TD5 Oil grade question again sorry.

I've just booked my TD5 Disco in for a service (114k) at my local Landrover specialist and asked him what oil he uses. He told me he uses a high quality 15/40 unless the customer states otherwise. He uses 15/40 in his own TD5 disco.
This obviously goes against the book but he is well respected and highly thought of so your thoughts please on using 15/40 in a TD5.

That guide suggestes that a 15w/40 might be better in the summer when its warmer and engine temps are a little higher where as the 5w/30 is better for the winter cold starts.

Perhaps I should of said that I tow quite a lot espically during the summer so my engine oil temps are going to be higher than that of a non tower.

I regularly tow a double horse box or a trailer loaded with upwards of two tons of fire wood. I use 10W/40 in my TD5 with no problems and it gets changed every 3000 miles.
I've been using Castrol Diesel GTX because I got 200 litres for £50 +vat at a receivers sale. It also goes in my Volvo T4. After it gets drained out and filtered it goes in my fuel tank.
Our UK winters are not hard enough to worry about cold start issues so the diference between a 5w and a 15w oil are minimal.

Thanks for the reply, I guess others are using the same but not posted. I've not had the disco long so just want to make sure 15w/40 will be ok.


Interesting about using your old engine oil did not know you could do that.
What ratio do you mix at but then I suppose you only adding 7 or so lts after an oil change.

MR D. said:

Thanks for the reply, I guess others are using the same but not posted. I've not had the disco long so just want to make sure 15w/40 will be ok.


Interesting about using your old engine oil did not know you could do that.
What ratio do you mix at but then I suppose you only adding 7 or so lts after an oil change.

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Imho, 15w-40 is NOT the right oil and is only being used by the garage as he can buy it for tuppence a gallon.

Buy your own oil and tell him to put that in, then you'll know exactly where you are and have some left for top-ups as required.

LR say 5w-30, 5w-40 or 10w-40 depending on ambient temps. I use fully synth 5w-30 during the winter and 5w-40 during the summer.

Part of the reasoning behind manufacturers going towards low-viscosity oils in to chase fuel economy. If you use 15w-40 you will not get these benefits or the fact that thinner oil protects more on early morning starts.

I'm all for trying things different IF I can see an improvement over std spec, but using 15w-40 only benefits the garage who is selling it to you.

MR D. said:

Thanks for the reply, I guess others are using the same but not posted. I've not had the disco long so just want to make sure 15w/40 will be ok.


Interesting about using your old engine oil did not know you could do that.
What ratio do you mix at but then I suppose you only adding 7 or so lts after an oil change.

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So long as you filter the lumps out you can put it straight into your tank with at least a quarter tank of diesel. As you say its only 7 or 8 litres of oil but think of it as £9.60 worth of free fuel @ £1.20 a litre. Its not an exact science but I once tried running my TD5 on straight engine oil mixed with 10% unleaded. It ran but smoked like something from a James Bond film.

Shifty1962 said:

So long as you filter the lumps out you can put it straight into your tank with at least a quarter tank of diesel. As you say its only 7 or 8 litres of oil but think of it as £9.60 worth of free fuel @ £1.20 a litre. Its not an exact science but I once tried running my TD5 on straight engine oil mixed with 10% unleaded. It ran but smoked like something from a James Bond film.

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what do you use to filter the oil. what about the diffs, gear and transferbox olis could they go it

Well I bought 20 lts of fully synth 5w30 from Cosco for £40 so enough for 2 oil changes and some for top ups.
Thought it was best to stick with what LR listed in the end, thanks for all the advice guys

jdandcoke said:

what do you use to filter the oil. what about the diffs, gear and transferbox olis could they go it

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Bought some marine diesel filters on fleabay and I get the used oil from my local indy for nowt. I'm sure it has gear oil in it as well but so long as you thin it down it works fine. The important point is the viscosity or you'll burn out your fuel pump.

MR D. said:

Well I bought 20 lts of fully synth 5w30 from Cosco for £40 so enough for 2 oil changes and some for top ups.
Thought it was best to stick with what LR listed in the end, thanks for all the advice guys

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That's a good plan and a great price for the oil, you'll get three changes out of that.

Shifty1962 said:

Bought some marine diesel filters on fleabay and I get the used oil from my local indy for nowt. I'm sure it has gear oil in it as well but so long as you thin it down it works fine. The important point is the viscosity or you'll burn out your fuel pump.

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cool, i'll have a look into that, had a thought about using a bmw e46 oil filter. putting a bit of that in the tank may do my injectors some good as i run on straight bio

thebiglad said:

LR say 5w-30, 5w-40 or 10w-40 depending on ambient temps. I use fully synth 5w-30 during the winter and 5w-40 during the summer.

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Thinner oils do give less protection at higher temperatures. Do bear in mind too, that an oil with a wide cold/hot range is more prone to losing its grade as the oil ages. Also as the engine gets older, clearances increase and a slightly thicker oil can maintain better oil pressure.

For all these reasons, I put 10W40 in my TD5, according to the viscosity chart in the manual that should be fine, the 5W oils are only needed for extreme cold starts.

Hi ref what oil for td5. The grades that are being spoken about is really up to tou as end user but 5/40,5/30 10/40 etc are all ok but the oil must meet or exceed a1 and b1 certification that is the important bit to look out for. I use magnetec but again there are several magneecs available but it need to meet this a1 b1 spec. Hope this helps ,Cheers Mark.

jdandcoke said:

cool, i'll have a look into that, had a thought about using a bmw e46 oil filter. putting a bit of that in the tank may do my injectors some good as i run on straight bio

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Hi jdandcoke, I am wondering about running a TD5 Disco on Bio. I am currently running a 300Tdi on straight home made bio but keep hearing nightmare-ish stories about TD5s on bio. I am looking at changing my Landy after new year for either a TD5 or a P38 ( I know they run okay on bio) so any comments would be appreciated.

thebiglad said:

That's a good plan and a great price for the oil, you'll get three changes out of that.

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Not when they take nearly 8 litres you wont

disco2shaun said:

Not when they take nearly 8 litres you wont

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From RAVE:

Engine - Td5:
Engine oil and filter change 7.2 litres

Full flow filter change every 36,000mls.

So without full flow filter it will be less that 7ltrs. You would want to do at least 3 oil changes within 36,000mls, wouldn't you?

Mine always takes nearer to 8 litres with both filters changed at same time.
I use Castrol GTX Diesel 10w40 as I picked up a 200 litre drum at a receivers sale for £50 +vat several years ago.

Is it save for the engine? How do you filter it?

There is so much wrong with this thread, it should be dumped. It
so wrong, it made me join your group!! :crazy: