44 replies to this topic

[mrbrightside2009]

anything i can add to my oil to minimize this? after 2000 miles of driving my car is somewhat low on oil already, i do drive somewhat hard. i heard the engine restore in the gray can works good? any opinions?

and if that does help, there are only 4,6,8 cylinder cans, which one would i use?

[bergmjs]

You sure you're burning it and not just losing out your RMS or another seal somewhere?

[Turbo Box]

Could be your valve guide seals. Not much you can do, but replace them. No fun on a bucket spring style head and snake oil will not help.

[AverageVolvo]

From what I understand, It's completely normal to burn apprx .5 to 1qt oil every 3 k. Both my 850's do as well as several of my friends cars.

[MyCarIsRed]

From what I understand, It's completely normal to burn apprx .5 to 1qt oil every 3 k. Both my 850's do as well as several of my friends cars.

Volvo actually states this somewhere, i just can't find it right now. 1qt for 3k is "normal" for the turbos.

[Ihatespeedbumps]

anything i can add to my oil to minimize this? after 2000 miles of driving my car is somewhat low on oil already, i do drive somewhat hard. i heard the engine restore in the gray can works good? any opinions?

and if that does help, there are only 4,6,8 cylinder cans, which one would i use?

How much oil has it used?

[MyCarIsRed]

it's a 1.5qt difference between the lower and upper lines, fyi

[Keaton85]

Sounds normal to me. It's kinda nice though, since if you run synthetic you are adding a Qt every 3K. This brings your additive package back up thus letting you do extended OCIs!!

All my volvos go through that to some extent...

[mrbrightside2009]

i'm not sure how much is in there now, i'm hearing ticking telling me its low, so how low can it be when the ticking starts, a quart, 2 quarts? just did an oil change 2000 miles ago and switched back to high mileage, was using synthetic which was worse.

and i did not know that is normal for turbos, thats really good info.

[gogot5!]

Where exactly does it go, and why does a turbo model use it and not the non-turbos? I'm guessing it gets blown past the seals in the turbo under high boost?

[Matt854T5]

If it burns it fast enough you wont ever have to change it you will have fresh oil all the time

[Keaton85]

It should not be worse while using synthetic. Anyway, the ticking could also be your pick-up tube o-rings. Mostly this will show up as loud ticking when you first start the car since all the oil on the top end has drained back.

As for why turbos use more oil? well for one you have more pressure on each cylinder thus increased blow by, a couple more places for oil to leak from, and the PCV system isnt the best in these cars. It's not really just turbos either, the N/As will do it as well, along with most cars of this age.

I would check the number one culprits:
RMS
Valve guides (blue smoke on cold start-up)
PCV system (smoke coming out the dipstick when at temp and while increasing RPMs)
Turbo drain back o-ring
Front cam seals (sometimes)
rear cam seals (mostly under the cam sensor)

Try checking those along with using a 40 weight full syn. (try, it's not a must!)

If it burns it fast enough you wont ever have to change it you will have fresh oil all the time

Still have to change your oil filter or it will go into by-pass. Although you are correct that you can go a lot longer with your OCIs if you are adding a Qt every 3K or so. Just keep that filter changed out.

[mrbrightside2009]

well just went out and checked my oil, def seems full, i was reading it could be a loose spark plug, i took my cover off, about 2 or 3 of them i could put the wrench on and barely use any force and they were loose, re-tightened them, i'll see what happens.

[Keaton85]

Loose spark plugs burning oil? I think it would be the opposite, that would just decrease your compression thus decrease crankcase pressure. Loose plugs would make it run like **** but that's about it.

[mrbrightside2009]

Loose spark plugs burning oil? I think it would be the opposite, that would just decrease your compression thus decrease crankcase pressure. Loose plugs would make it run like **** but that's about it.

no i meant i read on other forums loose plugs can cause a ticking sound, they werent loose as where i could wiggle them, just werent that tight, i dont know if that is really true or not, my oil might not even be low, doesn't seem like it, but yea i would think that would make it run like crap too, im just throwing guesses out there.

[Ihatespeedbumps]

after 2000 miles of driving my car is somewhat low on oil already

i'm not sure how much is in there now

well just went out and checked my oil, def seems full

im just throwing guesses out there.

So you made this entire thread without even pulling the dipstick?

Jesus christ.

[Keaton85]

</thread>

[mrbrightside2009]

haha, i don't believe in the dipstick and this happened to me before when the dipstick said it was full when it was 3 quarts low, open thread....

[mrbrightside2009]

i do get the code p0172 which i believe could be an exhaust leak, which could cause ticking, that would make sense since im getting the code.

[850T5IVE]

So you made this entire thread without even pulling the dipstick?

Jesus christ.