before change dipstick was just below max. Vehicle has been left standing overnight. When I drained the oil it was only about 3 litres worth. (left it draining for about 15min).

What's going on?

I'm guessing the dip stick is incorrect and when I refill I should ignore it and refill by quantity?

turrican said:

I'm guessing the dip stick is incorrect and when I refill I should ignore it and refill by quantity?

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Could be a loose dipstick tube ? Not unheard of ...

Dippypud said:

Could be a loose dipstick tube ? Not unheard of ...

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Dipstick tube doesn't feel loose

turrican said:

Dipstick tube doesn't feel loose

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It could have been loose, slipped down through the lock nut, and been nipped back up.

Dip stick tube length from the top of the nut to the end is 230mm. I think this is short and should be around 295mm but I struggling to find a good source for this info.

Dip stick tube olive has moved. Pic attached.

I wonder how long it's been like that and how much damage to engine has occurred. (I never had low oil pressure light come on, and light went off pretty quickly on start up)

turrican said:

Dip stick tube olive has moved. Pic attached.

I wonder how long it's been like that and how much damage to engine has occurred. (I never had low oil pressure light come on, and light went off pretty quickly on start up)

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You may have been lucky, how is the oil for colour, that'll be a good indicator of how good it and the engine are health wise ?

Dippypud said:

You may have been lucky, how is the oil for colour, that'll be a good indicator of how good it and the engine are health wise ?

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Nothing abnormal, black and fluid

I suspect the tube could have been knocked when I refitted the engine last year, if that's the case it's only done 500 easy miles.

I did a couple of off roading events and even at silly angles the oil light didn't come on, so it was still sucking oil up from the sump.

turrican said:

Nothing abnormal, black and fluid

I suspect the tube could have been knocked when I refitted the engine last year, if that's the case it's only done 500 easy miles.

I did a couple of off roading events and even at silly angles the oil light didn't come on, so it was still sucking oil up from the sump.

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Probably all good then ...

Sounds like you have been lucky. I bought a series two with that very problem years ago, even the oil light flashed when it went around corners. Went on fine once sorted.

This happened to me last time I did an oil change. There is an olive on bottom of dipstick tube that ensures it’s held in right place. This comes loose and allows dipstick tube to drop lower into block. I bought a new tube but haven’t got round to fitting it yet as I made a temporary fix by tightening a small jubilee clip to the tube just above the block to stop it slipping down

I've ordered a new tube as they're pretty cheap. I like the idea of fitting a jubilee clip to stop it from ever dropping

Fitted new tube. I can confirm length from top of nut to end of tube is 285mm.