New to Volvo - - Massive Oil Loss

[sleddriver]

To OP:

Sounds like the PO dumped their car just in time...for them! Geeze Louise...lousy timing on your daughter's part though...and yours. Bummer....Sounds like no one checked the service records....there's nothing more expensive than an old, cheap European car, especially if it hasn't been maintained.

The sled has never experienced a blocked PCV system, maybe it's too hot here. I've used synthetic oil for a very long time now. When I did the PCV at ~ 180,000 miles, no ports were blocked. One large, rigid plastic hose from the oil sep. box to the intake at the turbo was broken however. I replaced it with a new one, and just recently discovered THAT ONE has also broken....right below the distributer. So I temp fixed it with silicone tubing.

Until you fix the blocked system, I'd recommend you pull the dipstick out to vent the pressure.

I've used BG109 engine flush twice now with no problems. Currently run M1 10W-30 HM oil, which contains 17% greater levels of engine detergents than the non-HM version. Also spec's a bit better too. When I used 0W-30, I noticed increased oil consumption.

WAY OVERDUE on timing belt if it's still original!!! I think for that year, 100,000mi or 6 or 7 years max. Her's is nearly 10yrs old now!

I would not drive it until you replace the TB, tensioner, idlers, check the water pump, and find/fix the blockages in the PCV system. Your car is quite a bit newer than mine, so my details won't necessarily apply. I'd also recommend 100% synethic oil, weight according to the owners manual and your climate.

Good luck!

[F250]

Thanks again for the input, guys. I have actually received a handful of replies from Swedespeed, all of which are consistent with what you're saying here...

"PCV, then the Timing System/Water Pump/Cam Seals, and hold off on any turbo work until the results are in from these first efforts."

And, yes, I am dropping the pan to make sure the drain ports are clear from top and bottom access points. Thanks for that reminder, vtl!

I rechecked the dipstick tube venting once I got home from the office, and the quantity and velocity of exhaust fumes was significantly greater than when the engine was cold this morning, which makes perfect sense. I'll check the engine oil level again in the morning for comparison to where it was this morning to see if my two short 4 mile trips allowed the engine to pressurize enough to create a measurable loss... probably not, but I would rather not assume.

I have all my parts on the way now, and am still waiting to find out if I have to make a 3-day business trip before Friday... hoping it's put off until next week so I can take Friday off and dig in early.

[F250]

Sleddriver, those are some good tips. Thanks.

Additional background for me... aside from being a chemical engineer, I spent about 3 years representing the largest private lubricant company in the US - Schaeffer Manufacturing - and they specialize in full synthetic lubes with high moly content. I had a lot of training from them, and gained a huge appreciation for high quality specifications and high performance lubricants. Point is that I have a solid understanding and appreciation for your comments along those lines.

In terms of timing for myself and my daughter, you would NOT believe what the last couple months have been like. Daughter's '04 Infiniti I35 slung a rod after her having it for about 8 months (PO must have abused that car as well, but we could not discern it due to the absence of records, and THAT I35 was a replacement for another '04 I35 which was totaled last summer in a rear corner swipe - no injuries). My 19yo bought a '06 Outback with high miles which we knew needed a head gasket job, and he got an excellent deal on it. Then his radiator cracked open while my daughter was driving it! THEN, he almost toasted his tranny when the tranny cooling hose blew apart as he drifted into a gas station for a soda! All the while, my 18yo son is waiting to get his "one month old to him" '99 4Runner back from the body shop because he nearly totaled in within one month of getting it (and this was only two weeks after having to replace his back glass because a lawnmower handle went through it). AND, while the 18yo was borrowing my '03 diesel Excursion, he stopped to put fuel in it and unwittingly put 10 gallons of E85 in it. Fortunately, his 4Runner is now in great shape again, and we were able to purge the Excursion tank and managed to avoid having to replace $2000 worth of injectors. The last thing, one week before this S60 oil issue reared its head, was when my F250 popped its high pressure power steering hose while my wife was backing out of the driveway!

I'm still waiting, too, for a chance to remove the front bumper on my Excursion to have it repainted so we can get it sold, and then I have to rework the reluctor rings on my two front hubs on my truck so I can get the ABS working again... the brand new front hubs evidently have the reluctor rings set in too far and the ABS sensors are not close enough to know anything about whether or not the wheels are rotating.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining at all. I'm SO grateful that I've been able to manage it all and that no one has been hurt through the processes. I am, however, about ready to stop answering my phone when one of the kids calls me on a Friday right before lunch because recent history tells me that it will probabl involve a two and some costly repairs. My kids have been great through it all, though... sharing vehicles, taking one another places, and they are ALL paying for their own repairs and insurance deductibles. Life lessons!!

For now, though, I'm getting consistent advice from all fronts to stop driving the S60, and will do so and just let it sit until I can clear up the known mess to see where that takes us.

Thanks again for all the input, guys. I'll keep you posted with my discoveries and solutions (and failures)!

[tryingbe]

Use only VOLVO seals. I'd change the front crank seal as well.

[hansenjg]

PCV will blow oil through the seals. I tried to clear mine myself with limited success (glove expanded more slowly). Had it done by my favorite shop but did not have them do the seals. Oil usage has almost disappeared on 210,000 mile engine. So if you can do the PCV, the seals just might not need to be done. The timing belt is a cinch on these engines. I've done 3. All the work through the passenger wheel well. Air impact wrench makes it easier for removing the nut on the crankshaft. Never worked on any of my 3 turbo's. Looking forward to asking your expert advice after you have fixed your daughter's T5 engine! Good luck!

[F250]

Our's is not T5... just a 2.5T trim level. The turbos are different (low pressure on 2.5T and high pressure on T5). Regardless,
I'm always happy to share both my wins and my losses in hopes that either can be helpful to others.

[sleddriver]

OP: Your kid's have had some bad luck with cars & accidents! Holy Cow! I understand why you don't want to answer the phone!

Didn't know an E85 nozzle would fit a diesel. Odd that.......

[F250]

OP: Your kid's have had some bad luck with cars & accidents! Holy Cow! I understand why you don't want to answer the phone!

Didn't know an E85 nozzle would fit a diesel. Odd that.......

Yep. It not only fits, but the E85 nozzles are typically in the same pump tower as the Diesel nozzles... go figure!!

Something else I learned about E85... when you're working on a system full of it and have cuts, scrapes, and scratches from dropping fuel tanks, etc... that stuff will absolutely LIGHT YOU UP when it washes down your scraped arm!! After all, it's 85% ethyl alcohol, right?

[tryingbe]

Handle for E85 is usually yellow...

[F250]

This is a slight digression, but, yes, the E85 handles are yellow, right beside the diesel handles which are green... my particular E85 situation was borne out of my son's youthfully ignorant presumption and a tendency towards being in a rush for everything, which lead to a low level of attention to detail, and was further complicated by my his red/green color blindness. He now more clearly understands the need for slowing down long enough to READ labels and THINK about what they communicate.

I have to say, though, that he handled the situation very well. He was up front and never tried to hide the facts around his mistake, taking full responsibility for the consequences, and freely offered to use his hard-earned lawn business money to buy the new injectors for us (and this is on top of having just had to purchase his replacement rear tailgate window glass and his $500 deductible for his body shop repairs from the accident). When I determined that we did not need to go that route "yet", he was on board and right beside me all the way through process of emptying and removing the 44 gallon (steel encased) tank, cleaning it out, repairing the fuel pick-up foot inside the tank, purging the entire fuel system, replacing the fuel filters, reinstalling the tank, and then dosing the first 5 gallons of diesel with a triple dose of lubricity additive to re-establish the protective lubricant film throughout the fuel system. He's a good kid who made a bad mistake, much like most of us at one time or another, and it turned out to be a mistake which was solved by a very tedious hands-on lesson with a low cost end point.

Hind sight has me seeing the whole situation as a huge step forward in rebuilding what has historically been a long-term difficult clash of personalities, and we are much closer on this side of the situation. Even if I end up having to replace the injectors, which does not appear necessary, the real growth between he and I is worth every penny of it!


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