Description of Anti-Drain Valve Problem
The black rubber disc is what holds the oil in the housing when the engine is turned off. The benefit of holding oil in this position means it’s immediately available to lubricate the engine internals when you start it up next time, otherwise the oil has to come up from the lowest parts of the engine — which takes time. This little rubber disc valve degrades over time like anything on your Volvo, and ultimately fails. If your black rubber disc is missing or damaged then it is time to fix it.
How to test for a faulty anti-drain valve
pbierre » DIPSTICK TEST (Engine running vs. 3-min. off)
- For these Ford-Volvo engines with the oil filter accessed from up top, you can tell whether the oil filter housing’s anti-drain-back valve is working by comparing the dipstick level 3 minutes apart:
- Park on a level surface with engine running. Observe the dipstick. About 350ml of oil is circulating thru the channels lubricating and cooling the engine. Remember the dipstick level.
- Shut off engine, and wait 3 min. for drain-back of oil to happen. Do your 2nd dipstick check.
NORMAL: The level should be about 1/4″ (6mm) above the first reading.
FAULTY OR MISSING ANTI-DRAIN-BACK VALVE: The level will be up 3/4″ (18mm), 3X higher than in the NORMAL case. The 700 ml of oil that’s supposed to be retained in the filter housing for a well-lubed engine startup has drained back down into the pan.
NOTE: This explains why the correct oil fill level should be based on engine running (and warmed up). If your anti-drain-back valve has failed, the level will “look good” with the engine off, but will actually be 700 ml low with the engine running.
How and when to fix the valve
richiefky » I am unclear, what is the fix? Does this require a whole new filter housing? Or can the spring and rubber seal/valve be purchased separately? Part #’s?
pgill » That is a great question. I had to buy a whole new housing. (In fact I bought 2, one for each of my 3.2’s) I couldn’t find a source for the spring with the rubber disc.
Note: there are two different housing one with an external oil line and one without (the oil is only routed internally)
What I don’t know is if the New (oil routed internally) assembly can be used in place of the Old (external oil line)
My 2010 S80 3.2 has the New style and I just replaced the entire assembly
My 2008 LR2 3.2 has the Old style and I bought a New style housing and only swapped the spring with rubber disc.
Swapping the spring an rubber disc only is a bit difficult but it can be done.
Oil anti-drain valve in Volvo P3 modelsWhat Volvos Have This Valve?
From Wikipedia, keep in mind these model years are generally a year earlier than North America years:
B6304T2
- 2008–2010 Volvo S80 II badged as S80 T6 or S80 T6 AWD
- 2008–2010 Volvo S80L badged as S80L T6 or S80L T6 AWD
- 2008–2010 Volvo V70 III badged as V70 T6 or V70 T6 AWD
- 2009–2010 Volvo XC70 II badged as XC70 T6 or XC70 T6 AWD
- 2009–2010 Volvo XC60 badged as XC60 T6 or XC60 T6 AWD
B6304T4
- 2011–2015 Volvo S80 II badged as S80 T6 or S80 T6 AWD
- 2011–2015 Volvo V70 III badged as V70 T6 or V70 T6 AWD
- 2011–2015 Volvo XC70 II badged as XC70 T6 or XC70 T6 AWD
- 2011–2016 Volvo XC60 badged as XC60 T6 or XC60 T6 AWD
- 2011–2015 Volvo S60 II badged as S60 T6 or S60 T6 AWD
- 2011–2018 Volvo V60 badged as V60 T6 or V60 T6 AWD
B6304T5
- 2014–2016 Volvo S60 II badged as S60 Polestar
- 2015–2016 Volvo V60 badged as V60 Polestar
B6324S
- 2007–2010 Volvo XC90 badged as XC90 3.2
- 2007–2010 Volvo S80 II badged as S80 3.2 or S80 3.2 AWD
- 2008–2010 Volvo V70 III badged as V70 3.2 or V70 3.2 AWD
- 2008–2010 Volvo XC70 II badged as XC70 3.2
- 2010 Volvo XC60 badged as XC60 3.2 AWD
B6324S2
- 2010 Volvo S80 II badged as S80 3.2
- 2010 Volvo XC70 II badged as XC70 3.2
- 2010 Volvo XC60 badged as XC60 3.2
B6324S4
- 2011–2014 Volvo S80 II badged as S80 3.2
- –2014 Volvo XC70 II badged as XC70 3.2
- –2014 Volvo XC60 badged as XC60 3.2
B6324S5
- 2011–2014 Volvo XC90 badged as XC90 3.2
- 2011–2014 Volvo S80 II badged as S80 3.2
- 2011–2014 Volvo V70 III badged as V70 3.2
- 2011–2015 Volvo XC70 II badged as XC70 3.2
- 2011–2014 Volvo XC60 badged as XC60 3.2
