[Springbard]

I'm looking at a used 2016 Volvo XC90 T5, but I'm worried about the piston rings issue I've been reading about for 2016 and part of 2017 MY. However, everything I've read refers to the T6. Does anyone know if the T5s also had the same rings that caused this issue? Or could possibly the extra revving of the motor needed for the T5s act as an Italian tune up, keeping the carbon build-up off the rings, so people haven't run into the problem? Or maybe just everyone got the T6s...

Further question - is there any way to see/test if a used car has the poorly designed piston rings and/or the build up (boroscope? compression test?). And if I change the oil every 5K miles or so, maybe add Liqui Moly first and then engine cleaner, do some extra engine revving occasionally, can I avert the issues these piston rings have been causing some people? Other than this possible issue, it seems like the T5 should have less to go wrong on it than the T6 or T8. Thanks for the info.

 

[Blue SUV]

The T5s were delivered with engine codes B4204T20 or B4204T23 and these are not listed on the TJ. I also remember T5s were introduced much later than the T6s and started selling in the US sometime in late Q1'16, which puts it past the bad piston/ring engine cut off dates.

The T5s were lower specced, which is fine, but make sure the car you're looking at has at least the Thor's hammer headlights, otherwise keep looking. This was an option or part of a package on the T5. Do not buy one with the halogen headlights.

 

[Springbard]

Well that’s good to know, thanks! Lower spec is fine as the base model already includes a lot (except BLIS, which seems odd considering all of the other standard safety features). The supercharger would be nice, but maybe I’ll get it Polestarred sometime or drive it on dynamic when I want some more torque.

But now what is the problem with the halogen headlights?

 

[Blue SUV]

It looks alien- like a glitch in the matrix. And the Thor's are pretty good.

'16 T5s can be stripped, not equipped. There was a T5 intro package that included a bunch of things like those safety features, Thor's and a couple of other options that brought it up a bit. 2017+ these things became standard, as did 3rd row seating, if that's important to you.

 

[Springbard]

Ah, okay. I’ll take a look at night. Yeah, the missing third row is odd, and we’d prefer the BLIS, etc. I’m also not crazy about the stiffer suspension. But all of this is probably why it’s a good price. As long as the engine isn’t burning oil, maybe it could be a nice upgrade to the first generation we used to have. Alternatively we might just go for something like an XC70…

 

[vista88]

Both the T5 and T6 have the same pistons/rings and both have the same potential for oil consumption.

 

[Blue SUV]

Both the T5 and T6 have the same pistons/rings and both have the same potential for oil consumption.

All other T5s, yes. OP was asking about the '16 XC90 T5 specifically. I don't believe any were produced before the change in pistons/rings.

 

[vista88]

All other T5s, yes. OP was asking about the '16 XC90 T5 specifically. I don't believe any were produced before the change in pistons/rings.

?
Whether the engine is in a S/V60, XC 60, XC70 or XC90, T5 or T6, all VEP GEN 1 engines have the same pistons and rings and all have the same potential for oil consumption. My comments are not an opinion but are based on the fact that I've had to do P&R's on all of them.

 

[Blue SUV]

Interesting. Why didn't Volvo include the -20 and -23 engines in the TJ then? Seems like they got all of the other 4-cyl T5s and T6. Simply an oversight?

I guess the only surefire way to know you have updated piston/ring is to make sure the engine serial number is after 1501327.

 

[DFrantz]

Early T5 XC90s were not 3 row vehicles either... might not be a problem, but would not be good to invest time into one only to find out down the road. I believe it was halfway through '18 that the 3rd row became standard.