I just purchased a used 2003 XC70 with 2.5L T5 engine 175k miles. The thing ran like a champ!...for a week. Then driving on level ground, cruise control, at 55 mph, there was an engine shudder, then rod knock. I'm going to get into the oil pan tomorrow and inspect the damage but my question: why would this happen? Oil is still at the full mark on dipstick. No oil pressure warnings. No problems from ECU.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

Dropped the oil pan. Two bad bearings. No crank damage. No sludge. Gasket to pick-up tube seems okay. The usual suspects out of the way, any other ideas?

 

PO ran it out of oil, topped it off, sold it to you.

 

I had never considered that. There could have been previous minor damage the just fatigued. It does have an oil leak from the turbo seal; the inside of my charge tube is coated and oil emanates from the hose clamped connections. If, in fact, previous damage was the cause, there should be an "S" tacked onto the end of "PO"!

 

Rolled in some new bearings and the thing purrs like a kitten. I do remember that when it was first started there was a faint noise similar to rod knock. Having never had a Volvo (let alone a car with a turbo) I just thought it was just the normal sound of the engine starting. I realize now, it was a damaged bearing that was just out of clearance and knocked until the oil pump built up enough of a film to stop the noise. I guess it just fatigued on me. Who knows how long the thing had been running like that. Well, everyone says these inline 5's are indestructible, I'm a believer!