No oil on the dipstick
#1
No oil on the dipstick
If I let the car run, then pull out the dipstick, I see oil. If I wipe it clean, then re-insert the dipstick and remove it...no oil. I basically can't check my oil levels and I have no idea why. I thought I was really low on oil, but I learned that I wasn't through some trial and error. I just bought the car, and it's something I just noticed.
#3
#5
It's a 1990 740 gle wagon.
I check the oil when the engine is cold (been sitting for at least several hours).
Let me give you the full story. There is a small oil leak (hence my need to check constantly), but I assume I have 4 quarts in. Doesn't blue smoke mean I overfilled?
The dipstick looks just like the one in the manual.
I check the oil when the engine is cold (been sitting for at least several hours).
Let me give you the full story. There is a small oil leak (hence my need to check constantly), but I assume I have 4 quarts in. Doesn't blue smoke mean I overfilled?
The dipstick looks just like the one in the manual.
#9
I had a leaky rear main once due to it was a pricey fix and a difficult shade tree DIY. But I would drive the car back and forth from Miami to NYC with no ill effects (just don't park in friends nice clean driveways for very long). On the other hand, assuming the car has oil when the dipstick is dry can be fatal, even for a Volvo. I would start with an oil change to be dead certain four quarts doesn't register on the dipstick.
Last edited by soundmiami; 02-03-2009 at 02:55 PM. Reason: wtmi
#10
Blue smoke is an indication of burning oil -- oil getting past the piston rings and into the combustion chambers. Not a big deal, except for lousy compression and oil depletion. This is often a sign of a worn out engine. A ring job might fix it. However, an engine overhaul is often required because other parts are worn out. This is an expensive fix.
Normally, a Volvo will burn a quart of oil in 1,000 miles. One quart in 700 mi is barely acceptable.
Oil leaks are an indication of bad oil seals. Or it could be a plugged up crankcase ventilation system causing excessive crankcase pressure. The front three oil seals are no big deal to change. And the rear camshaft seal is simple. However, the rear main seal is an expensive fix because the tranny needs to be dropped.
Normally, a Volvo will burn a quart of oil in 1,000 miles. One quart in 700 mi is barely acceptable.
Oil leaks are an indication of bad oil seals. Or it could be a plugged up crankcase ventilation system causing excessive crankcase pressure. The front three oil seals are no big deal to change. And the rear camshaft seal is simple. However, the rear main seal is an expensive fix because the tranny needs to be dropped.
#13
#14
#15
Like they mentioned above, you should still do the oil change to make sure that it has 4 quarts.
#16
The book says 4.1 hrs labor for the rear main oil seal. Figure $100-$120 per hr labor at a Volvo dealer in Socal. My indy Volvo shop charges $90/hr. That's with the same 12-mo warranty.
Parts are pretty cheap. I think the seal itself is $23 from Volvo. The job calls for four new bolts but they're cheap. Four quarts of oil naturally.
Let us know how it goes.
Parts are pretty cheap. I think the seal itself is $23 from Volvo. The job calls for four new bolts but they're cheap. Four quarts of oil naturally.
Let us know how it goes.
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