Being a first-time Volvo owner I just changed the oil and filter in my "new-to-me" 1995 960 wagon. My owner's manual called for 5.9 U.S. quarts of oil (with oil filter). I put in about 5.5 qts and ran the engine up to operating temperature, then let it rest for a while.

When I checked the oil level I got absolutely NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. This was very disconcerting. I was immediately under the car looking for some nonexistent leak. Everything under the car was good.

I emptied the last of the remaining half-quart of oil, to bring the total to 6 full quarts. Ran the engine. Let it sit. Now I got just the very tip of the dipstick showing any oil. It was super-clean and hard to see, but I swear the oil only came up to the "low" indicator level and no farther.

I'm thinking: "Did those jerks at Mobil 1 cheat me by not filling up these oil bottles full enough?" I poured six bottles of Mobil 1 0w40 into the motor, assuming they were full, as they were previously unopened bottles of fresh new oil.

Then I'm thinking: "Is this even the OEM dipstick?" Mine is a long round wire with a flat end with a number stamped into the flat part where the oil level should read. The handle is a round and red ring, about the diameter of a silver dollar, with the word Engine in raised letters.

Then I'm thinking: "I don't want to blow any seals . . . I don't want to add anymore oil . . . "

Then I am thinking: "Did I read a post earlier this year where some guys were mentioning that it takes a very long time for the oil to drain back into the pan on a 960? Like longer than 15 minutes. Which seems strange to me . . . "

Anyway, I plan on driving this car loaded with family and all our "stuff" to South Carolina this week for a visit with relatives. About 2000 miles roundtrip.

Do I have any cause for alarm? Anybody with a 960 have any similar scenario?

I might also add that I was quite pleased with the Volvo's arrangement with the oil filter. Aside from the mystery dipstick, everything went quickly and tidily. Unlike my stepdaughter's Saturn. With that car the oil filter is located in a place where dirty oil gets all over everything . . . running down onto the drivetrain and making a huge mess. Yay Volvo!

kkoch
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'95 960 Wagon 90K,'98 Subaru Outback Sport Wagon 85K, '94 Toyota Pickup 2WD 49K

Had this problem also on a 94 940 turbo. Used a coarse plastic brillo type pad (not steel wool) and cleaned the area where the oil normally should be. Once cleaned this made a significant difference in determining oil level

I wish I had that problem at 3,000 miles.
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83 242 DL -127k, 92-965-189k, 94-965-200k, 83-242 GLT-Gone, but not forgotten,83-245GLT-1'st one (the 1'st 3 currently on the road)

I had the exact same problem..a visit to the optometrist improved readings :)

Yes, it is hard to read with very clean oil. I have to hold the dip stick up toward the sky to see if I can see a reflection on the oil. This usually works.

Hello trk8, you can use a scotch bright pad and remove the gunk and get the stick nice and clean. Then you can paint some yellow on the end, let it dry in the oven at 125 degrees for about 15 min. and your good to go. The new oil will show up just fine.

thank you for the replies. the crankcase has a sufficient amount of oil, the dipstick itself is just hard for me to read with new oil. once the oil has over 1000mi it gets easier though as the oil gets darker. it could just be the light conditions i sometimes try to view the level in. i will get a wire brush attachment for my dremel and see if that helps.

What? Get another dipstick? No way! They are perfect the way they are. Just wipe it off real good, dip it, in and get a reading. (Maybe the secret is in the wipe.)
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Tom F Back to three 940s. Mods, RainX. Lien holder on two more (the kid's). Rust in pieces, '78 245

Dear trk8,

Good p.m. and may this find you well. Here's how to improve readability. If the engine was run with dirty oil, the dipstick tip may be black, almost as if it were painted.

That black (carbon) coating can be removed. If you have a bench grinder with a wire brush (or a hand held drill, into the chuck of which a wire brush on an arbor [shaft] can be put), you can gently wire brush the dipstick tip, to remove the carbon. Do not use the abrasive (blue or green grit) wheel to polish the dipstick end, only the wire brush.

Once you have gotten down to bare metal (it will be silvery), you should find that you can read the oil level easily.

At the risk of trespassing on your goodness, might I point out that even with a dirty dipstick tip, you should be able to see the oil level. Are you 100% sure that there is enough oil in the oil pan, to register on the dipstick??

If the dipstick tip is not wet with oil - and you can know this by applying a paper towel to it - add oil at once! If the oil level does not reach the bottom of the dipstick, you are at least two quarts low, in a system that holds 4 1/1 quarts. This shortage must be seen to at ONCE!!!

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

spook