Engine gone - No oil light came on

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Sparrowhawk

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Hi everyone, I'm new in here.

My Disco 4 61 plate went bang last week. Very loud knocking noise from the engine.

The 4x4 garage the car was recovered to drained the oil and there was just 800ml of oil in the engine. I've had no warning lights suggesting low oil...

Has this happened to anyone on here before?

Currently looking at a new engine out of warrenty. Something I cannot afford at the moment...£8-12k.

I've spoken to Land Rover HQ and they want the vehicle inspected for a possible fault on the oil level warning system.

Help...please!
 

joey

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Welcome to the forum. Best bet is work with Land Rover and hope the Oil Level warning system was the issue and maybe they will replace the engine.
 

Sparrowhawk

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Thank you!

I really hope you are right Joey. I'm no mechanic but I'm very 'car proud' and look after my vehicles (through my mechanics) and had any warning light come on it would've been addressed immediately.

The only light that did come on was the brake pad light which prompted me to book it in for a service. Unfortunately the engine blew 2 days before she went in.

The manual suggests there is an oil can light which comes on but there is no oil can warning light on my dashboard warning lights which seems strange. My mechanic is also baffled by this.

I genuinely hope LR are reasonable and genuine as a new engine bill is something I cannot really afford at present and really shouldn't have to pay for on a 5 year old vehicle with just over 100k on the clock.

Fingers crossed!
 

Revor11 LR4

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Sparrowhawk, Did you ever get resolution to this situation by working with Land Rover Corporate?

I just had a very similar situation no low oil warning light, in my 2011 LR4 106,000 miles. Engine Seized! Devastating!!
 

BeemerNut

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Land Rover North America complaints department will tell you, "you should of checked your oil level at each gas fill up".
Basically your screwed as they pull that attitude against owners with failure items with stronger cases against them at Land Rover.
Only "if" NTSB had a safety recall demand against LR will they fess up and honor a demand. An oil pressure gauge be it an aftermarket install is your best insurance vs relying on a computer or lamp filament protecting your engine. If you have a gauge and running on "near death low oil" the gauge would of registered lower than normal pressures due to the oil operating at a higher temperature than normal. Catching it if paying attention a flickering gauge with sudden drops and rises of pressure this is on the edge of the pump sucking air and oil. Again a gauge and driver paying attention to their gauges not their cell phones or blasting radio Fast forward to the era of 20 speaker sound systems and same amount of cup holders replacing gauges. Idiot lights or a little oil can are modern day safety warning devices. If you can "hear 'em knocking" it's too late.
Early warning with a gauge, hanging a corner like a highway on ramp will detect low oil as the pump would start to suck air an tail tell sign before the big boom sound, game over.
Best of luck those with engine failure problems. Please keep us posted on who's going to pay for your new short block plus the labor $$$ ? .....~~=o&o>......
 

BeemerNut

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Land Rover North America complaints department will tell you, "you should of checked your oil level at each gas fill up".
Basically your screwed as they pull that attitude against owners with failure items with stronger cases against them at Land Rover.
Only "if" NTSB had a safety recall demand against LR will they fess up and honor a demand. An oil pressure gauge be it an aftermarket install is your best insurance vs relying on a computer or lamp filament protecting your engine. If you have a gauge and running on "near death low oil" the gauge would of registered lower than normal pressures due to the oil operating at a higher temperature than normal. Catching it if paying attention a flickering gauge with sudden drops and rises of pressure this is on the edge of the pump sucking air and oil. Again a gauge and driver paying attention to their gauges not their cell phones or blasting radio. Fast forward to the era of 20 speaker sound systems and same amount of cup holders replacing gauges. Idiot lights or a little oil can are modern day safety warning devices. If you can "hear 'em knocking" it's too late.
Early warning with a gauge, hanging a corner like a highway on ramp will detect low oil as the pump would start to suck air, this a tail tell sign before the big boom sound, game over.
Best of luck those with engine failure problems. Please keep us posted on who's going to pay for your new short block plus the labor $$$ ? .....~~=o&o>......

Sorry old chap, I didn't realize your in the UK vs USA.
Any breaker's in the UK?
I'd look into a good used long block or cheaper yet a used short block then build it up with all your old engine's accessories. Second option dismantle the old engine, check and see what must be rebuilt, repaired or replaced then reassemble.
Was the old engine drinking a lot of oil or leaking it?
 
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Revor11 LR4

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Still battling Land Rover Corporate for assistance.... to expand a bit on my situation...for any advice or thoughts...

So not only was there no "low oil" warning lights, there was also no "low oil pressure" Warnings. 6 months prior I had major engine repair from local Land Rover Dealer. The repair included timing chains, camshaft, water pump and more....

The amber check engine light came on 5 months later so I immediately scheduled an appointment. Drove to the dealer dropped the LR4 off.
The next afternoon the service guy calls to tell me the engine seized as they were bringing the car into the garage bay. Moved it 50 feet, no sounds, the engine just quit.

They tried to turn it manually & it wont crank. I asked what the error codes were and was told Camshaft & Timing. (Note these are parts that were just replaced and still covered under LR warranty for one year)

I am still awaiting the error codes report, since April 3rd still have not received them. As of recent, I have been working with the GM of the dealership to get resolution. They are holding out!!

Dealer wont authorize a tear down as they said they know the failure was caused by low oil!!!

With assistance of the GM and leveraging his contacts Land Rover Corporate has offered $4k towards a remanufactured engine cost of $17,200 or towards a new or CPO Jaguar or Land Rover and asked the dealer to match this. They are also offering $4k for my trade w a failed engine.

I dont feel I should just give up and give into having to pay another $50k for another CPO Land Rover. I have found some used engines with low miles for $8500. I am leaning towards having another 3rd party mechanic tear the engine down to the point of failure to find out if it was timing or camshaft related to hopefully get the engine covered by JLR. Also, the dealer is willing to put the engine in at no cost. JLR will not contribute towards a used engine.

I have also researched and found that if a camshaft sensor failed the engine would shut off suddenly & not crank even manually. Thoughts??
I am also consulting with attorneys at this time.

Does it seem likely that an engine would seize that quickly with no warning in one minute moving it 50 ft? Make no sound.

The engine is burning oil, no leaks. No smoke out of tailpipes either.

Do I just accept what they have offered or dig deeper??
 

BeemerNut

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"Rover Corporate" has big money attorney's covering their butt's vs you as a single LR owner. Being this is an expensive repair LR will do anything to get out from under being stuck with repairing what possibility failed during your one year warranty protection.
If I were you I would remove your LR from that dealership and have a private LR repair shop take your engine apart to find out what failed.
Video with pictures so that there is zero problem with you proving what failed with your engine without any tampering for a SOLID CASE IN COURT against LR.
CYA (cover your azz) as that dealership might do anything they can to wiggle out of paying you a cent towards any engine repair or rebuild especially if it was a failure on their part.
Trust me I had to do this against a LR dealership after they wrote up a report of my D1 3.9 litre had, "a burnt intake valve". That's a new one on me, burnt intake valve while still covered by 7/100K extended warranty. Limped home while on vacation on 7 cylinders, disconnected the burnt ("intake") actually exhaust valve disconnecting that cylinder's injector feed wire.
Being a licensed aircraft mechanic, engine builder and drag racer for many years ago, I think I might know my way around an engine mechanically plus have a machine shop background.
It hurts me to read how "average Joe" like you gets screwed around by big brother aka by a bad LR dealership (my opinion only) and your stuck with an expensive repair. That $18K "estimate" darn near matches what I paid for my 95 D1 5 speed back in 2000 which has a ton of added options by the PO.
I wouldn't put it past your dealership finding an expensive repair problem under their warranty and workmanship, a parts failure with them instead draining your engine's oil and seizing it up to cover up their expensive mistake then blaming your engine failure on you. Sorry sounds like finger pointing but then I also have a mistrust of dealerships especially after doing battle with my extended warranty plus dealing with LR of North America. Been there done that with them both. The old remark "customer thinks there is a problem" vs customer knows there is a problem, they think all customers are flat stupid with zero mechanical ability. My LR service writer also an 'ex LR mechanic told me he will stay employed at his LR dealership until retiring from them as its a sure thing LR's will keep him employed with their repairs.
What an insult offering $4K "as is" then throwing a $18K repair bill. Heck that is crazy.
Within a week they would of repaired or installed a used engine then listed it for sale for $35k plus dollars. JMO.
Keep us posted and best of luck. .......~~=o&o>......
 
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Revor11 LR4

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Yes this is my intent is to have it torn down at another location with no stake in the game, so to speak. We will video the tear down, for certain!!

Not to my surprise, yesterday I was told by the dealer that my Land Rover parts & labor warranty will be void if the tear down is not done by a Certified Land Rover Facility. This is boarderline collusion!!! That leaves me with 2 options in my area. Both of which are extremely shady!!!

They are fixated on the fact that the engine seized due to low oil pressure. (But with No warning lights of low oil level/low oil pressure, nor any temperature warnings....this is possible but not likely given they moved the car 50 ft on a cold start). This is their speculation to get me to not tear it down and are trying extremely hard to advise against it!!! Also placing a heavy sticker price on the tear down at $3k for the dealer to do it. I definitely wont have them tear it down, and based on what we find during tear down, take it court!

@BeemerNut- Did you win your battle against Corporate LR??
 

BeemerNut

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Yes this is my intent is to have it torn down at another location with no stake in the game, so to speak. We will video the tear down, for certain!!

Not to my surprise, yesterday I was told by the dealer that my Land Rover parts & labor warranty will be void if the tear down is not done by a Certified Land Rover Facility. This is boarderline collusion!!!............They are fixated on the fact that the engine seized due to low oil pressure. (But with No warning lights of low oil level/low oil pressure, nor any temperature warnings....this is possible but not likely given they moved the car 50 ft on a cold start).............This is their speculation to get me to not tear it down and are trying extremely hard to advise against it!!!.....I definitely wont have them tear it down, and based on what we find during tear down, take it court!

"seized do to low oil pressure" plus (without any warning lights).
I bet they did a high revving cold start also abusing your "low oil pressure" engine until it ate itself up. Covering their azz now a "CUSTOMERER'S FAULT" write up.
Get everything the dealership wrote down as evidence making a stronger case against them vs you the "little guy" not kowing anything mechanically vs their "certified LR mechanics", oh I almost forgot TECHS. I did battle with LR plus the extended warranty with my 95 D1's 3.9 engine and won in court due to my aviation engine background. New 4.6 insall. Added a oil pressure gauge plus Pre Oiler to new engine. Gauges do not lie.
Your "low oil pressure" with the modern high tech 5.0 almost or the same having a problem. Bad track record with pressure relief plunger sticking with the older pushrod engines from overheating. My failure without any overheating problems with a custom oversize radiator. I had with the D1's 3.9 engine. LR wanted to reinstall the old timing cover with old oil pump having a randomly sticking oil pressure bypass valve. Nope, complete new timing cover with oil pump and pressure relief bypass after our court day.
I wouldn't put it past your stealership tampering with your engine "CYA" or their azz with your engine problems with now the blame on you.
I would get it out of there ASAP.
Sorry, messed up replies from my end. Taking me four tries to complete my reply due to Mr. Dell laptop failing.




@BeemerNut- Did you win your battle against Corporate LR??
 
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