Losing oil

[zchael6]

Hello!

I haven’t done much stuff to the volvo in the last three months but clocked up 7k miles including a drive to Berlin and back to move a friend there with his stuff and have finally gotten round to servicing it this weekend.

I noticed when I changed the oil that far less came out than went in filling it up again. I’ve also noticed the engine is failing the jiggle test miserably. This is despite me changing the crank breather system when I got the car in March.

What could be causing this build up of positive pressure and oil loss? I changed the pvc box thing and all the hoses and had lovely negative pressure at the time.

Thanks!

[griston64]

Is the car a Turbo ?

[Jebus]

Check the stub on the inlet manifold, and the connector that hoses atttach to are all clear as well, on mine one was stuffed with crud

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by zchael6

Hello!

I haven’t done much stuff to the volvo in the last three months but clocked up 7k miles including a drive to Berlin and back to move a friend there with his stuff and have finally gotten round to servicing it this weekend.

I noticed when I changed the oil that far less came out than went in filling it up again. I’ve also noticed the engine is failing the jiggle test miserably. This is despite me changing the crank breather system when I got the car in March.

What could be causing this build up of positive pressure and oil loss? I changed the pvc box thing and all the hoses and had lovely negative pressure at the time.

Thanks!

Clean the PCV system again Will, you'll be surprised! Also what oil are you using? When you say far less oil came out, how much less? Are we talking about a litre or two or a lot more difference?

[zchael6]

It’s a turbo

I checked the stub on the i let manifold (there were three I checked all three even tho only one seems to attach to the pcv) they were all clear.

Ok clean the black box thing? I put in 10w40 semi synth.

I think about two litres less came out. But I haven’t measured yet it’s sitting in a bucket still. Just going on weight and eye balling it

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by zchael6

I put in 10w40 semi synth.

I think about two litres less came

Yes, 10W40 but what sort? Brand if you prefer?

Also if you've done 7k miles and estimate it's used 2 litres that's about 1/4L per 1000 miles which in the great scheme of things isn't that bad. I remember in ~1982 reading the handbook for my dads new Mk2 Cavalier and it suggested a pint (~600ml) per 1000 miles was average use.
That was on a then-new engine. Almost all engines will use a little oil over a period of time so 2L over 7k miles isn't bad measured against that.

However, did i suggest to you to add 0.5L of synthetic ATF to the engine oil and then top up with your 10W40 when you did the oil/filter change? If not, give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised!

[griston64]

That seems excessive to me Dave. When you consider the capacity for a B230 is 3.8l

Over 3k when I change my oil it doesn't use a drop. I did get all the front seals replaced and did all pcv when I got her which will obviously make a difference but losing over 50% of your oil over 7k isn't good to me.

[zchael6]

It’s the triple qx stuff.

I thought it was a bit excessive. I don’t think it’s using it that much rather pushing a lot out. There does seem to be a bit of a leak. I’ve cleaned the underside as best I can and I’ll see if I can find out where it’s leaking from.

Left my car lube atf in Suffolk, going back in sept so will pick it up and add some

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by zchael6

It’s the triple qx stuff.

I thought it was a bit excessive. I don’t think it’s using it that much rather pushing a lot out. There does seem to be a bit of a leak. I’ve cleaned the underside as best I can and I’ll see if I can find out where it’s leaking from.

Left my car lube atf in Suffolk, going back in sept so will pick it up and add some

That's the problem!!! Triple QX 10W40 is useless because it's made with recycled oil. Now and again they slip in some decent stuff to try and keep a good name but i have an unopened 5L tub of it in the shed i can't get rid of. Bought 4 tubs on a "BOGOF" deal and used the first three in my 760, my Rover 827 Sterling and my Rover 827 Coupe.

Overnight all three cars became smoky from the exhaust, the oil was used at an alarming rate and both the Sterling and 760 developed an oil leak. Also both Rovers became "tappety" (hydraulic tappets) and were down on power. The 760 also seemed noisier although that may have been subjective.

Thankfully on the Coupe i hadn't done enough miles in it when i realised the problem with the oil so that had the first "emergency" oil change to a better oil, complete with 0.5L of ATF-U to revive the oil seals and get the tappets quiet again. The tappets went quiet and it stopped smoking so the Sterling got the same treatment.

By then i was convinced and bought some more oil for the 760 and gave that the same treatment except that got a whole litre of ATF because of a bigger sump capacity (6L) and is now very nearly back to where it should be. Sadly the oil i picked for the 760 wasn't much better than the Triple QX stuff so has taken longer to nurse back to where it should be. Next oil/filter change should do it, especially as i've now obtained the OE oil cooler (the previous owner had it removed as it was leaking PAS fluid - go figure as my stateside neighbours would say!) so that will go on as well.

I don't know what oil you've used to do the oil/filter change this time but if you've used Triple QX again, go and buy another filter and some better oil and half a litre of synthetic ATF (Dexron III or equivalent if you can't get hold of ATF-U locally) and do another oil/filter change.
Better oils include Tradetec 10W40 and Gulf-Tec 10W40, don't use Shell Helix, it's ok for the first 3k miles but then the additives give up the ghost and it goes thin and horrible.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by zchael6

It’s the triple qx stuff.

I thought it was a bit excessive. I don’t think it’s using it that much rather pushing a lot out. There does seem to be a bit of a leak. I’ve cleaned the underside as best I can and I’ll see if I can find out where it’s leaking from.

Left my car lube atf in Suffolk, going back in sept so will pick it up and add some

If it's leaking from one of the front seals it will be very hard to track down ( especially if it's the top one ) To be honest if it's had a blocked pcv which has blown the front seals cleaning the pcv won't solve the problem. They will leak slightly less due to reducing the pressure but they will still leak. If you are due a cambelt change just get the three front seals changed and that should be it. If it's the rear main seal that's a real PITA