Owners of Ingenium-engined Velars, Evoques and Defenders sometimes notice the oil level creeping upward between services. It seems impossible. The explanation is oil dilution, and understanding it will protect your engine.
What is happening
To regenerate the diesel particulate filter, the engine injects extra fuel late in the combustion cycle to raise exhaust temperature. Some of that fuel washes past the piston rings into the sump. On a long motorway run, the heat evaporates it off again. On short urban journeys the regeneration is interrupted, the fuel accumulates, and the oil thins.
Why it matters
Diluted oil loses its film strength. The timing chain, camshaft and turbocharger are the first components to suffer, and the Ingenium timing chain in particular is sensitive to poor lubrication.
What to do
- Once a week, drive for 30 minutes at motorway speed to complete a regeneration.
- Change the oil every 8,000 km if most of your driving is urban.
- Never ignore an oil level above the maximum mark. Have it changed.
- If a DPF warning appears, book a forced regeneration promptly.
If your driving is almost entirely short trips, we can advise whether a diesel is the right choice for your next vehicle.
