We had the low oil message in the 3.2 only once when it was still quite new. I stopped and put in a little oil but didn't find it low either.

 

I would probably add just a bit of oil, 1/4 Quart, and then monitor if the light comes back on.

Sometimes the oil level is adequate at rest, yet just low enough to trigger a low oil warning light during certain manuvers or very hot and thinned out.

 

Although it could be possible to have a faulty sensor, if it was installed correctly I highly doubt that such a critical engine component would be the cause.

I highly recommend that you only check oil when the engine is cool and level. Remember when the engine oil is warm it expands and flows through the engine core so the levels when checked hot/warm will give faulty indications and nobody wants to blow a gasket...

I would recommend that you proceed with process of elimination and change out the oil yourself (it's a pretty straight forward process and new oil is definitely a good investment). Let it drain overnight and put in the recommended amount as published in the owners manual (remember to respect the additional amount when changing the oil filter). I I personally only use OEM oils but the most important is to get a high grade synthetic and respect the viscosity for the type of OAT you will be driving in.

 

I disagree with the part about draining it over night. In the old days of worn out engines and oil pumps some times it was better to drain, fill and start quickly so the lifters wouldn't rattle waiting for the pump to prime.

 

Although it could be possible to have a faulty sensor, if it was installed correctly I highly doubt that such a critical engine component would be the cause.

I highly recommend that you only check oil when the engine is cool and level. Remember when the engine oil is warm it expands and flows through the engine core so the levels when checked hot will give faulty indications increasing the chances of adding too much oil resulting in a blown gasket...

I would recommend that you proceed with process of elimination and change out the oil yourself (it's a pretty straight forward process and new oil is definitely a good investment). Let it drain overnight and put in the recommended amount as published in the owners manual (remember to respect the additional amount when changing the oil filter). I have never had an oil level issue, when you use the prescribed engine oil quantity as stated in owners manual. I personally only use OEM oils but the most important is to get a high grade synthetic and respect the viscosity for the type of OAT you will be driving in.

If you know someone who has a VIDA/DICE unit, you can use it to check the engine parameters as well as engine TEMP sensor...

 

I did let it cool before checking the oil level, and it was about 3/4 of the way from the low to full marking on the dipstick. I plan to replace the oil, but as this is not a warning I've ever seen before I wanted to poll the collective wisdom of the hive to see if there's anything else I should be considering. I haven't hooked it up to my DICE unit yet, we'll see if that tells me anything.

 

V8 has the warning light, 2.5 Turbo does not. The 06 owners manual for both is the same, and it does not say the monitor is only for the V8. The sensor mounts to the bottom of the oil pan. the oil could have sloshed to one side and the light was triggered. Used sensors are available on line. They look the same as the sensors BMW uses.

 

Frightening to think the engineers neglected to include a low oil level sensor on a turbo engine! The engine type most sensitive to low oil is anything with a turbo (and 2-strokes).

 

yup. only the V8 and the 3.2 engines had them.

 

^^to that point, in it's later life I appreciated my XC letting me know that it was down two quarts.. my wife's 2.4i ended up being a serious oil burner even before 100k and I did not realize because I did all dealer services and they apparently didn't care and my current s60 takes 2 quarts between its 7500 mile interval. Lessons learned on my first Volvo. I am not a fan of turbo engines because of the s60. Volvo tells me that 1qt per 1500 miles is ok on turbo motors..

 

. I am not a fan of turbo engines ..

Nor am I.
The new XC90's engine is something of a marvel and yet screams at me: "DO NOT BUY ME OUT OF WARRANTY."
An undersized 4 cyclinder engine hauling a 4400lbs truck that needs a compressed air tank, a supercharger and a turbo charger to make adequate power? It sounds laughably overstressed. No thanks.

 

By the time they are selling for a price I'd consider reasonable I assume we'll know better whether or not the engines are reliable.

 

Reliable? I'm bullish. I think Volvo put it through enough testing to deliver a suitably reliable engine.
Durable? I'm very bearish. I don't think we'll see too many of these going over 100K before they're headed to junk yard or the Pseudo-luxury Buy Here / Pay Here lot.

 

Nothing's ever easy with the V8 (can't speak for the 3.2)-

Oil monitoring,
General
The oil level sensor, [via the ECM and in turn] via the driver information module (DIM), is used to inform the driver if oil filling is required.
Detecting the oil level
The integrated electronics of the sensor calculates the oil level using the measured value for the oil temperature.
In order for the correct oil level to be calculated, temporary oil level changes in the oil sump must be added to the calculation, for example when driving on an incline, during cornering and the like. These calculations are performed by the engine control module (ECM) using the oil level sensor signal and a number of other parameters such as the vehicle speed signal and load signal.

So it's another "calculated value". If you have not had the bottom cover off before, that's also a prime place for oil to collect since the connector for the sensor routes around oil filter area. And oil sometimes starts to pool around there if the rear bank valve cover gasket begins seeping to the point of dripping, at least mine did.

Easiest is my opinion, is to make sure everything is clean around the sensor and the pan area, do a cleaning of the connector and plug, put it al back together, top up the oil, and see if the message comes back.

If the message comes back, can do a new sensor AND an oil change.

 

I did see one report of needing a new engine at 45k miles, but it was due to cylinder scaring. It was also a '16, which as a TJ for spark plugs that may have contributed to the problem.

 

Changed the oil last night, and cleaned up the sensor's connector. We'll see if it comes back.

 

did this solve your issue with the warning light? Mine came on the other day on my 09 xc90 r v8. , oil level looks great and just had oil changed about 2k miles ago

 

I have a silly question.... how do you read the bloody dipstick on the v8?
Mine always come out full of oil, makes me think maybe pcv's clogged or something, but it's not readable at all.

 

mine's the same way. you need to let the engine almost get to cold, then I get a good reading. otherwise, you are right. it shows oil all the way to the top of the stick.

 

Yeah. Let it sit overnight, pull the stick, wipe it and then “gingerly” put it back in for a good reading. I think the hole being so small just makes for a messy stick

 

Mine comes on pretty reliably when it's down pretty close to two quarts. No false alarms to date.

 

I have 2 V8s and they both have 130k+, they both have some minor leaks and the oil lights come on every 3000mi reminding me its time to start planning an oil change.

 

Hey guys, I don't mean to hijack the thread but I'm having the same issue (2008 S80 3.2) with the red triangle showing up saying I'm low on oil, etc. Dipstick shows otherwise and I just had full oil change. The warning comes on within minutes every time I start driving. Could I have a faulty oil level sensor issue? Is the oil sensor in the oil pan or outside? Is it easy enough to replace or do I have to drain the oil first?

Cheers!

Mike

 

When my light goes on, my stick shows I'm down 1/4 of the "acceptable range" from max fill (or 3/4 full). Tends to happen around 4k-5k miles. I put in 1/4 - 1/2 quart and it holds off until it's time for an oil change.

When you say "dipstick shows otherwise," what does this mean? Where is it on the stick? Sounds to me like you just need to add a little oil.

 

On my v8, it’s a half qt that triggers the light, on my previous 3.2, it was a full qt that would trigger, but, the triangle was yellow. What is the actual text that pops with a red triangle?

 

On my v8, it's a half qt that triggers the light, on my previous 3.2, it was a full qt that would trigger, but, the triangle was yellow. What is the actual text that pops with a red triangle?

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The sensor electronics are down by the oil filter housing. You can make sure it's not too dirty down there and that all the wires are connected well.

Changing the oil and cleaning up the sensor area did the trick for me. It did come on again recently but it was around 5K miles since I'd changed it and it was slightly low (maybe around mid point on the dipstick, so not really low but not "full" either). I just did another oil change since it was due anyway and it's been fine again.

 

Thank you sir! Is the sensor accessible from the top of the engine bay or do I have crawl under the car to access it?

 

So what is the conclusion/fix of the "Low Oil Level"? What is the fix?

I have been getting this message in my 2007 Xc90 V8 Sport for the last weeks and did the oil change yesterday and the message came back minutes from driving out of the dealer.

Does the Sensor change would take care of this.

Appreciate any feedback.

 

I have been getting this message in my 2007 Xc90 V8 Sport for the last weeks and did the oil change yesterday and the message came back minutes from driving out of the dealer.

When was the last time you checked the oil level?

 

This happens occasionally with my 2007 V8. I go approximately 5,000 miles between synthetic oil changes and find the light comes on after a few thousand. Add 1/4-1/2 quart if the light goes on between changes and no more issues for me.

 

Just a theory here but I had it happen on my 3.2.

A friend was borrowing my xc90 and so I quickly did an oil change. About t300 miles doing highway miles she ran into the low light message. I wasn’t around when she called. She got paranoid and thought she smelled burning. After another 30 mins the light went away.

I learned all this through multiple voicemails she left in my phone. When I called her back I had her check the dip stick and it was in the safe level.

How does the sensor near the housing work? One common reoccurrence here is the oil change. And I do remember that since I was in a hurry, I dripped some oil taking out the fuel filter and didn’t clean it up. Could external oil somehow set of the oil warning sensor?


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I would agree with John C on this. Did you confirm the oil level after the dealership changed the oil? Typically with quick oil changes, the newer techs are the ones to complete them. They might not have the experience and could underfill the engine. You could also go back to the dealership and have them top off the oil for no charge if it was underfilled.

If the oil level is correct, then you could start to look at the oil level sensor.

 

Just wanted to provide you with an update. So I have been driving almost a week since I had an oil change, and the Message only appeared a couple of times. Since Tuesday, I the message "Low Oil Level" have not shown anymore. Would be correct to say the sensor is cleaned itself up with the new oil