Engine run without oil...makes noise...can you identify?

[VolvoDJ]

Thank you all for the insight and humor. I needed some levity around this.

Overall the car is in very good shape, 160k miles, clean body and interior and everything works. It was my vehicle before I passed it over to my wife, and as such was well-maintained until this last year. And I'll have a new driver in a couple of years, and had envisioned passing a well-kept and safe vehicle to her as a good, safe option. But I'm not forced to do this--that is, I could let go of this car and get another if that were a more prudent choice. Maybe it is time for a Tesla or a horse after all!

So...if I decide to keep it, engine swap looks like the way forward. I'm confident I could do this, as I have room, adequate skills, and tools, though I'm considering letting a shop do it as I'm a bit short on time. That is, if I can find a shop...

Pros / cons? I've done a lot of things with transferable skills (40+ years of automotive work, and 30 of that on mostly Volvos--heads, clutches, brakes, suspension, etc.-- and have used an engine hoist to lift, move, and precisely place 1000+ lb. objects in construction, etc.) but have never actually removed and replaced an engine. It would be a first, but I'm pretty sure I can do it as I'm methodical and careful and organized. I've read through the Haynes manual and the procedure seems doable. Please talk me into / out of doing it myself.

What are good sources for an engine? I've heard they are plentiful, but I'm located in Idaho, where Volvos are something of a rare breed. My local wreckers have only a handful of P2 vehicles of any type in their inventory and none of them are XC70 of the right year What other vehicles are compatible? What should I expect to pay for an engine? What about all the compatibility issues with ECU, sensors and such? Will I need access to VIDA?

Again, thanks for your guidance and input. I'm feeling a bit over my head with all of this.

[vtl]

Any B5254T2 engine would work. It was used in S60, V70, S80 and XC90. No model year compatibility issue, no ECU coding required.

On top of other routine checks&updates, like PCV and t-belt, I would advise replacing the rear main seal and exhaust manifold gaskets/studs while the engine is out. It would save you days and days of painful labor when they end. Everything else is serviceable with the engine sitting in engine bay.

I started typing more things you could do with the engine out, but the list grew to the almost complete engine rebuild. So, just RMS and exhaust manifold gaskets/studs

Oh, you may also want to invest $300 into a good, quality rebuilt torque converter, while you have access to it. They wear and can trash otherwise good transmission very quickly.

[VolvoDJ]

How do horses drive in the rein? Are the Un- stable? They have seen on our Mane street , but not Herd.

Funny! And as a matter of fact, we see the occasional horse here on Main St. in our one-stoplight town. Still a few actual cowboys around, my neighbor being one of them.

[cn90]

EBay has some 2.5T engines with ~ 100K miles for $200 to $300 or so.

Of course, new Timing Belt kit, Cam seals x4
and RMS as mentioned...

[BlackBart]

Spalding in Spokane has a lot of cars, with engines checked, removed, on a dry shelf.
http://www.spaldings.com

I likely have less experience than you, but when I had an Audi engine fail in the middle of nowhere, I trucked it 500 miles home, bought a good used engine from Spalding, they shipped it for $50 to Missoula, and I put it in myself over the winter. I rebuilt or replaced everything not part of the long block - seals, hoses, plastic, oil pipes and pump, tensioners, turbo, water pump, TB, clutch, senders and sensors - the works. We've been driving it for years.

These MVS guys know the drill and would certainly talk you through it.

[VolvoDJ]

Wow. Thank you for all of the info. This community reminds me of Brickboard back in the day, which I was pretty active on 15+ years ago. All kidding aside, I think we Volvo people are a special group.

So...here's an update. Took the car to a reputable shop locally, and they confirmed the diagnosis of rod bearing. Got to know the shop owner, very nice guy, and I'd have him do the engine swap..if they did that work. They're so busy that they don't do big jobs like that any longer. He pointed me to a local shop that would do the work for $4.5k or so.

I was ready to head over there and start arranging for the swap but...on his bulletin board was a car for sale. A 2007 XC70 with 115k...for $8k. One owner car (literally a little old lady) and all the work had been done by this reputable shop. Shop owner showed me the service records, everything had been done on time, so I called the owner. It was still for sale, so went over and took a look and a drive. Nearly immaculate vehicle. Made a deal and bought it.

Now wife has a reliable vehicle again, and I have a project for the winter--an engine swap for the old wagon.

I'll be checking in as that progresses, and thank you all once again for your help!

[erikv11]

Nice resolution!

[abscate]

Buying another Volvo while you fix your other Volvo, who would have thunk?

Whenever I think the 35 hours I sank into the resurrection of “ the Kat” was crazy, I remind myself that it enables me to keep another lady on the road while I do a multiple weekend job on an engine rebuild , trans swap, clutch job, even brakes…each time saving me a $2000 repair bill.

[abscate]

It might be worth dropping the pan and just swapping in a new bearing shell? Maybe only 6 hours of labor.

You could isolate the cylinder by pulling coil wires

[vtl]

It might be worth dropping the pan and just swapping in a new bearing shell? Maybe only 6 hours of labor.

Cylinder head and valve cover lobes have some significant wear even w/o oil starvation. Running without oil wrecked both for sure.

Oil starved 5 cylinder is good maybe for weights or fancy glass coffee table, etc.