Oil message: Below Minimum

[pabs406]

Hi Members. I checked my oil level right before performing an oil change and got the message “Below Minimum.” It didn’t state how many liters to add.

I was only able to take out a little over 6 liters of oil. My question is whether I should add 8 liters back or less. What do you guys think? Thanks.

 

[ryanjl]

Well, I doubt you have 2 liters of oil just hiding out somewhere. If that's all you got from the vacuum tube, that's probably all you had in it (assuming the vehicle was level). Looks like you were 2 liters low.

That said, you can add six and then check your oil level, add more, check again, etc.

 

[umbertob]

I always add 8 to 8.5 quarts (that's about 8 liters), regardless of how much I vacuum out, and it's usually sufficient for a good fill. When's the last time you changed oil prior to this one? If you only drained 6 liters out of the engine, you most likely have a small leak somewhere and should get it checked out - unless you underfilled it the last time.

PS: The sensors will only prompt you to add a specific amount of oil if they determine you are a quart or so below the minimum. If you are below that level, the system will just throw a generic "below minimum" message since it cannot guesstimate how much you need to add (you can add a quart to start, and check again.) So, it appears your sensors are working and you were indeed a couple of liters short. Start checking your oil level more often, to be safe.

 

[pabs406]

Looks like I must have underfilled last oil change, which was 6,000 miles ago. I just put in 8 quarts and oil level was at max. Thanks for your input guys.

 

[ktm525]

Don't beat yourself up, this is the downside of the e oil sensor as it either shows full or half with nothing in between. Last change you probably had just enough in to show that the level was "full" when in reality it may have been half full + 1 teaspoon. The LR4 has an increased sump capacity to deal with the severe off camber angles it may be subjected to. If you are not performing these acrobatics then your oil intake still had good oil supply.

 

[cperez]

On a somewhat related note, someone told me it is best practice to fill or prime the new oil filter with oil at each change. Say what?? On paper this makes a certain amount of sense but how the hell is it possible the way our filters are installed with the open end down? I have no intention of even attempting it but wondering if others have heard this.

 

[umbertob]

Gravity will prime it! You should always double check oil level after replacing the filter with a new one and letting the engine run for a few minutes (since filters do absorb some oil), but other than that... I don't see anything on the workshop manuals about priming the oil filter.

 

[cperez]

I don't see anything on the workshop manuals about priming the oil filter.

I did a very cursory search online before posting that, and-- shocker-- found several threads debating it. What would an auto forum be without an oil debate.

Anyway, I take my LR4 oil changing best practices from some guy's youtube video I found...

 

[TheWidup]

I'd still monitor the levels for this one if I were you . Just because it took 8 this time doesn't mean you didn't put in 8 last time and end up with 6.

 

[Blkrover1111]

Well if you are doing an oil change dump the oil out and fill 8 quarts of oil and check the level mine took abt 8 1/2 quorts