I got into the 960 last night to go to the store and it clattered on startup and shook a lot. I turned it off and drove the 300SE instead. I'll do an oil change tomorrow and yes, it's overdue for one. I've got all the stuff, Mobil 1 and Volvo filter. This time, I'm going to use my marine oil changer and I'll suck the old oil out. I'm getting tired of jacking it up.
--
Warren Bain - '99 V70GLT G-Valve > 80K mi, '96 965 >120Kmi, near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

I think Gregski has the right idea with his Mobil 1 0W/40 oil.
I had 10W/40 in during the summer, but have been topping up recently with 5W/20. Adding this lighter oil has had a dramatic improvement in engine starting and running.
I was amazed how thick a small sample of 10W/40 had become at 0 Celcius.
Presumably the lighter oil can activate the hydraulic lifters (tappets) more efficently at lower start up temperatures.
I will now use Castrol 0W/30 for the rest of the winter.

Best of luck,

Dan

I started it yesterday. It clanked a bit, since the oil had drained back, but then made the dreaded whirring noise. I gave it a rest for a few mins and went at it again. It did catch and ran like s**t but it did smooth out. Lots of black smike came out of the tail pipe.

The morale of the story is to drive the car and not let it sit. I'm sure she had the lawnmower syndrome, stuck valves. I'll do an oil change in a day or so.

I work at night and it's cold in the morning. I'm also going to try using the suction method to remove the oil. The filter will be a PITA with this method.
--
Warren Bain - '99 V70GLT G-Valve > 80K mi, '96 965 >120Kmi, near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

Warren,
Your conclusions do not bode well for me. My car has sat for almost 2 weeks while I've been out of the country. Besides the potential for a ticket on my neighborhood street (cars must be moved every few days), now I have to worry about the thing running like...well you know. Can't wait to get home on Sunday.
John
--
John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 105K

You need to get that law changed.

Don't worry, keep at it and it will start, mine did.

I drove it to work tonight to keep her happy.
--
Warren Bain - '99 V70GLT G-Valve > 80K mi, 89 300SE, '96 965 >120Kmi, near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

Well, I'm back and had to run to the store. No ticket on the car, bu the rear wiper was vertical (facing down) instead of horizontal. Doesn't work, but I haven't had time to investigate it. Can't figure our how the arm got in that position. Nothing appears physically broken, as in vandalism, but as I said, it doesn't work. I removed the nut and repositioned the wiper to the correct position. Will check it further in the daylight.

BTW, the car started up without a hesitation and off I went...
--
John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 105K

Maybe someone was messing with your car.

It's good the car didn't have any problems. I need an oil change, that's for sure.
--
Warren Bain - '99 V70GLT G-Valve > 80K mi, 89 300SE, '96 965 >120Kmi, near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

Warren, every once in a while I will get the same thing. Can't explain it. But when it happens it is cold, below 40 degrees, but by the time I drive to the first stop sign at the end of the block, say about 600 feet all is smooth. This may not happen again for a month. Been that way for 9 years now.

I have noticed one thing, with this new engine running and with the old one, I am switching back to OEM spark plugs. I have tried a few times over the years to save a little cash and buy aftermarket spark plugs, right now there is bosch platinum tips, I always seem to get an uneven idle after about 2,000 miles. So from here on only OEMs for me. I don't have a clue why, maybe the temperature is wrong or there is a different resistance to them and the coils have a problem energizing them. I once tried the Volvo multiprong plugs, I replace them in a month because of the erratic stumbling idle.

I have almost 4,000 miles on this new engine and it will sometimes idle odd and stumble in the morning after that initial cold start. Changing spark plugs next week.

Also on the old engine, now there is no rhyme or reason for this, but when ever the lifters chattered on the morning start up there almost always was a need for more oil in the crankcase. This should not be, but with the noise you could count on adding a quart of oil.

DanR 94 964 238,000 miles
--
DanR

"Also on the old engine, now there is no rhyme or reason for this, but when ever the lifters chattered on the morning start up there almost always was a need for more oil in the crankcase. This should not be, but with the noise you could count on adding a quart of oil."


This has always been the case in my cars (Audi+VW) as well.

Lose another coil pack?

I don't think so. It just turned cold so I suspect lifters.
--
Warren Bain - '99 V70GLT G-Valve > 80K mi, '96 965 >120Kmi, near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

Just make a RESET of your Motronic 4.4.
It is enough to disconnect for a while your battery.
Your “long term fuel trim” can be close to minimum, but not yet switching on service light.
This I would do for beginning.

I am driving on Mobil1 0W40 and I have never such a problems..
--
Gregski; european V90 '97 B6304FS2 AW3043 IGS HID