I have a 1990 740GL@225k - just changed the oil from dino to amsoil 5w40 sythetic euro, motor mounts (pan was on the chassis/rubber block and car is getting quiter. Still a lot of vibrations - maybe sparkplugs/wires needed.

Question is the ticking - have not had time to steth it to see where noise is from - made a video - posted here
http://gallery.me.com/mochabomb#100000 - what do you think - how is the motor doing?

What would you fix/panic about?

Thanks

 

One thing I've learned...vid cams don't pick up engine noise the way it is in real life! I don't really hear anything of a panic nature; sounds like I hear piston slap and upper valve train noise, probably from worn/non-existent valve hushers. So, did you have the valve train noise before you went w/ the new oil? Conventional wisdom generally dictates not running lower viscosity oil than for which a motor was designed. The clearances of a 20 year old Volvo motor are not the same as a relatively new motor w/ less miles. It's your call, of course.

 

Thanks for watching the vid - what would you change the oil to - 15w40 rotella? 10w40 dino? I read up on the piston slap - got me concerned - looking to get 50k miles from this car - or more - will the piston slap do the motor in - or use thicker oil and enjoy the ride? Thanks

 

Piston slap is a gradual thing. The worst offenders are the 85-90 B230's. These are the weakest of the "low friction" motors. I won't bore you w/ details except to say that in the quest for improved gas mileage, Volvo reduced the dimensions of the piston rods from 13mm to 9mm, moved the location of the thrust bearing and...whereas the B23 had crank guided pistons the B230 went to cylinder guided. Great until the bore wears.
Asking someone about motor oil is as volatile a subject as bragging on a Camaro on a Mustang forum. Everyone has an opinion. Personally, being in the Bay area and thus moderately temperate, I'd use a 20W-50. I only use synthetic oil in turbo cars (again, just my preference). I've lived in the southern tier of the US the majority of my life and run Castrol GTX 20W-50 literally for decades now. If the slap gets louder in the summer, you can easily run single vis 30W w/ no issue. Here in Texas, I run 30W Valvoline Racing oil in my V8 year round, 20W-50 Castrol in the 140 and 10W-40 Mobil 1 in the turbo.

 

Also I forgot to answer the noise question - the engine mounts were shot - oil pan on the frame, and exhaust pipe bent and hitting the rear under-bumper plastic - car rattled and vibrated so much did not hear the motor until after the mounts changed out - then noticed the ticking noise more.

RE the details - I had the idea 1990 B230F had the larger 13mm rods.. Else I like the details. If the piston slap is an issue - will change out the oil to the 20w50 soon and enjoy the silence. Also need to do the valves..

Then keep fixing the car up - its a great machine and really enjoy their simplicity.

Thanks again!!

 

My understanding is 90 was a crossover year whereas all were 13mm by 91; I know my 90 740 had pretty noisy piston slap at 125k and 9mm rods...I fixed it...

 

Nice Fix

Quite the upgrade - Mustang Cobra engine?

 

Not technically. It began life in a 90 LX as a 5.0 HO.And then, I got carried away...on the up side, my piston slap is gone! There is a write up here...
https://volvoforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40947