[stick_shift]

SPA XC90 DIY Oil Change with pics, UOA

I did an oil change on our 2018 XC90 at 5k miles, these steps and pics should apply for any 2016/2017/2018/2019 vehicle.
[This thread is for those interested in doing the oil change, not intended to start a holy war. Head over to BITOG for that ]

See Post 36 for UOA! (Used Oil Analysis)

Materials:

Filter
(Comes with new crush washer, two rubber o-rings for filter housing and one o-ring on filter itself)
Amazon.com: Genuine Volvo 31372212, Engine Oil Filter (Includes Drain Plug Gasket 977751) : Automotive

Wrench
Amazon.com: Motivx Tools MX2322-US 86.4mm 16 Flute Precision CNC Machined Aluminum Oil Filter Wrench Compatible with 2014 and Newer Volvo 2.0L 4 Cylinder Turbo Engines : Automotive

Oil (Available from Walmart at a very good price and occasionally goes on sale at Amazon)
Amazon.com: Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-30 Motor Oil (1-Quart, Single) : Automotive

Tools:

• 17mm hex wrench
• T30 Torx driver (T27 also fits)
• T40 Torx driver or 6mm Allen

Volvo Oil Recommendation:

EDIT July 25, 2025: The Volvo recommendation below is included only for historical reasons! Please read the owners manual for your vehicle and act accordingly.
(Also read this entire thread, the oil viscosity and grade are discussed. Or read bobistheoilguy.com, or google...)
NOTE: Volvo now specifies 0W-20 for their SPA vehicles regardless of what is shown in the owner's manual. Oil must meet Volvo spec RBS0-2AE.

Steps:

• Loosen oil cap under the hood
• Remove the skid plate (10 T30 Torx screws, plus two spring loaded inserts; T27 also fits)
• Remove the oil drain plug (17mm hex bolt)
• Drain oil into suitable container
• Replace the drain bolt with new crush washer, tighten slightly past 'snug'
• Optionally remove the T40/6mm bolt from bottom of filter housing (to drain initial oil in filter) [Either T40 Torx or 6mm Allen wrench will fit]
• Remove the filter housing with the Volvo oil wrench
• Replace the filter within the housing
• Replace the large o-ring on the housing
• Replace the small o-ring on the T40/Allen bolt (bottom of filter housing) [If you removed the bolt]
• Apply oil to all o-rings!
• Replace the T40/6mm bolt [if you removed it]
• Screw in the filter & housing back into engine, I had to use the wrench again. Do not tighten very much! Let the o-ring do the work.
• Replace skid plate
• Fill engine with 6.2qt of specified oil [Note: 2016-2017 is 6.2qt; 2018 and newer are 5.9 qt]

Service light reset:

Volvo oil filter wrench

Removing T30 screw, holding the skid plate

Drain bolt location, middle of pic

Removing oil drain bolt

Oil draining
(I recycled it, no whales or dolphins died...)

The oil filter housing

Removing the bolt from oil filter housing, T40 Torx or 6mm Allen will work

Removing the oil filter housing

Old oil filter within housing

Oil filter

Oil filter components

T40 Torx driver, supposedly it's actually a 6mm Allen bolt

Filter bottom bolt and o-ring

Location of large o-ring on filter housing

New filter installed in housing

Drain bolt with new crush washer installed

Installing filter housing

All done!

 

[anbu-kakashi]

Great post and it could come in handy. Thanks for this!

 

[yluong]

Good write-up. How bad does the oil look on the first 5k?

 

[stick_shift]

Good write-up. How bad does the oil look on the first 5k?

Dark - but I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

I'm going to get a used oil analysis (normally I never do this since I use a 5k OCI, but I'm curious to know how the car is breaking in.)

 

[GRUENDIG]

Verrry good write-up :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[XC90TODD]

Very helpful, thanks for sharing.

 

[SG1]

Great post!

 

[badcyclist]

Wow-- I think my do it myself oil days died with this car, but if I ever get inspired to d.i.m. I know where to come for a pictorial tutorial. Thanks, stickshift.

 

[Tech]

FYI: The center plug on the filter housing uses a 6mm Allen, not a T40. While a T40 will fit, be cautious because if you use a worn out bit it can strip out the hole.

 

[Zahra]

According to this calculator, 6.2qt equals 6.8L. Isn't that too much if 5.9L is the volume for a "dry" engine.
http://convert-units.info/volume/us-quart/6.2

 

[Tech]

According to this calculator, 6.2qt equals 6.8L. Isn't that too much if 5.9L is the volume for a "dry" engine.
http://convert-units.info/volume/us-quart/6.2

Not sure where that calculator gets that. 5.9L is 6.2 quarts.

 

[Zahra]

Strange, according to this calculator, 1qt is about 1.1 liters.
Elsewhere, I find that 1 US quart = 0.946352946 liters. 6.2 of these does indeed match 5.9 liters

 

[Tech]

I've been putting 6.2 quarts in Drive-E engines since they came out and can tell you that is how much they take.

 

[gsb4522]

Even though I will let Volvo change my oil, it was very interesting seeing how it is done. Nice pictures and thanks for taking the time to show us the procedure.

 

[Zahra]

I've been putting 6.2 quarts in Drive-E engines since they came out and can tell you that is how much they take.

Does that include engines that still have/had dipsticks?
If so, did you fill 6.2qt without having any overfill?

 

[hfwilkesjr]

artywave:
Thanks for the write up! :beer:

 

[Tech]

I've been putting 6.2 quarts in Drive-E engines since they came out and can tell you that is how much they take.

Does that include engines that still have/had dipsticks?
If so, did you fill 6.2qt without having any overfill?

Drive-E engines do not have dipsticks. But I checked the level with VIDA

 

[Zahra]

Drive-E engines do not have dipsticks. But I checked the level with VIDA

Thanks, good to know! I assume Vida can tell if the oil level is too high?

 

[Tech]

Yes it can.

 

[wvinson]

Wow, who has this kind of time on their hands?