Possible 960 oil problem

Kiwi_igelkott · Jan 27th, 2006, 02:57

I just purchased a 1995 960 - 87,000km I drove it home and this morning I checked the engine oil level on a cold engine and there was nothing on the dipstick!

There was no hint of trouble on the drive home, no oil lights, temp was ok etc.... and she drove pretty sweet. No sign of any leaks on top or underneath after sitting in my garage over night.

My Subaru's dipstick plays tricks with the oil levels and wondering if the Volvo might do the same.

I don't want to over fill but have bought a 4l pack but haven't put any in yet.

Cheers.

GavinC · Jan 27th, 2006, 09:44

G'day...I'm a Kiwi living in the UK and I, too, have a '95 960 though mine has done 170,000 MILES. It's very tidy and as sweet as...built to last like a brick outhouse. Now, no offence meant and at risk of stating the obvious, but are you sure that it's not simply a case of not being able to easily see the oil on the dipstick because it is so clean as to be transparent? Can you not see it in that bright NZ sunshine...or shine a light on it immediately after pulling it? It appears you've allowed plenty of time for the oil to drain down (you said "cold engine")...my dipstick is straightforward and not tricky but can be very difficult to see the oil on the stick immediately after an oil change - to the point where if I wore glasses I'd need to go get 'em...and sometimes a torch in this dull English light - even then I'd need to scrutinise the stick. Good luck...sounds like you've got a good 'un!

Gavin

ascott1 · Jan 27th, 2006, 19:12

Hi there, I've run a 96 960 (UK), manual-gearbox, for 12 months, done 12k miles in that time, the car has about 113k miles, haven't seen this oil 'disappearing overnight' thing, and have always been able to see clean oil on the dipstick... I have had the level go from max to min in one day on a long run (300 miles or so) on narrow roads in hot weather.

If there was oil in the car yesterday, there are threads in this site and other bulletin boards on where the oil might be going while the car's moving (eg out of the rear main bearing seal and around the gearbox, road etc). Others here may be able to give you more authoritative answers.

Watch out for over-filling when you re-fill it - mine seems to go from min to max in just over half a litre and I have over-filled it slightly in the past. I have wondered if my car has the correct dip-stick for the engine, but it does seem to show the expected level after an oil change.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi_igelkott

I don't want to over fill but have bought a 4l pack but haven't put any in yet.

Kiwi_igelkott · Jan 28th, 2006, 02:58

Cheers for that. Mines an auto, I put about 2 1/2 litres in it this morning which brought the level up just under the full mark on the dipstick. I'll take it for a test run, leave for over night and check the level again in the morning.

Jan 27th, 2006, 02:57	#1
Kiwi_igelkott New Member Last Online: May 2nd, 2010 03:17 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Norrtälje	Possible 960 oil problem I just purchased a 1995 960 - 87,000km I drove it home and this morning I checked the engine oil level on a cold engine and there was nothing on the dipstick! There was no hint of trouble on the drive home, no oil lights, temp was ok etc.... and she drove pretty sweet. No sign of any leaks on top or underneath after sitting in my garage over night. My Subaru's dipstick plays tricks with the oil levels and wondering if the Volvo might do the same. I don't want to over fill but have bought a 4l pack but haven't put any in yet. Cheers.

Jan 27th, 2006, 09:44	#2
GavinC GavinC Last Online: Oct 13th, 2012 18:51 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Harrogate	Possible 960 oil problem G'day...I'm a Kiwi living in the UK and I, too, have a '95 960 though mine has done 170,000 MILES. It's very tidy and as sweet as...built to last like a brick outhouse. Now, no offence meant and at risk of stating the obvious, but are you sure that it's not simply a case of not being able to easily see the oil on the dipstick because it is so clean as to be transparent? Can you not see it in that bright NZ sunshine...or shine a light on it immediately after pulling it? It appears you've allowed plenty of time for the oil to drain down (you said "cold engine")...my dipstick is straightforward and not tricky but can be very difficult to see the oil on the stick immediately after an oil change - to the point where if I wore glasses I'd need to go get 'em...and sometimes a torch in this dull English light - even then I'd need to scrutinise the stick. Good luck...sounds like you've got a good 'un! Gavin

Jan 28th, 2006, 02:58	#4
Kiwi_igelkott New Member Last Online: May 2nd, 2010 03:17 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Norrtälje	Cheers for that. Mines an auto, I put about 2 1/2 litres in it this morning which brought the level up just under the full mark on the dipstick. I'll take it for a test run, leave for over night and check the level again in the morning.

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