'99 V70 Base, FWD, Non-Turbo c. 200K miles; Top End Noise

Post by **E Showell** » 27 Mar 2016, 12:57

Over the past six months I've had a lot of top end, valve train noise that has gotten progressively worse. No low oil light, though. It's my wife's car so I've been hearing about it.

Ok - So having been half way through oil pan hell -- the pan is still off (and it is no worse a job than a PCV service), I have noticed that my pan is very different than most in the photos accompanying the oil pan service write ups. First of all, there are no internal pipes in the pan. Second there are only two o-rings on the pan and they aren't really O-rings as much as they appear to be rubber flat washers with large internal diameters. Having examined the pan it is virtually sludge free, although there are some baked on deposits on the sides. A spray bottle of Purple Power later and the pan is quite clean except for some nooks and crannies I can't reach.

Based on visual inspection there was no sludge problem and the o-rings are probably fine. What else could be the cause of my top end noise? Collapsed lifters (and I can tell you there's no way I'm going in to the top end just for the lifters)? Should I just run a can of some type of top end cleaner through and then maybe go to 10 w40? I've been using Mobil 1 10 W 30 for the past 100K miles and the car seems to do fine on it.

The pan won't go back on 'til next weekend. Any percentage in seeing if my local mechanic can throw it in a parts washer and have it squeaky clean before it goes back on?

Any thoughts?

Post by **kahl** » 27 Mar 2016, 13:29

Have you dropped the assembly that is attached to the bottom of the block? You did not mention that assembly or the oil pick up screen for blockage. That assembly that drops down is where o rings are located. When they are old and worn air is let in causing cavatatin and poor oil pressure. Sorry to generalize it has been about 10 years when I did a pan drop on a 94 850.

Post by **E Showell** » 27 Mar 2016, 15:12

Stew -- Are you referring to the oil pick up tube? There is a part that looks like a combination between a donut and the Loch Ness monster -- curved pipe. That would appear to be an oil pick up. It is attached to the lower portion of the block with a v-shaped bracket by two 10 mm bolts. It is not apparent that once those bolts are released, the part will drop down, but if I understand you correctly, once I remove those blots, I should be able to remove this pipe, correct? Is it simply a press fit with o-rings? If so, I have not inspected those o-rings. Additionally, I have not run across what would appear to be an "oil pick-up screen." It would appear I have more disassembly to do.

Post by **kahl** » 27 Mar 2016, 17:12

Evan drop that pipe down, you should find some o rings.

Post by **oragex** » 27 Mar 2016, 18:15

While there it's a good moment to inspect the cooler lines are not clogged and the by-pass valve on the oil filter housing is clean