"P3 Fever"- Input requested

[Georgeandkira]

ME: Georgeandkira here. I've >20 years driving V70 base Volvos. I'm in a fine running 2007 with 142,000 miles.

SITUATION: With 7 years in my current V70, the P3 bug has bitten me. I've done a lot of reading I have driven 2014, 2015 and 2016 XC70 vehicles with the 3.2l NA AWD, 2.0l turbo FWD and 2.5l turbo AWD respectively. All were automatics.

I need input on any of the items mentioned as I'm weighing them all and they're all new to a P2 dinosaur.

PARTICULARS: Here's where it gets complicated, so, thanks in advance for reading.

1) I prefer FWD over AWD. The sophisticated "on demand" AWD system adds a communications node, hardware and necessitates a saddle fuel tank. Also, I can do without 4 tires having to match in circumference.

2) The 8 speed trannie / 2.0l engine is appealing to me. It's turbocharged so it's stronger than 167hp 5 pots I'm used to. The 2015 I drove felt great.
Are these turbocharged engines built well? They're Ford designed, as is the 3.2l, yes?

3) The 2014 3.2l was a non-turbo AWD. In the P2 days, no AWD was non-turbo. The 3.2l drinks >25% more fuel than my white engines. The accessories of the 3.2l are all packed together on the left side (I forget the 4-letter term Volvo uses). I'm sure the layout works just fine. It just seems too tightly arranged to be wholesome. And what is that weird cam-driven pump with the seal which wears out?
It'd seem to be a heavy engine.
Comments requested.

4) The elephant in the room are the "weak piston rings" Volvo used during this time. Obviously the shabby maintenance many subject their cars to is huge but in combination with weak rings, the results come sooner.

5) Options in a used car are secondary but I have developed an esthetic viewpoint regarding the screen built into the dashboard. In the low level cars the screen displays audio system selections. On higher trims the screen displays back-up camera. Given that so many cars have back-up displays, its absence in the 2015 is somewhat glaring.
FYI: If you have the "better screen", a back-up camera can be added by Volvo for ~$2,000. I asked. The 2015 I drove has the old, radio settings only, screen.

The nav on our cell phones is superior to what's in a 2015 Volvo dashboard so it's not missed. It does "look better", as above.
BTW: Is nav data loaded into these P3 Volvo vehicles by disc or download?

I'm grateful for the motorized screen and motorized key fob swallower being gone.

6) Is there a collective take on this era? Besides 'finding a good one', what's to look for? Are compression checks necessary?
Does 2014-2017 cover it? I'd love one of those "last Volvo station wagons".


7) CRYING: Here's where I whine.
There's a nice one in Tampa, FL. Worth the trip to look? Waaaa.

[BlackBart]

, the P3 bug has bitten me.

You should have that looked at.

Kidding. But I think Neil from Calgary (Scott850) has received some mechanic's opinions on P3’s.
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=27415

I did some reading some time ago that led me to believe the 3.0 six is superior to the 3.2 six.

In the long run, I think the turbo fours might be the better bet. A more modern engine, more current, more efficient.

[Georgeandkira]

Thanks for that. I just finished the video about the READ unit.
Even though we all know maintenance is key to any machinery, the complexity of the READ unit and its vulnerability makes it completely unacceptable. There is negligible benefit to this fragile gearbox which should never have been dreamt up.

[pgill]

............................................................
3) The 2014 3.2l was a non-turbo AWD. In the P2 days, no AWD was non-turbo. The 3.2l drinks >25% more fuel than my white engines. The accessories of the 3.2l are all packed together on the left side (I forget the 4-letter term Volvo uses)........................................................

4) The elephant in the room are the "weak piston rings" Volvo used during this time. Obviously the shabby maintenance many subject their cars to is huge but in combination with weak rings, the results come sooner.............................

Let me address some of your concerns.

3) 3.2 and poor fuel economy. It depends, do you set the cruise control to the speed limit? Or Are you driving at 75+ MPH.

FREE2 READERS,

The results are in and they are amazing

Note: this is with the cruise control set to about 100 KPH

My LR2 went almost 300 miles

26.9 MPG. American

32.3 MPG. Back home in the UK with a proper sized gallon

8.74 L/100 KM. Using units that only make sense for Soda over here

And this was done with a well used engine

For reference: my 2008 LR2 is rated for 22 MPG highway and a XC70 3.2 is rated for 25 MPG.

The LR2 is also a P3 and it uses the same engine but it didn't have the oil burning problem because it kept the old piston rings and it didn't get upgraded to the low tension piston rings.

https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic35826.html

4) Volvo changed the piston ring design in 2013 and I believe that they got back to where they were in 2008. Because you are looking at newer XC70's you should be fine.

Take a look at my thread for my S80 3.2 it explains everything that I did

viewtopic.php?t=87687

The first picture in that thread shows a leaking Vacuum pump.

Easy to fix......yes.....but I wouldn't buy a 3.2 with a leaking pump.........it indicates poor maintenance.........my LR2 always gets synthetic oil every 6 months and its never been rebuilt...........and I am approaching 150K miles.

Also I would get a cheap AC thermometer for the vent and confirm that the AC blows cold.

Good luck

Paul


PS The Volvo term that you asked about is R.E.A.D. (Rear End Ancillary Drive). I wouldn't worry about it for a 3.2 that has been well maintained................see above Vacuum pump leak

[Georgeandkira]

6 May 2024
I have just read your response....10 days late.
Thanks for being descriptive. The news of Volvo returning to regular piston rings is comforting.

If I pull the trigger on the 2015, I'll let the world know (ha-ha).
Cheers, George

[abscate]

Did you guys move out of NJ up North ?

I just moved down to NY to be closer ….

[scot850]

Do some research on the 4 cylinder motor reliability. All is not good in that world as I have heard from my Volvo 'friends'. Even the 5 cylinder is different to the earlier P2 engines and is not as good.

Neil.

[Georgeandkira]

Yes, scot850. A Volvo tech told me Volvo was even paying for piston replacements in the 2.0l 4 cyl. and that the reintroduced (resurrected) 5 cylinder engine was built with the weak rings. It was good to hear the truth from several sources. Too bad.
It's a crying shame when foolish ideas are forwarded.

To abscate: Excuse my disarray. We've been renovating. While I do spend time "upstate", we're still in No. NJ.
To complicate things, I've just had my prostate aquablated. Look it up if you don't know what I'm referring to. The procedure is still relatively new here and might be of interest to guys 'our age'.

Also, the 'Tux" has passed on and we have the very best Shiba Inu. You must meet him some day.

I think I can let go of my "P3 urge" now.

[abscate]

I will miss the Tux...what a great beast he was.

[AVOIT17]

I have experience and know well P3's, and have owned three XC70 P3 - as well as a P2 (xc90) with the 3.2L engine.

In my opinion - you should take seriously the Piston-Ring issue and make sure to not buy a model with this issue.

I would also seriously consider the models with 3.0 Turbo engine. This engine and the 3.2 are almost identical and both are great engines.

The 3.0 Turbo engine was NEVER fitted with the problematic Piston-Rings.

The 3.2 was fitted with the problematic Piston-Rings from 2009 to 2011. So a 2012 and newer 3.2l engine will have good rings.

You speak of the 2.0l 4 cyl. engines. Unless it is a 2018 or newer I would stay away from a car with these engines - they have a lot of serious issues prior to that year. See this video giving details on this:


Yes the 2 Liters are as powerful as the earlier 6 cylinders engines BUT these have to work 'harder' to produce the same output. In my opinion these smaller engines will not have the long life/longivity of the 3.2 and 3.0T engines.


Related links:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/the-defini ... si6-engine