We have an 2008 XC90 3.2 engine which we bought used and I do our own oil changes. No owners manual was with the car, but it seems that the oil capacity, with a new filter is 7.5 quarts.

The engine takes 10 quarts to fill to the full mark using the dip stick which came with the car. 7.5 quarts does not even show on the stick.

The dipstick measures 19 5/8" from the tip to the top of the tube (not counting the handle).

Can someone measure their dipstick and confirm the correct length. We do not have a Volvo dealer near us.

Thanks,
Larry

 

Are you checking it properly? Warm it up then shut it off and let it sit 15 minutes

 

yeah that engien takes 8-8/5 quarts with a new filter so i dont think you are measuring right.

 

I checked the oil level sitting on level ground after running it for several minutes. I have changed the oil several times and checked the level many times between changes, always with the same readings.

If I do have the wrong dipstick, I am glad it has not blown out any seals.

For a 3.2L engine is 7.5 quarts is with a new filter, I assume?

I need to confirm that the dipstick is correct.

 

None of the I6 motors take 8.5 quarts.

7.81, 8.14 or 7.18 I remember correctly.

The 08 is 7.81.

07s were 8.14

Starting in 2011, it was 7.18 quarts

 

you are massively overfilling it and the oil is probably foaming like crazy from the overfill. are you measuring the oil warm, like after driving at highway speeds for 15-20 minutes? that's what you should be doing.

 

I think you are right. I also believe I am overfilling. I have not noticed any foaming or other problems, but the level is measured when hot, cold, and always the same.

I really need someone with a 3.2 engine to measure their dipstick for me. I know this sounds nuts, but I think someone swapped out the dipstick for a wrong length one.

 

Sorry, didn't get a chance to measure one at work.

It would have to be a 2008-2010.

Whats the part number on yours? It should be imprinted on it

 

The part number on the dipstick is 31251037. I called the Volvo dealer, gave him the VIN and he said it is the right dipstick. He checked with a mechanic and he said that the car takes 9 quarts. I had actually added a little less than 10 quarts so I guess everything is OK, although I still do not understand why everything I was able to find said around 7 quarts.

If you can confirm this, that would be great, otherwise I think I will quite worrying about it.

 

Because the 08 takes 7.81 quarts. Not 9. They are sensitive to overfilling. The extra oil usually gets sucked into the PCV system and burned in cylinder 6 (and sometimes 5). This causes those plugs to foul out prematurely.

 

I don't know what to do at this point. If the dipstick is the right one, and it takes 9 quarts to get to the full mark, what else can I do? If I only put 7 quarts in it, it will not even show up on the stick.

Thanks for your help, but at this point I will give up on this. The car has 100K miles on it, 50K since we bought it, and 5-6 oil changes later and no apparent damage to the engine. Maybe this engine has a remote oil cooler which requires more oil.

Thanks,
Larry

 

It would have to be an aftermarket oil cooler. It should not take 10 quarts if you are checking it correctly. When hot, it needs to sit 15 minutes before checking. All I can do is go by the specs

 

an aftermarket cooler is a remote possibility but it would be difficult to add one to this car (it is relatively easy with the screw-on type oil filters because they make "sandwich" adapters for the lines that go between the filter and mount). You would be able to see the oil lines and the radiator for it). I would guess you aren't waiting until the oil drains into the sump to measure or you are reading the dipstick wrong.

 

I have a 2005 XC90 T6. Does anyone know the oil dipstick length for this vehicle? Oil change shop broke off the metal part and it is nowhere to be found. I appreciate any help because the dealer is over an hour away from me without traffic and the part is very expensive. I wanted to try an after-market adjustable dipstick, for which instructions told me to hold it up against old dipstick to set length --- D'oh!

Thanks again for the help.