XC90 V8 - Pros and cons?

ashly.ydr · Post by **ashly.ydr** » 16 Feb 2017, 09:01

I've had an S80 for as long as I could drive (which hasn't really been all that long), and I've come to have the weirdest connection with that car. As for now, I don't have any significant reason to part with her, and I hope it will be a long time until I need to. But, for future reference, I have picked out a replacement that I think would be best suited - an XC90 V8. I've only ever been able to admire this vehicle from afar, and I'd love to hear what other owners have to say about their V8. So, I'll shoot off a few questions, and you're welcome to share your stories and thoughts.

What are some pros and cons of the XC90s? How's the V8 engine? Would you be likelier to suggest a different engine/package/edition? Are there any common issues with the V8s? What's the best year(s) for the V8?

Post by **cuhfs** » 16 Feb 2017, 10:07

I've had my 06 V8 for abt 3months. They are known for transmission flare issue. Working on them is a bit more difficult than the pre99 models as there is more to detach, it seems, in every repair. Plus side is the timing chain is lifetime versus a timing belt. Still have to change serpentine belt as regular interval. Nice looking vehicle. Probably lower gas miles than most other volvos as the vehicle weighs abt 4000 lbs and is a v8.

Post by **matthew1** » 16 Feb 2017, 10:15

Here are a couple items that may help, or lead to more information that will help:

XC90: T6 or V80?
Which XC90 to buy?

Stay away from T6 (transmission), and sadly now the 5-cylinder XC90s are all old enough to be something that you'd need to be DIY'ing things or paying to have things fixed. The 5 cyl are great SUVs with a great engine, just be aware that the last ones made are now ~10+ years old.

That leaves V8 and 3.2 engine models.

Post by **cuhfs** » 16 Feb 2017, 15:40

I should have said that so far I am very happy with car. I posted the issues not the positives which there are many!

Post by **Roger_850T** » 18 Feb 2017, 18:30

I have a V8 and I'm pretty happy with it!

Pros: Lots of power! And pretty reasonable fuel economy if you try. Love the sound! I haven't towed much with it, but when I have it's definitely been up to the task. It seems to be a pretty solid engine with no major flaws. (Save one, see below.) I *LOVE* how it drives at high speed on the interstate - smooth and stable! One could easily exceed the speed limit by a large margin and not know because the car is so solid.

Cons: It does suck the gas. Not sure if it's any worse than the 2.5 or 3.2, it IS a big, heavy vehicle. Yes, there are some issues with the TF80SC transmission. Not nearly as bad as the 2.9l 6 cylinder issues, but the 3.2 and V8 both deal with them. I put in a Volvo rebuilt unit that supposedly has all the engineered improvements; we'll see. Also, I have a nagging suspension issue that is driving me nuts, but that could happen to any car, and any XC90 engine, to boot.

The one major flaw in the V8: People wash their engines. In the early engines, if you washed it, you could leave a pool of water that would eventually rust the bearings on the counter shaft, and if not detected, could result in a rather catastrophic failure. This was identified, and starting somewhere in 2006, (engine #3200 or so,) the factory started drilling a drain hole, so the water would drain out, and the problem is taken care of. If you have a 2005 model, the first answer is: don't wash your engine! The second answer is that you can pull one cylinder head, and retrofit the drain hole to your engine. The third answer is to buy a 2006 or newer. If needed, I'll look up the exact engine s/n where the factory implemented the fix. It's manageable, and not a showstopper, especially if you're aware.

At this point we're up to 112k miles and still loving it!

Roger