Simply asking, is it a good idea?

After 3 years of check engine lights and resolutions costing a few thousand bucks, the most recent change was to replace a bad ignition coil (repeated misfire codes, they narrowed it down to that coil after flip-flopping coils on the cylinders. Compression tests had indicated no problems)--after a week the light came on again. They said it was a clogged oil port and cleaned it out...engine ran more smoothly than it has in years and even does so now.

But the light came on again, a week later, indicating low oil pressure. Mechanic said it is probably a clogged screen-he's seen it many times on S40s-and wants to flush the engine 2 or 3 times. I've never done it before on this car.

I have been using synthetic oil for about 4 years now.

So then, I am wary of doing this based on the potential negative consequences of solid sludge particulates that may not be removed and/or removing the "lubricating" effect of very fine particles resulting from engine wear, thus destroying the engine

I probably sound either unnecessarily worried--or just plain stupid!

Thanks so much for reading this

 

Hi and welcome to the site...

How will this flush be preformed? There should NOT be any sludge in the system, if so, the filter should catch it. Not 100% sure about the concern. Do you have a low oil pressure light? If so, you may need a new oil pump.

 

Or a mechanic putting a kid through college. Apologies to honest mechanics....

 

thanks rspi, glad to be here....my apologies first of all. It was the check engine light that came on after cleaning out the oil port. Mechanic said the diagnostic code had something to do with the oil pressure (I did not specifically ask or look this time), he said just bring it back for the flush. for the record, this shop in my opinion has done good service over the years and has not ripped me off. I could have easily spent way more on service in many other places.

I am taking it in tomorrow and asking, like you said, how it will be done. Is it usually done with a solvent? I've read that it can cause problems with seals and create oil leaks. And also I am worried about dissolved or sticky gunk lifted off the internal surfaces that is not entirely removed. Is this a cause for concern?

 

...and I have a long way to go before I earn the right to be called Volvo enthusiast from what I see. For starters I have to get my second one at some point. That little 1.9T S40 of mine otherwise has never left me stranded. I do have an uncle who has had three of them and an uncle overseas who had one from 1962 through the 90s, needless to say 1M+ miles on it.

 

When I bought my '05 V50 used it was pretty sludgy. The dealer did an oil change and the oil immediately looked dirty. I ran Seafoam in the crank case for 1K miles before doing an oil change. I repeated this for 3 oil changes and saw great improvement in performance and in the oil.

In your case I would be cautious driving if you have low oil pressure. You do have a turbo and they need good oil flow. Perhaps your mechanic can connect an oil pressure gauge to verify the oil pressure. You could have a bad sensor.
Stan

 

+1 on the turbo oil flow situation. Don't put your foot in it until you get the oil pressure stuff figured out. Keep it under 3,000 rpm's.

Just read your initial thread again. Not sure why you would need a flush. Maybe run some seafoam in it for about 100 miles and change oil but if you have low oil pressure, you may have an oil pump going out somehow. Not really sure. You may want to send TECH a pm to ask him to review this thread.

 

thanks guys, noted and I will check back