Oil dilution

Author
Discussion

GrahamBrock

Original Poster:

1 posts

5 months

Sunday 16th June
quotequote all
This is probably a ' how long is a piece of string' question and is quite long, but here goes.

May 2023, I bought a 68 plate V90 D4. Just before I bought it, they changed the oil filter etc. In August, the oil sensor kept showing as over filled, then full, then over-filled etc. The garage changed the sensor.

Beginning of 2024, the same thing happened. Volvo serviced the car and updated software etc.
Same fault showed up 3 months later , ( notice the 3 month pattern ). I then took it to a specialist to diagnose and they told me there was 6.2 litres of oil in the engine.

Fast forward to today ( June 16th ), I checked under the oil cap, and the oil was thinner than normal. This looks like diesel getting into the oil.

I realise it could be a number of defects, but has anyone else had this issue? Or could someone point me in the right direction to finding the fault? Volvo mechanics are expensive so I'm hoping to avoid going to them.

It is a D4204T14 engine.
Thanks everyone

TooLateForAName

4,839 posts

191 months

Sunday 16th June
quotequote all
Very common problem, look on the volvo forums.

Due to failed dpf regens.,

Look at reasons why regen fails - check thermostats, glow plugs/controller and egr. Anything that can stop it getting up to temperature.

Bobupndown

2,147 posts

50 months

Sunday 16th June
quotequote all
Common issue in modern dpf equipped diesels, failed regenerations. Does it not have a traditional dip stick to physically check the rising level?
How long is the oil change interval?
An interim oil change may be required.

yellowbentines

5,546 posts

214 months

Sunday 16th June
quotequote all
Caused by oil dilution due to unburnt diesel from failed DPF regens.

I've had it on my 2022 XC60 - took it to the dealership and they recalibrated the oil level sensor (a known issue apparently) and told me I was doing the wrong kind of driving for a diesel, and I wasn't doing enough City driving.....yes, that's what the girl on the service desk said!

They didn't change the oil as a Service was due within a month or so anyway. They should have changed the oil to preserve engine life, but, it's under warranty and on contract hire and I'll throw them the keys back after 3 years as the warranty ends - their problem. Got fed up arguing.

The Volvo DPF regen system appears quite dumb, as I do 15/16000 miles a year, a good mix of journeys with plenty of long runs, and still got this issue due to failed regens.




Smint

1,988 posts

42 months

Monday 17th June
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My wife's friend has a Mazda MPV with the notorious 2.2 Diesel, another engine ruined due to failed regens, chances are her vehicle is economically scrap at 8 years old.
I did warn her about these things, she does lots of stop start running but she insisted her mechanic was aware of the issues found in these engines and it was all under control, well that a no then.

You read and hear comments from people with known problem Diesels saying how their vehicle never uses a drop of oil between long life services, one wonders how much the fuel content is of the remaining oil, maybe the high fuel content helps prevent sludging.