I've been very impressed with Volvo's engine technology (I'm an engineer) of late but as with any new technology there will be issues to work through until they get all the bugs worked out (I have a rule to NEVER buy the first model year of any car for this very reason). But given that, issues like this thread are not specific only to Volvo.
FWIW: I have a '12 Kia Optima SX (2.0L Turbo - Tuned) and we have had similar issues with our GDI engines as well. From the factory, they have switched to colder spark plugs (moving one to two heat ranges colder) as well to keep from 'popping' plugs and destroying engines. The community has through trial/error and talking with factory folks found good answers to keeping our engines from blowing up and on the road.
It comes down to these, fairly common things to do:
1) Run ONLY Top Tier fuel (Exxon, Shell, Costco, etc.) and move from 87 octane to 93 octane. Besides getting better mileage and performance (our ECU's adapt to it), this buys some margin against pre-detonation (i.e., the 'pinging/popping' you hear) and has the better fuel cleaner in it to keep the GDI injectors cleaner.
2) Run with synthetic oil and keep to an oil/filter change interval of NO more than 5K miles. The GDI engines put so much soot and gunk into the oil (especially turbo charged engines with blow-by) and at least on the Optima, these engines are Fuel dilution monsters which tends to break down the oil faster. The oil to use now days is the SN+ oil just coming to market with Dexos1, Gen2 certification if possible with a low NOACK figure. These newer oils are made to combat the LSPI issues and are specific for GDI engines. I run Castrol Edge 0W-40 oil with good results but I have a tuned/modified engine and keep to a 4-5K OCI. My used oil analysis looks good.
3) Install a PCV routed Oil Catch Can and drain it at every oil change. This aftermarket appliance (if you use a really good one) helps keep the GDI intake valves cleaner since they don't get the fuel sprayed on them anymore to keep them clean and keeps 'oil mist' out of the intake which can lead to the bad pre-detonation issues being seen as this lowers the effective octane level of whatever fuel you are running. This is a must if you have a tuned engine (like mine).
4) Run colder spark plugs. Both Kia/Hyundai and Volvo are doing this now as a way to help reduce the possibility of pre-detonation happening from hot spots on the plug tips, etc. I've also switched to hardened 'racing plugs' (aka, HKS M40XL gapped at the factory 0.028" setting) so that even if I were to get a pinging event, my plugs are less likely to break.
5) Every so often, when it is safe to do so and only after you've employed the above tips, go out and do the "Italian Tune-up" on her (drive it hard with WOT events). It really is good for the engine (and your soul). This helps keep the carbon build-up down and "blows the soot out" as my grandfather used to say! Besides, it is mighty fun in these cars!
My car is my daily driver, gets better than OEM gas mileage and I makes over 350HP at the crank in my very zippy fun Optima (now at 74K miles).
Anyway, I hope these developments on other platforms can be helpful for Volvo owners (I'm a former one myself) with the awesome new engines from Volvo (I love the tech in the turbo/supercharged 2.0L engines).
FWIW: I have a '12 Kia Optima SX (2.0L Turbo - Tuned) and we have had similar issues with our GDI engines as well. From the factory, they have switched to colder spark plugs (moving one to two heat ranges colder) as well to keep from 'popping' plugs and destroying engines. The community has through trial/error and talking with factory folks found good answers to keeping our engines from blowing up and on the road.
It comes down to these, fairly common things to do:
1) Run ONLY Top Tier fuel (Exxon, Shell, Costco, etc.) and move from 87 octane to 93 octane. Besides getting better mileage and performance (our ECU's adapt to it), this buys some margin against pre-detonation (i.e., the 'pinging/popping' you hear) and has the better fuel cleaner in it to keep the GDI injectors cleaner.
2) Run with synthetic oil and keep to an oil/filter change interval of NO more than 5K miles. The GDI engines put so much soot and gunk into the oil (especially turbo charged engines with blow-by) and at least on the Optima, these engines are Fuel dilution monsters which tends to break down the oil faster. The oil to use now days is the SN+ oil just coming to market with Dexos1, Gen2 certification if possible with a low NOACK figure. These newer oils are made to combat the LSPI issues and are specific for GDI engines. I run Castrol Edge 0W-40 oil with good results but I have a tuned/modified engine and keep to a 4-5K OCI. My used oil analysis looks good.
3) Install a PCV routed Oil Catch Can and drain it at every oil change. This aftermarket appliance (if you use a really good one) helps keep the GDI intake valves cleaner since they don't get the fuel sprayed on them anymore to keep them clean and keeps 'oil mist' out of the intake which can lead to the bad pre-detonation issues being seen as this lowers the effective octane level of whatever fuel you are running. This is a must if you have a tuned engine (like mine).
4) Run colder spark plugs. Both Kia/Hyundai and Volvo are doing this now as a way to help reduce the possibility of pre-detonation happening from hot spots on the plug tips, etc. I've also switched to hardened 'racing plugs' (aka, HKS M40XL gapped at the factory 0.028" setting) so that even if I were to get a pinging event, my plugs are less likely to break.
5) Every so often, when it is safe to do so and only after you've employed the above tips, go out and do the "Italian Tune-up" on her (drive it hard with WOT events). It really is good for the engine (and your soul). This helps keep the carbon build-up down and "blows the soot out" as my grandfather used to say! Besides, it is mighty fun in these cars!
My car is my daily driver, gets better than OEM gas mileage and I makes over 350HP at the crank in my very zippy fun Optima (now at 74K miles).
Anyway, I hope these developments on other platforms can be helpful for Volvo owners (I'm a former one myself) with the awesome new engines from Volvo (I love the tech in the turbo/supercharged 2.0L engines).
