oh Volvo!

[Lolvoguy]

Never knew there was issues with post 2010 Volvo's burning oil

Funny how one of the methods of addressing the problem for owners is to replace the dipstick and ECU (so the engine will operate on less oil without triggering the oil light).

Not sure as to the cause of the issue. Some owners are getting their rings replaced at Volvo's expense. Others are just getting the ECU and dipstick "upgrade". Some evidence seems to point towards the IMHO overly complex PCV system that has plagued Volvo's for decades (yes, even the old 4 cyl models with their finniky systems that needed attention. If not the engine would spew oil from all it's gaskets and seals).

Hopefully some fellow Bitogers can shed some light on the real cause of the issue, and this thread can serve as a reference to others with Volvo so as to prevent further problems with these cars.

Here's a pretty entertaining read

http://www.lemonlaw.com/wordpress/volvo-oil-consumption-problem/

Few more links to the issue:

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=392355#p392355

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?227512-2012-T5-S60-Oil-Guzzler-and-No-Warning

http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-s60-v60-10/burning-oil-81241/

 

[KingCake]

So many later model engines having oil consumption issues lately. It's almost always a ring/piston oil return problem.

 

[Gasbuggy]

Having an oil light come on after being down 1 quart is pretty extreme, but I would welcome it. Imagine if Subaru had that setting...

The burn rates don't seem so crazy, a quart every 3,000 for most of those cars.

 

[HTSS_TR]

If Volvo can design/engineer an engine as good/reliable as Honda/Toyota then they didn't bought out by Chinese.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
If Volvo can design/engineer an engine as good/reliable as Honda/Toyota then they didn't bought out by Chinese.


If they design an engine as boring as Honda/Toyota they get forgot about?

 

[KingCake]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
If Volvo can design/engineer an engine as good/reliable as Honda/Toyota then they didn't bought out by Chinese.


If they design an engine as boring as Honda/Toyota they get forgot about?


lol for a long time volvos were just rebadge ford engines. The volvo made engines are even worse.

 

[chrisri]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
If Volvo can design/engineer an engine as good/reliable as Honda/Toyota then they didn't bought out by Chinese.


Yes indeed, and Toy/Honda are also nicer, more desirable vehicles. Pity they aren't capable to match unibody shell strength of a inferior Volvo product. Anyone driving 5 cylinder turbo will confirm what a poor design that is compared with Toyota.

Wonder why Toyota looked at BMWs for their diesels...

 

[KrisZ]

I know it's hard to imagine by some, but the automotive world does not revolve around Honda and Toyota. Why bring it up in a thread totally not related to these manufacturers?
How come this "smug" attitude is no where to be found in the Honda rusting thread or the eternal struggle with the Camry thread, or the problems with the Honda actuator thread? Where are the superior comments in those threads?

 

[Sam_Julier]

The I6 engine was supplied by Ford's Birmingham England plant. It had ring issues that caused the oil consumption issue. Ring/piston replacement mostly solved the issue. The Volvo made straight 5 and earlier B230, 21, 20 etc have proved to be reliable, easy to maintain. They do have a sensitive oil separator/PCV system that seems to clog quickly with conventional oil if run past its prime - particularly the I5. Most Volvo owners running Full Synthetic at moderate OCIs report no issues. The Acura and Hondas I've owned were incredibly low cost affairs but with seats that could not remotely compare to the Volvo.

 

[sopususer]

Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
Having an oil light come on after being down 1 quart is pretty extreme, but I would welcome it. Imagine if Subaru had that setting...

The burn rates don't seem so crazy, a quart every 3,000 for most of those cars.


Sorry to rain on the Subie oil use conventional wisdom, but never had any appreciable oil use in a Subaru engine and have been driving them since 1995.

 

[meep]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
If Volvo can design/engineer an engine as good/reliable as Honda/Toyota then they didn't bought out by Chinese.


Poor statement if it's referring to pre-chinese volvos. The I5 variants are solid engines, and drive very differently than the toyota/honda designs. gobs of low end torque. even the lowly 2.4 NA never requires a downshift on interstate climbs. Volvo engines can be extremely long-lived. The PCV system is about the only long-lived weakness, (and a ~5 yr learning period with electronic throttles), and it can be mediated with preventative maintenance or running syn oil as someone else said.

(If you want to ding a volvo - I would be more inclined to point out an extremely complicated electronics system. The car lives off the CAN, and those issues are harder to trace.)

the torquey motor allows more aggressive use of the TC lockup and there's no "shift whiplash" as it upshifts because it's still in its power band.

Also something I would have never guessed, they actually aren't that bad to work on. You wouldn't think so when you look at them, but when you get in there you'll find they left just enough room to get around and get a decent wrench angle on every side of the engine. It's been a pleasant surprise.

-m

 

[meep]

Yes indeed, and Toy/Honda are also nicer, more desirable vehicles. Pity they aren't capable to match unibody shell strength of a inferior Volvo product. Anyone driving 5 cylinder turbo will confirm what a poor design that is compared with Toyota.

Wonder why Toyota looked at BMWs for their diesels... [/quote]

Agreed - the s60 in my sig is new to us and it is truly a different philosophy than the japanese and even korean vehicles. It is a heavy little car that sits low to the ground. there's a generous amount of suspension travel, and it uses it. It absorbs bumps as if it were rolling on 31" tires. There's some, but not alot, of chassis flex. it's much more quiet inside than a honda/acura product. The engine feels more like a small diesel - lots of low-end grunt but reduced top-end snarl. Very well-planted, sure-footed. dash materials are very, very good. Seats are normal volvo. ergonomics are a little weird... small buttons which can be hidden by other controls. Handles curves and stops very well--- it's not "tossable" like an accord, but will absolutely hunker down and hang on it you ask it to.

-m

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: Sam_Julier
The I6 engine was supplied by Ford's Birmingham England plant. It had ring issues that caused the oil consumption issue. Ring/piston replacement mostly solved the issue. The Volvo made straight 5 and earlier B230, 21, 20 etc have proved to be reliable, easy to maintain. They do have a sensitive oil separator/PCV system that seems to clog quickly with conventional oil if run past its prime - particularly the I5.


IIRC the B20 didn't have a PCV system...at least not in the Canadian market. Just a hose from the oil fill cap venting to the ground below.

 

[edhackett]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I know it's hard to imagine by some, but the automotive world does not revolve around Honda and Toyota. Why bring it up in a thread totally not related to these manufacturers?


I find it hilarious that he would bring up two companies that both have class action lawsuits against them for oil consumption issues as superior in an oil consumption thread.

Ed

 

[TTK]

Originally Posted By: Sam_Julier
The I6 engine was supplied by Ford's Birmingham England plant. It had ring issues that caused the oil consumption issue. Ring/piston replacement mostly solved the issue. The Volvo made straight 5 and earlier B230, 21, 20 etc have proved to be reliable, easy to maintain. They do have a sensitive oil separator/PCV system that seems to clog quickly with conventional oil if run past its prime - particularly the I5. Most Volvo owners running Full Synthetic at moderate OCIs report no issues. The Acura and Hondas I've owned were incredibly low cost affairs but with seats that could not remotely compare to the Volvo.


Yep, and thanks for the Birmingham Engine plant info, my Volvo 3.2 has various parts with FoMoCo on them. But, I have never had any oil consumption with 60K miles on it. I do keep fairly clean oil in it at all times, never running the full 7,500 miles, but extracting about half of it at around 3750 and refilling with clean oil. I really like the Castrol Magnatec in this engine.
You are spot on about the Volvo seats.
Also, regarding Subaru, my 2014 Forester 2.5i does not use any oil as measured by dipstick in 7,000 miles on 0w-20.
All makes have a some production that use oil.

 

[Sam_Julier]

IIRC the B20 didn't have a PCV system...at least not in the Canadian market. Just a hose from the oil fill cap venting to the ground below. [/quote]

You are correct. Thanks for pointing this out.

 

[Gasbuggy]

Originally Posted By: sopususer
Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
Having an oil light come on after being down 1 quart is pretty extreme, but I would welcome it. Imagine if Subaru had that setting...

The burn rates don't seem so crazy, a quart every 3,000 for most of those cars.


Sorry to rain on the Subie oil use conventional wisdom, but never had any appreciable oil use in a Subaru engine and have been driving them since 1995.



That doesn't rain on my parade, individual experiences are just that. The class action lawsuit for Subaru's problems cut off at 2014 and start at 2011. I see you have a 2015. I'm going to guess you didn't even own one of the applicable years/vehicles? My neighbor has a 2012 Forester that he bought new, not a car savvy guy but he follows his shops 5000 mile schedule. His will burn half the crank case capacity in 5k.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Lolvoguy
Never knew there was issues with post 2010 Volvo's burning oil

Funny how one of the methods of addressing the problem for owners is to replace the dipstick and ECU (so the engine will operate on less oil without triggering the oil light).

Not sure as to the cause of the issue. Some owners are getting their rings replaced at Volvo's expense. Others are just getting the ECU and dipstick "upgrade". Some evidence seems to point towards the IMHO overly complex PCV system that has plagued Volvo's for decades (yes, even the old 4 cyl models with their finniky systems that needed attention. If not the engine would spew oil from all it's gaskets and seals).

My response was to OP.

Whenever I do anything under the hood of 2006 Volvo V70 I can clearly see all the reasons that Volvo can't survive by themselves.

Everything under Honda hood are better engineered than anything under Volvo hood. Also, they are placed for easy maintenance not like in a Volvo. In a Volvo parts are randomly placed for no reason, and a simple work such as recharge Freon is a complicated work.

The PCV system is supposed to be simple but it's so complicated in a Volvo and didn't lasted as long either.

 

[Robenstein]

Volvo-Boxy but Good

I think with all this talk of good or bad Volvo's that I needed to post a scene from a cult classic movie regarding the brand. And the one profanity is muted on the clip to keep me from getting in trouble with the censor gods.

 

[Silk]

Originally Posted By: meep
they actually aren't that bad to work on. You wouldn't think so when you look at them,



The 5 cyl cambelt cover is held on by one bolt, and there is no need to remove the crank pulley when changing a belt. Did some designer do a cambelt on a Toyota or Honda....or the Isuzu 4JG2 I did on saturday? And the outer CV joint? An external clip and it's off, no smacking with a hammer to get it off an internal circlip. Volvo, like Mercedes, seem to be designed by engineers allowd to be engineers.