When the valves are making noise, is it shaking the car too? Just curious because I have a similar problem where my car shakes and sputters...

Jay

Common complaint. It's even addressed in the owner's manual. It states that the noise should stop after a few miles/minutes. It also says don't rev beyond 3k until it does. The cam lobe or lifter face can be damaged. This topic's been covered here frequently and a search will turn up lots of hits.

Basically, the valves cannot be adjusted as the lifters are hydraulic. To troubleshoot follow these steps in order and proceed to the next until the noise stops.

1. Check your oil level. Make sure it's correct.
2. Change your oil and filter. Use the grade suggested by the manual. Probably 10W30 this time of year depending on ambient temps. Go thinner and a leaky lifter won't hold pressure. Go heavier and a partially blocked lifter or lifter gallery will prevent the lifter from pumping up properly and taking up clearance.
3. Use an engine flush product as supplied by Amsoil or BG and change your oil and filter again.
4. Replace (or have it done) the 0-rings inside the oil pan that are on the oil pickup tube and filter galleries. They deteriorate and allow the pump to suck a little air causing oil cavitation. Result; noisy lifters.
5. Replace lifter(s). They're available relatively cheap online but replacement is a very labor intensive job require you have or make special tools.

Mine stopped making noise after step 3. You wouldn't believe the toxic crap that came out of the engine. That was 8,000 miles ago.

Good luck.
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Erwin in Memphis, '95 855t

Before you think about lifter problems which would be highly unlikely, do check or have someone else check your oil pressure first. I'm assuming that your oil level is full and that it's not old, dirty oil? Believe it or not, I'm seeing 850s by our shop where they're complaining of engine noise so I check and find that the engine's oil level is 4 qts low! (yes) and dirty too. After an oil change, and a test drive, the engine sounds normal again. Leaking oil? yes.
Now.....if the engine's oil is clean and the level's full, and you still have noisy lifters, chances are good that there's an o-ring problem between either the sump and oil pump or the two filter housing o-rings (all excessable only by removing the oil pan. Do not have someone replace lifters or cams and lifters until you've first checked oil pressure and removed the oil pan. I have yet to hear about "bad lifters" on a white engine so far.

Chris - How about more info? As much as you can provide. Oil and engine noises are frequent topics discussed, more information would help all of us.

What oil and filter do you use? How often do you change it? How many miles on your car? Have you owned it since it was new?
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2 8s & 2 7s 600,000 miles total

I would suggest that you do an oil flush. Drain the oil, don't remove the filter, add 4 qts of ATF, start the engine and let it idle for 15 mins. Drain ver y good ( a longer than normal time) , replace the filter, add the proper amount of good oil. 10W30 should do it, unless you're in a real hot environment. I also advocate changing oil and filter every 3K miles. Just because oil is the cheapest maint.

Worse case scenario would be valve damage.

BUT I did notice that annoying clicking sound when my oil level dipped 1/2 quart or so. The sound would disappear after adding the oil or if I did an oil change. Another thing that my mechanic advised was if you use an aftermarket oil filter it may not have valve in it to prevent the oil from pooling in the filter (therefore less in the engine). Either use a Mann filter or original Volvo filters.

You can also use a heavier weight oil such as 15W-40.

Good luck.