XC70: Engine Engine temp and oil level

[Muzzyxc70]

Just bought a XC70 64 plate, 2W drive D4.
It doesn't have a full electronic dash. There doesn't seem to be a way of showing engine temperature? Am I overlooking the obvious or is it a warning light when overheating.
Also the electronic oil level prompt is blanked out on the dash and can't be selected? I would be greatful if anyone could help me on these 2 issues?

[Thorium]

Don't worry about the engine temperature. The car will let you know if the temperature gets too high, but in my experience the temperature is usually rock steady, so a gauge is not really needed.

For the oil level, certain conditions need to be met for it to display the level. I can't help with the details as I have an XC90, but I'm sure someone with an XC70 will be able to advise if you don't have access to a manual. Unless your driving is only short journeys you won't need to worry about the oil level and the car will let you know if it needs topping up

[monkeh]

If anything - It may inform you that the engine oil may be overfull if you do a lot of short journeys and it has to abort regenning.

There is minimal to display with the p3's, They will let you know if anything goes wrong. I do miss the temperature gague though.


There is a "crude" engineer's dipstick down in the bowels of the engine for checking. However my XC has a normal one.

You can fit a normal dipstick if you want. Have a search on here for the part number. I believe it was fitted to police spec XC's.

[Tannaton]

You need to check the engine oil with the ignition on but before you start the engine... if you have the owners manual it's on about page 330. You can down load the manual FOC from Volvo's website.

Very irritating that a manufacturer known for good instrumentation omits a temperature gauge... hotly debated on here as to whether you really need one or not, and yes the car will beep at you if things get too hot but you can diagnose a lot about an engine from the behavior of the temperature.

It would have cost them nothing to implement one on the multifunctional display via a software update.

[monkeh]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Very irritating that a manufacturer known for good instrumentation omits a temperature gauge... hotly debated on here as to whether you really need one or not, and yes the car will beep at you if things get too hot but you can diagnose a lot about an engine from the behavior of the temperature.

It would have cost them nothing to implement one on the multifunctional display via a software update.

100% agree, a rising needle from the norm can give you a good reaction time to do something quite quick. Before you get the " I am hot and by now it's too late" light.
Does the TFT display give a temperature? I am considering the upgrade to it, but loss of DTSC control stops me from doing so.

[Pidgeonpost]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

You need to check the engine oil with the ignition on but before you start the engine... if you have the owners manual it's on about page 330. You can down load the manual FOC from Volvo's website.

Very irritating that a manufacturer known for good instrumentation omits a temperature gauge... hotly debated on here as to whether you really need one or not, and yes the car will beep at you if things get too hot but you can diagnose a lot about an engine from the behavior of the temperature.

It would have cost them nothing to implement one on the multifunctional display via a software update.

I was disappointed to see that the P3 V70 didn't have a temperature gauge whereas the P2 did. I guess it's the bean counters at work again, but give me a gauge every time. I've even wondered about fitting an after market one.

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by Pidgeonpost

I was disappointed to see that the P3 V70 didn't have a temperature gauge whereas the P2 did. I guess it's the bean counters at work again, but give me a gauge every time. I've even wondered about fitting an after market one.

It has a temperature gauge if you have a V70 with the TFT instrument display.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

You need to check the engine oil with the ignition on but before you start the engine... if you have the owners manual it's on about page 330. You can down load the manual FOC from Volvo's website.

Very irritating that a manufacturer known for good instrumentation omits a temperature gauge... hotly debated on here as to whether you really need one or not, and yes the car will beep at you if things get too hot but you can diagnose a lot about an engine from the behavior of the temperature.

It would have cost them nothing to implement one on the multifunctional display via a software update.

yes very true in most other cars , but with a volvo , any volvo going right back to a 140 in the 60's the temperature gauge is very boring because it never moves so you tend to ignore it anyway , it stays dead centre all the time what ever the circumstances, due to a radiator with plenty of spare capacity , A very high quality thermostat, generous flow water pumps , Hoses and water pumps which last decades , and the engines are not prone to head gasket failures . From 1990 the temperature gauges became very accurate with with proper moving coil instruments , they still didn't budge though . The later cars from 2000 and ones not having a gauge are even more sophisticated and will not only warn you of over heating but also over cooling , ie a thermostat problem ... so with a red flashing light and a message it will draw your attention to a problem better than any gauge which has not moved from centre or been looked at for 30 years :-)

[reggit]

I tend to use an ELM327 unit connected to my phone to display engine temperature.
First time I hooked it up I found that the engine was reaching a maximum of 70ish degrees - the thermostat had failed open.

Definitely not a fan of missing temperature gauges.

[apersson850]

It's indeed the bean counters that made the temperature gauge go away. But perhaps not in the way you think.

Volvo got too many complaints from people saying "the gauge is in the wrong position."
"No, it's in the green area."
"Yes, it's wrong, it's sometimes moving away from perfectly vertical/horizontal."
"Well, as long as it's in the green area, it's normal."
"No, it must be in that position. Fix it, but I will not pay, since it's wrong."

You may think that such daft drivers don't exist, but this was way too common in a large country, with many cars, where they also speak (sort of) English...

So the gauge disappeared. Now too many complained about that, so it's back again. But heavy filtered by software, to show exactly in the right spot, no matter what the temperature is.