Extreme blow-by - No sludge in Oil Pan - 2007 XC70

[cmayo1]

All of this info is great. I'm not trying to push this thing over it's limits, I'm just trying to get into something that doesn't require mid grade for my commute to work. I'll do as much as I can before winter. I should probably run a carfax on this thing in case any of these suggestions have already been done.

I didn't think of the thermostat while doing this either. I'm glad it's something that can be taken care of while doing the PCV, even if it does require extra tools.

The timing belt is a good shout. I did notice that it wasnt the tightest thing on the car; it easily slides around. Probably due for a replacement.

Thanks all! This forum is the exact reason why I wanted one of these cars again. Information is power!

[cn90]

Once the tstat is out, the notorious I.M. bolt is easy.

Tstat: Wahler is $90-$100, Facet (made in Italy) is ~ $50.
Look on ebay for NOS (New Old Stock).

PS: I have a few tstats with 80K lying around (just pre-emptive replacement, otherwise still good).

[firstv70volvo]

Thanks, Erik. The glove tests does exactly what you expect: blows it up like a balloon. There was no sludge in the drain hole whatsoever. I have the kit for the PCV, so I'll probably just end up tackling that.

Because the glove blows up like a ballon and I'm assuming this is while the engine is just idling there is a small tube that's likely crack or plugged up, the hose or banjo bolt fitting can be plugged up, It's a small diameter hard vacuum hose going from the intake manifold to the main PCV hose, shown in red, usuall covered in foam insulator. At idle and non-boost conditions the intake manifold vacuum through this hose should keep the crankcase under a slight vacuum. At higher rpms and boost condition the vacuum is produced in the main larger hose near the turbo, the yellow hose near the #12 clamp.

PCVHoses.jpg (123.58 KiB) Viewed 420 times

This is the hose here and can be ordered separately. The hose needs to be a hard plastic type since is a vacuum hose and I think the inner diameter is important to limit any pressure flow back to the intake manifold. This hose gets hard and brittle over time and cracks easily.

30731007.jpg (4.51 KiB) Viewed 420 times

[BlackBart]

Sorry to go off-topic - did you find that graphic or add the colors yourself?

[cmayo1]

It's a small diameter hard vacuum hose going from the intake manifold to the main PCV hose, shown in red, usuall covered in foam insulator.

Is there really no easy way to access the PCV elements without removing the intake? I've been under that car, and there really isn't any way to get in there, but, man, for something that could just be unclogged with a pick or some sort of solution, i wish there was an easier way to do it rather than a 1-2 day project, if I'm lucky.

I've seen that part before and was hoping not to have to order it. I bought the FCP euro kit without the cooling assembly because i knew I didn't *need* it, but I'll probably just order that part separately.

Thanks!

[cn90]

IIRC,

Some ppl here:
- Remove serp belt (5 min with apropriate Torx and serp belt tool)
- Move the PS Pump sideways (no need to d/c the hoses)
- Remove the alternator or just let it drop down w/o removing it from the engine (of course d/c the battery ground cable first).

Now you have access to that famous banjo bolt and the oil trap.

[firstv70volvo]

Sorry to go off-topic - did you find that graphic or add the colors yourself?

Saved it from some place long ago. If I could I'd change the color of the water line that heats the main PCV hose, both are currently yellow.

[firstv70volvo]

It's a small diameter hard vacuum hose going from the intake manifold to the main PCV hose, shown in red, usuall covered in foam insulator.

Is there really no easy way to access the PCV elements without removing the intake? I've been under that car, and there really isn't any way to get in there, but, man, for something that could just be unclogged with a pick or some sort of solution, i wish there was an easier way to do it rather than a 1-2 day project, if I'm lucky.

I've seen that part before and was hoping not to have to order it. I bought the FCP euro kit without the cooling assembly because i knew I didn't *need* it, but I'll probably just order that part separately.

Thanks!

To replace the PCV box and hoses it's necessary to remove the intake manifold. Where I wasted a lot of time was trying to get the banjo bolt started in the intake manifold (underside) without removing the PS pump and moving the alternator like CN90 mentions. I spent more than a couple of hours trying to get the banjo bolt threaded in under the manifold. Did it in under 15 seconds after PS pump and alternator were moved out of the way.
See CN90 post and I'll just add I removed the turbo to intercooler pipe over the engine and the fan shroud assembly to get to the lower alternator bolts and better access to the to the throttle body intake pipe clamp.