C70 S70 V70: Oil usage after EVERY service

[GlasgowChauffeur]

Originally Posted by Bill_56

I wonder if your car was one of those affected by the bodge/modification whereby, to cope with transient high oil levels, the dipstick was re calibrated so as to expect to be 'under filled'?

The problem they were trying to fix was modern UK pump diesel, in order to comply with European Save the Planet laws, became obliged to contain a certain percentage of bio-diesel. All well and good. But nobody had told the other engineers who trying to implement other European Save the Planet laws, by fitting regenerative DPF's, whereby fuel inevitably enters the oil sump. Whereas old fashioned mineral diesel evaporates off after entering the oil, the Bio diesel fails to evaporate, hence oil level rises. It caused a spate of well advertised and scary runaway engine self-destructs and so manufacturers compensated by leaving 'expansion space' in the oil sump fill levels.

If, as it sounds, the oil level stabilises soon after service then I'd be inclined to not not add any oil and not worry too much. Just make sure it doesn't ever drop below 'min'.

Thank you. But it does. The manual dipstick is TOTALLY dry when checked. The oil light actually comes on as there is zero oil left it after the service. It gets the specified 5.9 litres.

[volvoid]

There must be some oil left otherwise the engine would have seized.

Anyway, where is it going ? No idea. Is some hidden somewhere ? How much comes out at service time ? The garage wont know as it pours (or is sucked) straight into a bulk container. I'd suggest doing an oil change yourself, with 2 washing up bowls to hand just in case, but with the amount of driving, washing and polishing you do I doubt you want to.

[GlasgowChauffeur]

Originally Posted by volvoid

There must be some oil left otherwise the engine would have seized.

Anyway, where is it going ? No idea. Is some hidden somewhere ? How much comes out at service time ? The garage wont know as it pours (or is sucked) straight into a bulk container. I'd suggest doing an oil change yourself, with 2 washing up bowls to hand just in case, but with the amount of driving, washing and polishing you do I doubt you want to.

That's the point, nobody knows where it's going. The engine doesn't seize because we keep a gallon of oil in the boot for the first 1000miles. After that it uses zero and stays on the full like it should, but IT DOES take another 5 odd litres to bring in back to the mark. At service time it is a FULL oil sump that comes out.

I think I might have wasted my time posting this question as everyone is quick enough to through in suggestions without reading THE FULL story as to what the engine is doing.

AFTER EVERY SERVICE, the engine uses ALL its oil over the first 1000 miles. Then we TOP IT UP AGAIN to full. AFTER THAT the engine uses ZERO OIL for the next 14000 miles.

[st4]

If its not depositing the oil fairly quickly in the 1k miles you are using the car, its being burned off. Then you top it off and its not burning. Are you servicing it using very thin oil then topping up with higher viscosity oil. I cannot think what could possibly cause it?

How has the car been otherwise, I am very interested in this model of car, any issues with belts/tensioners/injectors?

[volvoid]

[QUOTE

I think I might have wasted my time posting this question as everyone is quick enough to through in suggestions without reading THE FULL story as to what the engine is doing.


dont get stroppy people are trying to work it out to help you.


now be more precise - exactly how much comes out at service ?

Are the garage filling it properly in the first place ?

what is your dipstick technique ? Are you pulling it out, looking, putting it back, OR, pulling it out, wipe clean, replace, remove, check level, put back again. The latter will give a correct reading, the former may not as there is often air in the dip tube.

[GMcL]

It's a D3 why are you pulling the dipstick?
Does the dashboard reading not tally with what you are reading on the dipstick? Is that why you are pulling the workshop stick?

[Laney760]

GlasgowChauffeur, I'm not sure if you are doing the service or a garage

If you are doing the service and putting in the correct amount of oil then it's wierd

If a garage are doing the service then as has been said they may not be putting in enough oil, do they put in the higher amount required if the filter is changed as well, if not that would explain your sudden lowered reading

[Rick Barton]

Have you spoken to the Volvo UK technical guys? They may be interested enough to take this up for investigation at no cost to you. It's only a three year old car after all.

[GMcL]

There's something not stacking up here.

Pulling the dipstick which is a royal pain ín the arse to get too instead of using the electronic reading.
No mention of which oil is actually being used only Volvo OEM but then says he is using the same to top up.
Sounds like water is being used at the service and when that has boiled off, proper oil is working OK.

[brickman]

Could be exactly that, some weird incorrect oil spec that is literally evaporating out the exhaust/ being burned CLEANLY so you aren't noticing it.

Then as you gradually replace the workshop's oil with your own the problem is rectifying itself.

In this case, interrogate the garage as to exactly what oil they are using. then next service, insist you watch them as they fill the engine with YOUR choice of oil not their own from an 80gal workshop barrel.

That is the only even feasibly logical event that can be happening here.

reminds me, 10-15years ago Shell Helix was specced by a lot of manufacturers and that stuff literally dissipated out of your engine at a rate faster than you could pour it (slight exaggeration). It was designed as spec to basically evaporate at a rate of 1litre/4,000km (or approx?!?) but in the real world, it was much worse than that.