Motor oil missing!!!

nitink · Post by **nitink** » 07 Oct 2006, 22:45

I opened my volvo's (850) hood after 2 months and found no oil in motor oil dipstick. Paniced I put in a qt of oil and oil level came up above Min on dip stick but within 15 minutes, dip stick was again bone dry!!!
I had oil change about 1500 miles back, I don't see any oil in driveway, i don't see any leak. RMS seems fine (no fumes from dip stick).. can any one please give me an idea whats going on?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 08 Oct 2006, 06:02

After putting oil in, you have to start engine and idle for a few minutes and then allow the oil to settle back before taking a reading to get it accurate. If no oil is leaking then I would suspect that the oil was even lower than suspected. Engine could also be burning a ton of oil...is the back side of the car above the exhaust tip black or sooty?

YIMA · Post by **YIMA** » 09 Oct 2006, 07:25

MadeInJapan wrote:After putting oil in, you have to start engine and idle for a few minutes and then allow the oil to settle back before taking a reading to get it accurate. If no oil is leaking then I would suspect that the oil was even lower than suspected. Engine could also be burning a ton of oil...is the back side of the car above the exhaust tip black or sooty?

I was about to post today regarding a similar issue. I smell some burning oil while driving but see no oil on the ground. I found the dipstick dry on a check a few days ago (coming off a 1900 mile trip in the 96 850 Turbo). I also did an RMS check and very little smoke wafted out of the dipstick and the engine while it was running. I want to take the heat shield off and get a closer look at the turbo areas and I was hoping someone could give me a few pointers.

White850Turbo · Post by **White850Turbo** » 09 Oct 2006, 14:43

To remove the turbo heat shield, you need to take out the two bolts holding the rounded part of the heatshield and then the two bolts holding the bracket on. You should then be able to manipulate it out

nitink · Post by **nitink** » 09 Oct 2006, 16:05

My car is Non turbo.
Couple of things I found was
1) In last oil change, shop put in only 5qts, while my car usualy takes 6 qts.
2) I saw too much oil behild Flame trap, but it was not something which can consume 2qts,
3) definately motor is not burning any oil.

stoutlogic · Post by **stoutlogic** » 10 Oct 2006, 07:22

Some things to try:

1.) Clean engine with Gunk or similar cleaning agent. Now you will be able to visually locate external leaks

2.) Drain and change oil + filter and fill with correct amount of oil. We know your starting with the correct amount

3.) Be sure to wipe any excess oil from filter and oil plug areas after change.

4.) Pull a spark plug and check the color. You may want to install all new while your in there. Color should tell you if your burning oil

5.) Try and park in the same spots looking for oil drips on the ground. Again visual check

6.) Remove the coolant expansion cap and look for cross contamination of oil with coolant. Radiators can go bad and the oil will leave the trans cooler and enter the radiator.

bobsnow100 · Post by **bobsnow100** » 10 Oct 2006, 09:52

If your car is not leaking oil, it is not unusual for a car with 95,000 mile to burn up a little oil. It just happens ,with the piston rings getting semi worn out, valve guide seals getting stiff and engine blowby, make sure your PVC system is operating fully,flame trap and tubings clean,etc
Have you been changing your oil regularly? It is very important because it helps your engine live longer.
I'd do what everybody else above stated to do plus I would check my oil level more frequently.At least once a week. If you have to add a quart of oil once a month and it's $2.50 a quart, that's only an extra $30 a year to keep your engine happy

YIMA · Post by **YIMA** » 11 Oct 2006, 08:36

White850Turbo wrote:To remove the turbo heat shield, you need to take out the two bolts holding the rounded part of the heatshield and then the two bolts holding the bracket on. You should then be able to manipulate it out

I got the heat shield off and things looked quite clean and I then jacked the car up put it on stands and there is some oil gathered under the turbo housing on the left side (drivers side), the oil appears to run across a copper-like colored metal rod. I found a loose 10mm bolt just sitting by the side of the oil pan. I have no idea where it fell out from or whether it could be the cause of the leak. It was caked a little with oil and dirt on top.

bobsnow100 · Post by **bobsnow100** » 11 Oct 2006, 10:15

At this point, I would do what Stoutlogic said , get some engine cleaner and follow the directions for cleaning your engine, now you'll be better able to see where any leaks are. If it is on the driver side between the engine and transmission, your real main seal could be leaking,
maybe a cam seal leaking,oil pan?

s70fighter · Post by **s70fighter** » 29 Dec 2006, 10:43

Well, Well, Well. Mine does the same thing and has been doing so for a while but it is getting worse. My dipstick is dry after putting in 5 qts exactly 2 weeks earlier. No leaks. The only telltale sign is a puff of blue smoke on start up when cold. A mechanic told me that I may have trouble with inspection because of emissions. That is not the immediate problem though, I get error code p302 and the engine is missing now. The #2 cylinder is the culprit. The wires and plugs are not that old and I swapped the spark plug with another cylinder to rule out plugs.
My steering rack is leaking or was until I put some stop leak, we will see how long that holds up. Oh. Did I say that the evaporator is leaking, no a/c. Just another $1200 job. Pretty soon it won't be even worth selling.