Oil dipstick hard to read

Red Brick · Post by **Red Brick** » 17 Jan 2008, 13:09

Can I get some help finding a good site to order a new dipstick? It seems like mine is discolored and it is hard to read.

Is this common?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Jan 2008, 15:30

Common if you have moisture in your engine from condensation causing the dipstick to become rusty. Drive her hot and hard at least once a week and get rid of the moisture. You can find the dipstick on eBAy but Volvo changed them several times. I believe maybe there are 5 different ones and so if you change the dipstick, Volvo recommends you also buy the tube. This is a waste of money. Go to the dealer, pull your dipstick out and take it to their service department and ask them to match it....they'll bring out an array of dipsticks from different 850's and first few years of S/V70's. This is what I did after my dipstick handle broke off. I got a perfect match (but different part number that what I expected). Good luck!

Red Brick · Post by **Red Brick** » 18 Jan 2008, 09:31

Thanks, I'll head to a Volvo service department for a dipstick.

I have a hard time believing it could be moisture in the engine. I never run it that hard, but I never start it unless it is going to be driven enough to be fully warmed up. How should I run it hard? No matter what, it seems like my temp guage never moves. Maybe drive down the Freeway in 3rd gear for a while?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 18 Jan 2008, 15:38

Since this is for a '98 V70 (and I just realized you posted in the '01 and newer section) I'm moving the thread to the appropriate place on this forum.

Btw, if your temp. gauge never moves that's your problem. Your thermostat needs replacing. In the cold, the warmed up coolant really needs to flow past the thermostat which opens at a certain temperature....with a bad thermostat, this is not happening. Your temp. gauge in your instrument panel should be reading right at 3:00 when the car warms up and not move one bit from that spot.

To drive it hard, I'm talking about 60-80 MPH on the open road or interstate for several minutes. These cars need that at least once a week.

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 18 Jan 2008, 17:06

Red Brick wrote:Thanks, I'll head to a Volvo service department for a dipstick.

I have a hard time believing it could be moisture in the engine. I never run it that hard, but I never start it unless it is going to be driven enough to be fully warmed up. How should I run it hard? No matter what, it seems like my temp guage never moves. Maybe drive down the Freeway in 3rd gear for a while?

It's a little colder here, so I put my select button on 'S' and shift to L once the car is moving down the road. That keeps it in 2nd gear until you come to a full stop (car will then shift to 1st). You will be surprised to know that you can get arrested in most states for redlining it in 2nd gear, these cars are fast!
The oil cooler in the radiator is the problem, it keeps the oil too cold. Seldom will the oil get over 212F to cook the condensated water out, and in your wet climate???
Besides, running in 2nd is fun.
Klaus

greasefingerss · Post by **greasefingerss** » 18 Jan 2008, 19:00

Moisture or water is a by product of combustion. On every engine (even a new one) there is always a small amount of blow-by!! What will blow-by gases have in it

Red Brick · Post by **Red Brick** » 18 Jan 2008, 20:09

I just might try to clean it. Thanks.

On my temp, I didn't mean to say the guage never moves, it just never moves after it warms up. Maybe I need to hit that gas pedal a little harder every once in a while.

Post by **redbrick** » 19 Jan 2008, 06:41

MadeInJapan wrote:
Drive it hard, I'm talking about 60-80 MPH on the open road or interstate for several minutes. These cars need that at least once a week.

Let's see........would it be better to do say 90-110 MPH or so every other week?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Jan 2008, 06:52

I'm trying not to tell you to do something illegal, but yeah....suppose that would work too.