2000 V70XC SE - First Time DIY Oil Change on Volvo

sea warrior · Post by **sea warrior** » 28 Dec 2014, 18:36

106,000 miles maintenance starting...

OK, here goes (really don't want to mess up...). Haven't changed oil since 1998, and that was on a '71 VW camper. Also, will be first time working on AWD and still learning about the where the "bevel gear" is and so forth. Instructions in Chilton and at MVS for similar models mostly seem straightforward- loosen plug, drain, replace filter, tighten plug, fill.

Questions:
1. Jacking Points. Will take floor jack to front of car. lift, then lower onto axle stands. Still haven't got crystal-clear on exact point, though Chilton guide pictures will hopefully be helpful: frame connection just behind radiator/air conditioner I think... any helpful input welcomed. Axle stands go onto regular jacking points on frame connection at inner-underside of car, as best as I can tell. Question: Is it necessary (and if so, how) to protect car inner lift- points from pokey axle-stand tops?

2. Oil filter: Car parts store looked up model and gave me a Bosch, 3412. I have no reason to doubt this but would welcome reassurance that this is right, since I can't find any listing...

3. Oil: Settled on 10W30 full synthetic, Mobil 1. On sale at costco, and seems to be better for mild-to-warmer temperatures (SF Bay area never very cold), and for extensive stop-and-go on city hills. This is in spite of the dealer saying they use 5W30. Have both kinds available...Any last-minute advice?

So, here goes. Next up will be visual inspection of bevel gear, cabin air filter change, and other routine maintenance.

Thank you in advance for all support and any helpful tips you may have either in general or to the questions above.

Post by **shaker_chi** » 28 Dec 2014, 19:20

When you jack up the car, just jack up the driver side. You can place a jack stand under the subframe and another under the jacking point half way down the side of the car if you like. Make sure you get a 17mm socket and drain your oil. The oil filter can be difficult to loosen so I suggest you get an oil filter wrench. Regarding the filter, I only use Mann, but Bosch makes good stuff so I would feel comfortable with the one you purchased. Good luck.

sea warrior · Post by **sea warrior** » 28 Dec 2014, 19:34

Thanks- will just do the drivers side. Is that because of danger in lifting from center? appreciate any input you may have. Any other helpful tips much appreciated.

All the best-

DrJammer · Post by **DrJammer** » 28 Dec 2014, 19:36

welcome to the best car forum ever. I cannot tell you the amount of knowledge and help you can find here.

oil change, check out the video from one of the best

I wouldn't waste time jacking for an oil change (safety, time, etc.), I would drive up ramps, but with the clearance, you should just be able to get under the car as is. I would look into a volvo oil filter wrench. I also prefer 10W30 in my 2000 xc, I have used both 5W30 and 10W30 and just found my car holds and performs better with the 10W30 in the NE.

It sounds like the oil and filter are your biggest concerns. Just make sure it's a compatible cartridge, some people swear by certain brands, I prefer Mann, but if it's bosch and it fits, go with it. Use a new crush washer (18X24mm), and consider changing the gasket on the oil filling cap, if not this time, next time.

sea warrior · Post by **sea warrior** » 28 Dec 2014, 19:54

Awesome video! Thanks- really appreciate it.
Its true- there is probably enough clearance to just crawl under, once I learn the territory better down under...

DrJammer · Post by **DrJammer** » 28 Dec 2014, 20:01

oil plug is about dead center under the engine facing rear of car. It is not the 17mm bolt facing the center of the car from the drivers side. that will drain your trans fluid

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 28 Dec 2014, 20:05

I haven't watched Robert's video but you have a cartridge type oil filter rather than the traditional can filter. I know the Mann filters come with a new O ring but I don't know about the Bosch. Replacing the O ring is always a good practice but if your filter did not come with one be careful not to nick the O ring on the filter housing when you remove it.

Getting the plastic housing off can be a challenge but there are special oil filter wrenches made just for the Volvo setup. I bought mine through Amazon but I have seen them elsewhere and for a couple of bucks less. Assenmacher has the V410 which is very nice tool but I bought a JTC 1522 16/87 that is a couple of dollars less. Mine takes a 1/2" drive ratchet and it just spins the housing right off.

When I got the car the previous owners or service provider just used a plier type wrench and they had chewed the housing up badly so I replaced the housing on the first oil change.

For a jacking point I use the big bolt where the subframe ties into the chassis and then slip a jack stand under the "frame" just for safety. For an oil change I just leave the pressure on the jack knowing that if something goes wrong the jack stand is there.

...Lee

db130 · Post by **db130** » 28 Dec 2014, 20:11

I used to have the exact same car. I found the Assenmacher oil filter tool to be very effective when trying to remove the oil filter housing:

click me

Post by **cn90** » 28 Dec 2014, 21:12

Ozark Lee is correct, get the Assenmacher tool, it will make the job easy.

Mahle cartridge filter is $5 online.

I just did all 4 fluids in my 2005 XC90, see link below...

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 10&t=64335

sea warrior · Post by **sea warrior** » 29 Dec 2014, 00:20

Update:
Well, whoever was changing the oil before seems to have not used the plug bolt- It is stuck on! I pulled as hard as I could, and the thing wouldn't budge- started to deform slightly, so I stopped. The plug bolt also just looks too clean to have been used (see photo) so I would guess they must have been doing it by fluid extraction.

So it seems like I need to get into a shop where they can get this bolt loose with an impact wrench. Unless anyone has any other ideas, I will be headed there in the morning...
Thank you for all your responses, by the way. Really appreciate it.
Have some other pictures, by the way, of some messy areas down there I noticed.
Question: is it OK to post them in this same thread, or is it protocol to start a new thread for each seperate issue? Appreciate your thoughts.