My 2015 XC70 T5 wagon has been trouble-free ever since I bought it but about 3 weeks ago I started to get a Low Oil warning. Adding oil sometimes satisfies it, but the warning keeps coming back on after 50-100 miles. Over this past 3 weeks I have added three qts of oil, and the system is still hungry for more. Dealer is mystified, wants to run a $700 Oil Consumption Test.

My garage floor is spotless and I see no smoke of any color so where's the oil going?

Thanks for any hints you might come up with.

Geoff

 

Volvo was putting pistons rings in a certain model 5 cylinders for oil usage under warranty - does your engine fit in that time frame?

 

I'd think that consuming 3 quarts in 100 miles would produce some smoke. Any other symptoms ie check engine light, sluggishness, rough idle? Oil's gotta be going somewhere and you're talking quarts in a few hundred miles - so I'm not sure why the dealer is mystified...

Did they explain what they are going to do in an "oil consumption test"? I'd expect a) compression/leak down test to check for rings b) look for oil/HCs in the coolant to check the headgasket (compression test may give clues here as well) c) oil in the exhaust (turbo seals) d) remove shrouds to look for leaks e) check color of plugs for fouling. f) inspect intake/MAF/ PCV oil separator.

Finally, have them measure the oil coming out of the pan. I'm assuming you don't have a dipstick, so it may be possible the oil level sensor is off and you've already overfilled the crankcase.

 

Any idea how I can find out about that program to see if I'm covered? Call Volvo USA? I was gonna do that tomorrow anyway.

Geoff

 

You need piston rings.

 

Something about filling the oil, then driving until the light comes on, then weighing the remaining oil. Not nearly as scientific as what you suggested. I'm reluctant...

Geoff