Hello everyone-
I was driving my 2005 Volvo v50 home to Brooklyn yesterday. Broke down just on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge, towed the car to my mechanic, who now tells me there's a giant hole in the oil pan and I must have hit a pothole or something, the oil completely drained out, the engine seized up, and now I need a new engine or I should junk the car.

I'm a bit stunned at all this- has anyone heard of this happening? Can the oil really drain so quickly and cause the engine to seize like that? Oil level may have been a little low to begin with, but…

More importantly though, does anyone have experience replacing an engine in one of these cars? Is this a plausible idea or a terrible one? We are of course weighing the costs and wondering if it's worth it, we paid 7K for the car about a year ago, it has 120K on it, my mechanic is telling me a used engine could be put in for roughly $3500. Sheesh.

If anyone has any thoughts on this, love to hear them, thanks.

Just a thought, not cheap, for the future:

http://www.ipdusa.com/products/5947/113839-aluminum-skid-plate-p1-s40-v50-c30

An oil pan shield costs about $250. Comes in handy for those raised manholes.

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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

The same thing happened to me with my 96-850. A manhole cover flipped up and hit the oil pan. I heard a loud bang and soon after the "low oil pressure" light came on. No engine damage though. You should have seen a L-O-P light. Bulb might be blown.
Worth replacing the engine though. Erie Vovo has good prices and warranty. You may be able to make a claim on collision insurance.
Good Luck,
tom

I just love NYC prices!! Get a used engine from Erie VOVO.

First check the 'hole' in the oil pan. Yes, it will POUR out of the pan! In less time than it took to write this response. Even smaller than an pencil hole.

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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Can you find anything better with less miles and newer for $3500? Finding a decent 98-2000 V70 with over 120K is going to cost more than $3500. You know your car and the type of driving you've put on it. It's not like it's a lemon and you're pouring good money after bad. Go for the new/used/rebuilt engine and put another 120K on it.