Engine System Service Required

[Scooser]

Just had 'Engine System Service Required' pop up on the dash of my MY09 V70 D5, and an orange 'i' traingle has appeared. The car runs normally and has not entered limp mode. Also, I didn't get a soot filter message prior to the message.

If I remember right this happened before around 3 or so years ago, and I think it's the oil level that has crept up, which I believe is a common problem for this year of car. Since it's 11 months since my last service, that would give time for the oil level to build a little.

Trouble is my Volvo indie is 25 miles away and it's going to be a good few days before I can get over there, and I need the car in the mean time. Plus it's boooked in for it's annual service in 6 weeks, so wondering if I just run it with this message until then? If it is the oil level a little high I'm not too worried.

However, if per chance it something else is up then I don't feel too clever about continue to drive the car.

So, given it's only an 'orange' light associated with this message am I safe to continue driving? Or could it alternatively mean I'm taking too much of a chance by continuing to drive it, because it may a more detrimental fault I'm not aware of?

Is there any fault it could be where I'd be advised not to drive the car and get is sorted ASAP?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Scooser]

OK, I've just let the engine cool and its now on a level road. The manual dipstick is reading just over the max by a couple of mm, so I'm very sure the high oil level is the culprit.

Is it safe to run like this at a smidge over the Max? Also, will it be OK to run it for the next few weeks until my next service as long as I keep a close eye on the level and it doesn't rise any further?

Or, I understand that a syringe and some one metre 6mm tube down the dipstick hole is good for sucking out the excess. Anyone done this before, vouch for this method and know where I can get some 6mm plastic tube and a syringe on the high street?

[green van man]

6mm plastic tubing is window washers size and any motor factors should have it.
Laser, or sealey or draper do an oil shrynge, again motor factors.
Draper do a syphon pump for about a fiver that may be easier given the position of the dip stick hole.

Personally I would drop the oil level ASAP and look to oil change sooner rather than later. The raising level is due to diesel in the oil, usually from failed regens of the DPF. Once fresh oil in it I would take it for a blast on a motorway or dual carriageway to clear that.

Paul.

[Scooser]

GVM - many thanks for the tip about washer tubing and where to buy a syringe. I'll get down to my local Europarts tomorrow.

Do you know if the warning will clear by itself after I've cleared the level, or will I need a reset?

Over the 7 years I've had the car, I've only ever had about 2-3 soot full messages. Although I only do ~5k miles pa, I avoid short journeys. That's what the wife's supermini is for.

Every year it's filled to 3/4 of the dipstick, and by the time the year is out it's around the max mark. Sometimes I get away without a drain between services and sometimes I don't. Last time I needed a drain was a couple of years ago.

The Volvo stealer would drain it for free while I had it serviced with them, but now I've turned to an Indy I'm sure they won't be that am amenable.

[green van man]

Not sure on the light resetting itself sorry mate, not had the problem on mine yet.

Like you I use the land rover for local trips, if the Volvo is fired up its 20 miles min, often 90 miles and 2 or 3 times a year it's 450 towing the caravan, car has less than 50k on it at the moment but that's going up by 10 k a year.

Paul.

[Model flyer]

Hi draw enough oil out so that the level is half way between high and low on dipstick. Message will clear by itself but may take a day or so or a good long drive. My car had same problem when serviced an topped up to the high mark. Message cleared the day after I lowered the level. Try adding two stroke oil to your fuel at 200 : 1. It will stop your DPF clogging and the regeneration that causes the oil level to rise. If you search the net or this forum for"Adding two stroke oil to diesel fuel" you can find the full explanation.

[Scooser]

Thought I'd provide an update which may help some non-mechanically minded person like myself in the future, if they stumble upon this thread.

As per Paul's good advice (above) I went to Eurocarparts and picked up a 3 m length of 3/16" plastic washer hose (£1.50). They didn't sell any syringes or similar, so I went for the suck method.

I got the oil nice and warm with a bit of a drive and then placed the tube into the dipstick and pushed it down into the sump. I then sucked on the other end until the oil reached 1" from the end of the tube, being very careful as I didn't fancy an engine oil mouthwash.

I then transferred the end from my mouth to a 500 mm plastic water bottle placed a couple of inches lower than the sump to ensure a siphon effect. Voila it works! Very slow though, as it's been going about 45 mins and I've withdrawn about 250 ml. I'll stop in another 45 mins or so when I've withdrawn 500 ml.

The min to max level is 1500 ml, so withdrawing 500 ml should take me to 2/3rds of the dipstick level, as it was on max before I started.

[Scooser]

Two driving days, and about 50 miles later and the 'Engine System Service Required' warning has now disappeared of its own accord.

[st4]

Originally Posted by Scooser

Two driving days, and about 50 miles later and the 'Engine System Service Required' warning has now disappeared of its own accord.

Excellent news.

[errigal37]

My Volvo 2007 2.4d engine system required light came on two days ago, drained 500ml of oil that appeared overfull out of the sump using the syringe method, then today soot full light came on as well!! I drive 18 miles on country roads return everyday and don't get a blast on motorways as too rural life. What would any of you advise doing? Service? drive to motorway? Car performs sluggishly at moment.