S70 new problem

genivieve · Post by **genivieve** » 15 Feb 2006, 18:27

I posted previously on my Volvo S70 for having a whipping sound. My friend pulled off the oil pan, checked for sludge and there it is. The O rings are fine.

But here is the new problem. The car has 177,000 miles on it. I bought it with 163,000. I have taken the car to an instant oil change place three times. All my receipts state full oil change. The filter replacement box is checked stating all three times it was replaced.

The previous owner had all repairs, and oil changes done by a Volvo dealer, so knowing this we then realized that the instant oil change has never changed the filter. The filter is a Volvo filter. And the filter is stuck it wont come off the oil pan.

So here is the question. I ran the car 14,000 miles, the previous owner stated it was in need of an oil change when I bought it. So roughly the car has ran seventeen to eighteen thousand miles without a new oil filter. Could a bad oil filter ruin my motor or caused this sludge? My turbo has already been replaced, could the bad oil filter killed my turbo to begin with?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 15 Feb 2006, 20:46

From what I understand, the filter is more important than the oil when doing a change. I've even heard of people using synthetics and changing the filter without doing an oil change. It is very possible that you can mess up an engine without changing the filter for 14K miles, but ruining it is unlikely at these miles. Good thing you caught it early! Most likely they couldn't get the oil filter off either, so they just acted like they changed it...what were they thinking???. I would do whatever it takes to get that thing off....large tong like grips might work (autozone...and keep your receipt...the oil place should pay for it later). Don't do the screw driver in the metal casing trick...most likely you'll just rip the filter to shreds and be in even a bigger fix. Buy a new Mann filter from www.fcpgroton.com

The other issue here is incompetence, a cover-up and over-all unethical practices by the "instant oil change" place. I would raise holly hell with this place. Call them, find out who the manager is, the owner, etc. and contact them. If you don't get results, call your local news paper..whatever it takes to get your point across...

Unrelated to Volvo's but related in another way: Several years ago, a pretty highly rated restaurant chain treated me and my family in a very terrible way and so when we got home from eating out, I looked on the internet and did a google search to find the president of the restaraunt chain and then sent this guy a very long email complaining and detailing our whole experience. The next day, he and another company executive was at my door steps, having driven 4 hours to get to where we live. We had an official apology, heads rolled at the local restaurant, and we had free passes to eat at their establishment for several months. Action does pay -off....go for it!

Post by **robert213** » 17 Feb 2006, 08:25

genivieve wrote:So here is the question. I ran the car 14,000 miles, the previous owner stated it was in need of an oil change when I bought it. So roughly the car has ran seventeen to eighteen thousand miles without a new oil filter. Could a bad oil filter ruin my motor or caused this sludge? My turbo has already been replaced, could the bad oil filter killed my turbo to begin with?

Yes, replacing oil filter is more important than changing oil. Some folks even suggest replacing oil filter every 2,500 miles, yet never drain their oil. I would never consider following this theory with a turbo charged engine.
http://www.amsoil.com/testimonials/409000.aspx
Gray began using AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil (AME) in the E9-400 V-8 engine of his first truck, a 1984 Mack, after the engine accumulated 45,000 miles. For 280,000 miles, Gray changed his oil at 40,000-to 60,000-mile intervals though his oil analysis reports showed, without exception, that the oil was good for continued use. At 325,000 miles, Gray increased his oil drain interval to 100,000 miles. The engine was torn down at 600,000 miles when Gray decided to sell the truck. The cylinder liners, bearings, pistons, rings and oil pump, all treated to extended oil drain intervals with AMSOIL, were found to be in excellent condition.

Yes, not replacing oil filter was the cause of your sludge. I doubt that your engine has been seriously damaged. I would change oil and filter every 2K miles, for the next 6,000 miles to get that sludge out of there. I would purchase hydraulic jack and floor stands and do it myself.

With a new turbo, I would replace turbo oil feed line. I would purchase a magnetic drain plug. When draining oil, if you see metal flakes on plug, then you know you might have a problem.

The major advantage of synth oil over conventional oil, is that the additives found in multi-weight oils cannot withstand the high temps of a turbocharged engine.

If cost of synth oil is a concern, considering using conventional Castrol GTX straight 30W oil in your turbocharged engine. Multi-weight oils, i.e. 10W30, are mostly additives that breakdown in high-temp conditions. Straight-weight oils do not have these additives.

If your outside temps stay above 32F, consider using straight 30W year round.

In my other turbo-charged car that I have purchased new in 1984. I have put on over 200K miles with original engine and original turbo, using straight 30W 9 months of the year and 10W30 during the winter.

saltydog · Post by **saltydog** » 18 Feb 2006, 20:27

Yep, me again. Sludge was in that motor when you bought that car in fact, I would go as far to say that this may have had something to do with the guy before you getting rid of it. You have all the service records? Has the flame trap ever been replaced or cleaned? If it was dealer serviced, probably not. Factory recommends oil every 7500 mi - way too long, but people follow it. Moisture builds in the crankcase, that crappy PVC setup becomes plugged up & bingo - self propelled sludge mill. These motors are notorious for their small oil galleys & they plug with the crap....and stay plugged. I know, I'm replacing the engine as we speak in my '01 xc70 for lack of oil pressure because it's packed full of sludge....with a full dealer history at 150,000 kms.....when the car is running at operating temp, pull the dipstick - see smoke? Call it a day & save yourself the time, money & agrivation....dump the car or pull the engine....BTW, you'll be VERY lucky to find anyone willing to rebuild what you've got.