Hi all --

First time on the forum, so wanted to say I'm grateful for all the knowledge and expertise to be found here.

I drive a 2004 V70 AWD 2.5T with about 125,000 miles on it. Here's my problem:

The other day, I was driving a winding country road. Every time I hit a sharp turn, my oil pressure light would come on. When I straightened out, it went out and was fine until the next sharp turn.

The first gas station I hit, I checked the oil. Not registering on the dip stick at all (last oil change was several months ago, though don't know why it was dry vs dirty).

Anyway, I put a few quarts in and headed for home. No more oil pressure light, no overheating, nothing. Car was running as normal (though in my paranoid mind it might have seemed a little sluggish).

To be sure, I stopped on the way back home (about a 3 hr drive) to get the oil + filter changed, to be safe (just used a Minit Lube type place). The kid (like 19 yrs old) said I had a "main gasket" leak that would need to be fixed.

I assumed he meant a head gasket, but that didn't make sense to me, because:

A. The coolant is perfectly clear (no oil contamination)
B. The coolant is not leaking (has been at or near the full line since I last filled it, several months ago)
C. The oil was not milky or sludgy, but dry

Then I remembered: About 10 days ago, I started the car in the morning and it produced a ton of white smoke. This went on for a couple of minutes, then went away and has never come back since. Like I said -- no overheating, no coolant loss, no coolant contaimination, car running completely as normal.

Any idea what the heck is going on with this thing?

Thanks in advance to everyone.

 

He might have meant valve cover gasket. That gasket is higher up on the engine and probably visible from above if you take off the plastic covers. Have a good look all the way around the engine block and you may find that you see the leak. Doesn't sound like you had any symptoms Thus far that lead to a head gasket issue.do yourself a favour though and get the car up on ramps or drive it up on the sidewalk and have a good look underneath. If you see a major traces of oil anywhere best to get to a real mechanic for a looksee