Ugh!

I have a 1998, V70 with about 147k on the clock. Just replaced the head on it this past March and just recently I've noticed the oil light coming on when I make a hard turn.

So today I just ordered an oil sump kit from FCP Groton and it should be here sometime next week.

Just now I went out and checked the stick and there was nothing on the stick. I started it up and checked that there is oil coming up and getting to the cams, but still no oil on the stick, so is the car safe to drive while I wait for the part to come, or should I park it until it the part comes?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

You are at least 2 quarts low. Add oil now and try to determine where it is coming out. A fast leak should be obvious.

Klaus,

That's the weird part... There is no leak. We park the car in the same place everyday and nothing under it.

I'm hesitant to put oil in it as it is not leaking and adding more would be a very bad thing. I have an oil sump kit coming next week. Plan to drop the pan then and take a look at how much I get out then.

If I lost anything during the head replacement it was minimal, maybe a couple of ounces.

Thinking I have a o-ring shot or two. Any other thoughts?

Matt

Dropping the oil pan is a LOT of labor and requires special RTV to reinstall. Most of us will only drop the pan if the oil pressure gets too low because of the O rings in the pickup have fallen off or rotted away. The amount of oil in the sump will still show the correct level.

Lack of oil on the dipstick means you are at least 2 quarts low. Period. You need to add oil, now.

If there is no leak, then it is burning the oil. The exhaust should smell of oil if not visibly present. Also check the rear cam seals, they tend to leak oil that then goes around the block to the exhaust header and burns off.

How fast does the engine go through a quart of oil?

Klaus,

Just added 2 quarts and I'm still about 1.5 quarts low. I'm at least getting something on the stick now.

When I replaced the head, I put all new seal all the way around. The engine is dry as a bone and I just checked the exhaust pipe. There is no carbon buildup on it like my POS Saturn which allows oil to by-pass the rings and burn it straight out.

I've talked to my mechanic and he has seen several 850's and V70's have this problem when they get to about 150k or so, and the fix is pulling the sump and replacing the O-rings. Hopefully it won't be as bad as pulling the sump on a 240 which I did last year and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth, not to mention mashing of fingers and hands as well.

The car is currently just shy of 148k and I changed it at 145k. I religiously change the oil and rotate the tires every 5k so I was surprised when this happened. This car has never burned oil though upon removing the head the cam seals and head gasket were showing signs or leakage.

I plan to start in on it Wednesday night and see where it leads me.

Are there any posts here on pulling the sump?

Thanks,

Matt

Just curious, Where did you get the head that you installed ? Was it rebuilt ? Why did you replace the head ?

Greg

Greg,

I purchased the head from a place in Florida that came recommended on one of the forums. I had to replace it as the tensioner let go. Luckily it did it my driveway so I could just push it into my garage to do the job.

Matt

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31236

BUT, you do not have clicking tappets or any other oil pick up problems. When was the last time you checked the oil? Was it at the full mark before the headgasket was replaced? or after?

The oil level was at the full mark before the head replacement as I had just changed it. I did not check it after the job, but assumed it would not matter as I only lost a very little bit.

Then I suggest that you top off the oil to the full mark and check it daily for a week. The last thing you want to do is drop the oil pan.

The dipstick is a pretty straight forward device. If it does not show any oil, the oil level is too low.

The lack of oil could be due to the car burning it. You will only see smoke when you get into the quart per 100 mile range.

If you are reluctant to add too much oil, drain the sump and measure how much comes out. Unless you get something like 6 quarts, you were simply low on oil. Installing a sump kit won't fix an engine that is burning oil.

Greg

Probably, just add oil up to the full mark on the dipstick.

Greg