My daughter skidded on the highway and hot drivers side into guardrail and skidded back to breakdown lane. complete stop. Immediately anti skid light came on. Body damage was fairly extensive(over $5000.) on a 2004 with over 156,000 mile on it. Insurance company fixed car but never addressed alignment and anti skid message. Car has been very well maintained; never a problem. I pick it up and now oil pressure light. Tow car, now to Volvo dealer and they say it needs an engine for sludge build up. How can this be a coincidence?

 

Sludge is built up in the engine over time due to oil changes being too infrequent and/or using a poor quality oil and would have nothing to do with the accident. Alignment and anti-skid message could absolutely be directly related (and most likely are) to the accident and should be pursued as such.

 

I am getting varying opinions on this, too. Mechanic said he has seen the issue before with front end collision due to movement and impact on engine. Oil was changed frequently with high quality synthetic oil. Never ever had a light on in the car before the accident.
Just can not understand.

 

So how exactly did they determine sludge? Did they pull valve cover, oil pan, etc.? Are they sure it is not just an oil pump failure?

 

That is the confusing part. We did not have any problems, well maintained. Car in shop for body work for 34 days. Low oil pressure light cam on right when I drove away. Did not drive the car at all. Had it towed from that point on. No engine noise, no warning.. nothing at all.

 

I understand, but how did they determine sludge? Have they seen the inside of the engine? It might be worth a 2nd opinion from an independent Volvo specialist.

 

i'm kind of surprised it wasn't totaled given year, damage and mileage. if it is sludge that takes years to build up to where it causes issues. alignment could certainly be related, even hitting a curb can do that. antiskid uses sensors on wheels and elsewhere so those could have been affected by major accident.

 

I am really surprised it wasn't totaled as well. The engine work was not reviewed or taken into consideration at all, it seems; even alignment and anti skid. I am trying to figure out other causes for sudden oil build up. I only know that the car was well maintained, good oil, on time and never a mention of any build up. Never a check engine light before accident. It is very frustrating. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

Be aware of Volvo dealers. It's a too often times seen scenario here on forums.

As for the sludge, the only thing I see, if there was sludge it moved from the impact and clogged the pick up pipe inside the oil pan. No idea if it's realistic. You can ask a garage to drain the oil, and check with a screw driver by the drain hole see if it's sludge in the oil.

Otherwise you need to be looking for other cause, I'd have the car towed (as far away possible from the Volvo dealer) to an independent garage to have it checked.

As for the sludge, it doesn't matter the oil change interval or the synthetic oil. All vehicles that have often times seen short driving distances will develop sludge in the oil pan.