Oil level too high - sold the car!

[TeamG]

My XC60 has only done short trips for the past 2.5 years, but with a new role is about to experience high mileage years (up to 45k/yr). I’ve never had an issue with oil dilution as the technician dipstick level never changes and measured volume out plus a little extra for the filter bit equals volume in each change. That’s unless it’s burning oil at the rate the diesel is diluting it…

I am an advocate for intermediate oil changes and would change it 6 monthly or around 6k miles whichever is sooner rather than 1yr/18k miles. Oil and filters (plus a crush washer) are cheap. Tempted to get an oil suction device and make it quicker again.

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by Simmy

any unburnt fuel is forced past by the massive compression a diesel engine has

What, on every compression stroke during the regen cycle? Seems unlikely and why wouldn't the air also be forced past by the massive compression? Why wouldn't any accumulated fuel just carry over to the intake stroke? Why do only a small number of examples have a problem with rising oil level and not all?

[Familyman 90]

You do realise that this sort of problem is far from unkown on the 508...

Cracking looking cars by the wsy, very svelte.

[rxtian]

Originally Posted by Zebster

What, on every compression stroke during the regen cycle? Seems unlikely and why wouldn't the air also be forced past by the massive compression? Why wouldn't any accumulated fuel just carry over to the intake stroke? Why do only a small number of examples have a problem with rising oil level and not all?

I think the situation is that all the engines get a bit of diesel past the rings during a regen, but the cars that have "problematic driving styles" end up doing loads more regen attempts, which leads to more fuel dilution.

A possible explanation for some cars being worse for no apparent reason, would be if the commute was just long enough to meet the requirements to start the regen each day, but someone doing 1-2 miles less would never get the engine/exhaust warm enough for it to attempt a regen...

[OldEngineer]

This...

https://lubricants.totalenergies.com...es-and-effects

Never getting to the right temperature is a problem for all diesels, Even if you know someone who has escaped vehicle messages the problem is still lurking and destroying.

[larchdale]

Thanks for your interest and reply.

I realise Peugeot is no more immune to problems than other brands, but the running costs are way lower than the Volvo and the dealer seems far more supportive.

The 508 is smaller than the V90 - more akin to a V60, really. However, the key thing is that it's a petrol PHEV, rather than a diesel. Currently, it's averaging 80mpg!

[OldEngineer]

Sounds superb. I worked for Peugeot over many years and the level of engineering is high.

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

Quite a bit of experience with Forvo's myself and I can firmly say, I will NEVER own one, not even one with a Volvo engine. I will always be a fan of Volvo but only the older stuff, my current daily is a Skoda Octavia and will likely stay with the VAG stuff in future.

[ymc30]

Owning Volvos for over 20 years now (newest addition is a V90 D4 with 25k on the clock) but I have never been to a Volvo dealer, and I never will be.

Never bought any of them new either.

[Whyman]

In the days when diesels were becoming more popular a simple rule of thumb was that you need to be doing about 20k per year to justify the additional cost of a diesel.

The same is probably true today and if you are doing the mileage the dpf and fuel dilution problems go away.