Help!

[S80T60James]

Hello,

My V50 2.4i 54 plate has a high pitched whine. It stops if I remove the oil cap and returns if I put it back on again. This also happens to a lesser extent with the dipstick...

Has anyone else had the issue? Through Internet searches it seemed to be reasonably common in the USA (where 2.4i engines seem much more common)

Can anyone help: A) Confirm what it is and B) tell me how much it would cost to get it fixed...


Thanks in advance.

James

[Marty Dolomite]

Blocked oil breather pipe?

[Sailor 64]

^^^^^^^
As Marty says - blocked breather. That, however, could be the least of your worries. The function of the breather is to, as the name suggests, allow the crankcase to 'breath' - allow for the controlled dissipation of the build up of pressure within the crankcase. The problem for you is where is this pressure coming from? Could be worn piston rings / bores. That's expensive - as in engine rebuild / replacement - but not the most likely. What is the oil level like? Much above the top mark and you could be 'dipping' the crank which will impart additional heat to the oil, as well as reducing the air volume. Is the cooling system functioning properly? Does the engine run hot even on a warm day? Again a build up of heat will increase pressure.

To make a fuller, more accurate, diagnosis we'd need more information such as mileage, service history (if known), 'traits' of your engine - does it burn oil, run hot etc.? As an interim measure confirm that the oil level is correct, the radiator is clear of debris (gently blow through from the back) clean the breather pipework and replace (not clean) the breather filter (probably under the oil filler cap) as these become blocked with oil residue and never clean properly - any remaining debris can be flushed back into the oil system and cause a terminal blockage. They should only cost a few quid and be easy to replace.

[t5_monkey]

Originally Posted by S80T60James

Hello,

My V50 2.4i 54 plate has a high pitched whine. It stops if I remove the oil cap and returns if I put it back on again. This also happens to a lesser extent with the dipstick...

Has anyone else had the issue? Through Internet searches it seemed to be reasonably common in the USA (where 2.4i engines seem much more common)

Can anyone help: A) Confirm what it is and B) tell me how much it would cost to get it fixed...


Thanks in advance.

James

PCV - but it would sound like a kettle boiling if that had gone.

[S80T60James]

Hello,

The air con runs very hot. I found this quote on an American forum:

This is a common problem caused by deterioration of a diaphragm inside the oil filter housing, which acts as a PCV system

Read more: 2004 S40: whining noise..removing..oil cap..there is a vacuum action - JustAnswer http://www.justanswer.com/volvo/5zmn...#ixzz23AjNqs1h

Am I looking at a massive bill? :0(

[S80T60James]

Hello,

Mileage is 106,200... It had just one owner prior to me and a FSH to 83,000 at a main dealer. Thereafter they had stuff done to it at a local garage, including a bill for £700 dealing with all the advisories at the previous MOT (2011). It's gone two years unserviced.

It's just had an MOT and passed easily with an advisory about two brake pads and a slight play in the steering rack.

[t5_monkey]

Originally Posted by S80T60James

Hello,

The air con runs very hot. I found this quote on an American forum:

This is a common problem caused by deterioration of a diaphragm inside the oil filter housing, which acts as a PCV system

Read more: 2004 S40: whining noise..removing..oil cap..there is a vacuum action - JustAnswer http://www.justanswer.com/volvo/5zmn...#ixzz23AjNqs1h

Am I looking at a massive bill? :0(

Just change the PCV you should be OK!

[S80T60James]

Thanks Trunk Monkey :0) Any idea of the cost to have it done. I couldn't do it.

[Sailor 64]

Originally Posted by S80T60James

Hello,

Mileage is 106,200... It had just one owner prior to me and a FSH to 83,000 at a main dealer. Thereafter they had stuff done to it at a local garage, including a bill for £700 dealing with all the advisories at the previous MOT (2011). It's gone two years unserviced.

It's just had an MOT and passed easily with an advisory about two brake pads and a slight play in the steering rack.

At that mileage the engine is only just run in so bore / ring wear shouldn't be an issue. Circa 23k miles of non main dealer servicing, even using a lower grade oil (one with a lower detergent content not viscosity), shouldn't cause too much of a problem. However no service for 2 years (disregard mileage - it's age that comes into play here) would be enough for a breather filter to block. At a guess you are only covering a few thousand miles per year, short runs, never getting properly warmed up, thus causing condensation to build up and form an oil emulsion in the breather - will look like natural yoghurt in colour and consistency.

I'm not discounting the PCV theory but all the references so far shown refer to the 40 series and not the newer 50's (with different engines). Check the breather - you have nothing to loose. At a local garage it should only take an hour or two as a maximum and would be a whole lot cheaper than a new oil filter housing.