[troach]

According to the tech and the Volvo service advisor, the burnt oil is not travelling out the exhaust. I questioned that. Last thing I want is a fried cat converter. Tech said not to worry but just make sure to check oil dipstick and look for sensor. My engine has been consuming for the past 25K miles or so (when I caught it) but for all I know it could have been sooner. I'm vigilant over oil changes since I bought her at 31K I have at least 10 receipts. Sometimes even change it every 3-4K instead of 5K. If I do it after every 3K with just reg 5W30 I'm good since the oil burns at about 1 quart per 1K without having to worry about adding on my own.

Engine does not knock, it runs flawlessly..smooth powerful still. Dealer understood me not wanting me to pay 2Gs, so I'll try VCNA for the full 100% goodwill and call them soon.

That's good to know, I always get worried when techs work on the critical engine parts. Something about tampering with an engine that was designed, tested and sealed at the factory plant still troubles me. When the engineers designed these T5's I was told the tension of the rings were set that way for a specific purpose: fuel economy. Now that we see their calculations were inaccurate, I'm still ok with having to add a little oil or just getting the oil changed more frequently which is good for older, higher mileage engines like mine. There's a reason they want everyone paying $125 for full synthetic versus reg 5w30 jug.

Opinions are like assholes. I know you didn't take it to the dealer but there is a clear defect with these engines and Volvo does not want to do a recall. Just keep calling and going higher up. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. If that doesn't work, threaten to file a lawsuit. That will probably get them to move but I would only do it as a last resort. All the evidence is on this forum that there is a problem.

 

[Tech]

Sure, there is a problem. And if the car was under warranty, they would have to fix it. The fact is, the car is outside of warranty. They are under no obligation to fix it. And if you are just going to take your business elsewhere, why would they pay to fix it?

I've done many sets of rings outside of warranty for loyal customers. I've also seen a few people come in with no service history and expect to get the work done for free because they read about it on the internet. It doesn't usually end well for them.

 

[Highwayman]

Opinions are like assholes. I know you didn't take it to the dealer but there is a clear defect with these engines and Volvo does not want to do a recall. Just keep calling and going higher up. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. If that doesn't work, threaten to file a lawsuit. That will probably get them to move but I would only do it as a last resort. All the evidence is on this forum that there is a problem.

My last visit was at the dealer who after opening a case/inquiry on my behalf said VCNA would only pay $2000 of the $4k total to do the ring job. Volvo dealer admitted it is an issue, even VCNA's $2k goodwill is proof to me they know it is an issue. I have no repair history as my T5 has run flawlessly and I did most of my oil changes thru my Indy. I rarely went to the dealer so that's why they'll only meet me half way, still unfair so I escalated a complaint thru VCNA customer care and am awaiting an emailed response.

No recall is bad news for all effected. The dealer's service advisors are only pawns for mothership VCNA. I will try to make more noise. Still appears the ring job is not a concrete guarantee to solve issue so I will only attempt if on 100% goodwill. Meanwhile all I have on my side is a 1/2 second sensor blip of a warning and the dipstick. But my 2 best friends are the funnel and 5w30 jugs.

Volvo engineers change of oil grade to full synthetic is full of sh*t. Dino oil which is thicker burns less but creates potential for sludge buildup on the pistons. But again I have a really good friend: my right foot and 2500 RPM revs on ramps and passing situations or just driving fast to burn the sh*t out.

It's a T5, it's indestructible, as long as I don't let the oil run out it will run like a beast.

 

[troach]

Sure, there is a problem. And if the car was under warranty, they would have to fix it. The fact is, the car is outside of warranty. They are under no obligation to fix it. And if you are just going to take your business elsewhere, why would they pay to fix it?

I've done many sets of rings outside of warranty for loyal customers. I've also seen a few people come in with no service history and expect to get the work done for free because they read about it on the internet. It doesn't usually end well for them.

I think the issue is that Volvo is selectively helping customers. I get that and it's good when they help people but I feel like they are penalizing people who don't. It would be one thing if these were anomalies, they happen. What you have here is a severe defect in workmanship. Other manufacturers did the same thing until they were hit with a class action and caved. Maybe that is what will ultimately have to happen here - who knows. It's a major screw up on Volvo's part and they should just voluntarily issue the recall.

 

[Tech]

Yes, they are selectively helping customers. The key word there is customers.

Someone who just comes to the dealer for this with their car full of aftermarket parts and no service history is not a customer. Paying half the cost is pretty generous, since those people will likely never be back at a dealer for service again.

This is not a safety issue so I don't think you'll see a recall.

 

[troach]

Yes, they are selectively helping customers. The key word there is customers.

Someone who just comes to the dealer for this with their car full of aftermarket parts and no service history is not a customer. Paying half the cost is pretty generous, since those people will likely never be back at a dealer for service again.

This is not a safety issue so I don't think you'll see a recall.

My advice to people not getting help is to contact a class action attorney. There is presedence. See here:
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit...-consumption-class-action-lawsuit-settlement/

It's the only way Volvo will issue a recall. It's more than a blip and Volvo shouldn't be sticking people with crappy engines due to a defect that doesn't surface until the car is out of warranty. There is plenty of information to establish a pattern.

 

[Tech]

There are plenty that were done under warranty.

 

[klrobi]

There are plenty that were done under warranty.

It shouldn't be such a fight. Volvo dealers should loose the "you are crazy, this is perfectly normal" attitude.

 

[Tech]

I agree, it shouldn't be a fight when it is under warranty. There is a bulletin for it. If a car under warranty that the bulletin applies to comes in with low oil and there are no external leaks, the rings should be replaced.

 

[troach]

I agree, it shouldn't be a fight when it is under warranty. There is a bulletin for it. If a car under warranty that the bulletin applies to comes in with low oil and there are no external leaks, the rings should be replaced.

I guess Volvo is perfectly fine with such shoddy workmanship that they can tell people they are SOL for an issue like this. I guess they don't really want those customers that may change their oil on their own or take it somewhere else. Pretty crappy if you ask me. I am sure Audi and Toyota felt the same way until there were some pretty upset people that found the right lawyers and then they caved.

 

[Tech]

It isn't a workmanship issue. In some cases, it could actually be the owner didn't take the car to the dealership for the recall updating the oil specs. So they kept using the wrong oil, which made it worse.

I'm sure people will sue, that's the thing to do nowadays. I've seen Volvo help out many loyal customers. I've also seen them tell the guy who just bought his car on Craigslist a year ago and had some indy shop fix everything with aftermarket parts to go kick rocks.

 

[Highwayman]

It shouldn't be such a fight. Volvo dealers should loose the "you are crazy, this is perfectly normal" attitude.

Again, it's the mothership's fault. The dealers can only do so much. This is why I escalated a complaint to VCNA. VCNA has to change their policy or lose customers. This is a known issue.

 

[troach]

It isn't a workmanship issue. In some cases, it could actually be the owner didn't take the car to the dealership for the recall updating the oil specs. So they kept using the wrong oil, which made it worse.

I'm sure people will sue, that's the thing to do nowadays. I've seen Volvo help out many loyal customers. I've also seen them tell the guy who just bought his car on Craigslist a year ago and had some indy shop fix everything with aftermarket parts to go kick rocks.

Excuses excuses. You sound like one of those dealers I would want to avoid.

As a matter of fact, I was using the right oil. I got the recall updates. Didn't make a lick of difference. Needed a new engine. It is shoddy workmanship - no if's, and's, or but's about it. Thankfully Volvo took care of it, but if they didn't, they would have heard from my lawyer and I am sure they would have caved.

 

[Tech]

Exactly, they took care of it.

That does not mean they have to do so for every single one, no matter the mileage or maintenance history.

 

[Highwayman]

Exactly, they took care of it.

That does not mean they have to do so for every single one, no matter the mileage or maintenance history.

After speaking to a dealer service adviser at Volvo who has 20+ years experience he claims engineers set the tension of the rings to allow for better fuel economy. He went on to say it's no big deal but still makes me wonder what will/can happen to an engine burning so much oil (1 quart per 1K miles) ? Is it the tension of the rings that is wrong or the actual rings ? The change of oil spec is a feeble attempt on their part. That's not going to solve the issue.

No leaks, no contamination so far it's just being burned but who can really know what will happen long term. A mechanic I know says the problem can only get worse if left alone. Not a good problem to have. Thing still runs great.

I don't expect a new engine but at least they should own up to a flawed design and try the 100% goodwill $4000.00 dollar job. Which appears not to always solve the issue. The 2012 T5 2.5T engine was designed to try and favor fuel economy with piston rings that were either inadequate or poorly suited or with incorrect tension. Feeding it 5W30 for 5 years is the dealer and VCNA's fault, changing that spec to full synthetic last year was bologna. As if that's going to do jack sh*t.

 

[Tech]

The oil ring gets gummed up and then stops doing its job, allowing oil to stay on the cylinder walls and thus be burned. The rings we put in are of a new design to prevent becoming sludged up, or so we are told. The updated oil specs are supposed to prevent sludging as well. That's also why the interval does not change to 10k miles.

I've done many of these. The oil ring is always full of sludge. If the rings didn't take care of it, I suspect either the cylinder wall became scored (which should have been checked for during the job) or perhaps there was a mistake made while replacing the rings (improper orientation or inadvertently cracking a ring and not noticing it.

 

[ecoDrive]

The oil ring gets gummed up and then stops doing its job, allowing oil to stay on the cylinder walls and thus be burned. The rings we put in are of a new design to prevent becoming sludged up, or so we are told. The updated oil specs are supposed to prevent sludging as well. That's also why the interval does not change to 10k miles.

I've done many of these. The oil ring is always full of sludge. If the rings didn't take care of it, I suspect either the cylinder wall became scored (which should have been checked for during the job) or perhaps there was a mistake made while replacing the rings (improper orientation or inadvertently cracking a ring and not noticing it.

That's very interesting. I wonder what mine looked like. I was doing 3750 mile oil change intervals with the scheduled ones (7500) done by the dealer. I can't imagine sludge being an issue with 7 quarts in the sump on that change interval. My car started burning oil at ~40k. Sometime close to 50k the rings were replaced but it was still burning oil after. They then installed a new engine and hasn't burned a drop since. In my case it seems like the rings just wore out prematurely and then took the cylinder walls with it.