Need some help ! I am on my 9th Volvo, my present one being a 1996 850. This is my first front wheel drive model and also a car that has a service issue that cannot be answered by two very good small European repair shops.Both have been in the car repair business for over 30 years and one only works on Volvos.
If anyone can advise that would be great. Hear goes...
Oil Change number one, miles traveled 4000K, down 5 quarts of oil, block, filter, pan, valve cover and driveway dry as a bone, no smoke out exhaust
Oil Change number two, miles traveled 4500K, no oil lost
Oil Change number three, miles traveled 3000K, 4 quarts down,no leaks as #1
Oil Change number four, miles traveled 3000K, no oil lost
Car has been serviced at the same quality shop, not the national chains
Car has 148,000 highway miles, 5 speed manual shift and is well cared for.
Car runs great, compression has been checked 3 times in the last year,excellent
Our older 240/740 Volvos eventually leaked a small amount of oil after many years but this is excessive and inconsistent, very frustrating.
Thanks

Car runs great and no oil lost the last few changes - sounds like the previous problem could have been innacurate reading of the dipstick or not all of the oil was drained properly.

I often have to allow a couple of hours to get all the oil out sometimes it just flows and sometimes it seems sticky when I drain just depends on what was in there.

I recommend a full flush and overnight drain of the oil.
Matt 1993 850 GLT

PS where in Europe are you??

Well...

You have to either have a leak, or it is leaving you out the tailpipe. There is no other way. A compression check doesn't lend you any assurance in the way of a broken or compromised oil ring on one or more of the pistons. Remember you have compression rings and oil rings. Nor does it promise you that you have great valve stem seals. The first thing I would check is the ventilation system...all the way down to the actual box. If all the oil seals are strong the crank case pressure is gonna make it's way out somewhere...

On your next oil change put some dye in with the oil. If you have a sneaky leak, while the oil may burn off, the flourescent residue will remain.

Next, have your shop perform a cylinder leak down test. I'd be all for suspecting something to be out of sorts in the head if the ventilation system is fine and no leaks have been found. Wonder if a lifter or two could occasionally hang up and keep a valve from seating properly on occasion allowing a seal to leak...it's a stretch, but...I know that my valve stem seals leak...more in the winter because they contract allowing the oil to slip by...less in the summer because they expand...been doing that for years...loose half a quart between oil changes in the winter, almost nothing in the summer.

Let us know,

Chris

If you were driving the car 5 quarts down I'm a little surprized the engine didn't seize.

-Punx

You were down 5 qts and the oil light did not come on? Strange, when it only holds 6 qts to start with. I would have guessed that there would have been a lot of clattering going on.

I recently questioned my mechanics about an oil sensor. My 850 is using a bit of oil (140,000+ miles) and I told them that I wouldn't worry about the consumption unless a "light" came-on. They told me that the early 850's (93, 94) had two. But mine, a '95 only has one. I was told that I wouldn't get a light unless it was below one-quart or if the oil pump was sucking air and not oil.

Apparently, because the 850 has better handling and cornering capabilities than other Volvos, alot of owners complained that the oil light always seemed to flicker or stay-on. Volvo knew that it was because of extra-hard cornering from consumers (even though most denied it) and it caused a major headache because of complaints. So on '95 and after models they (Volvo) got rid of the upper sensor.

That's what I know from my mechanics.

dpsc