Specs: 2006 S80 2.5T, just flipped 120k (literally like 2 days ago). Bought 9/2/17 with 116,890 miles and was a one-owner car. Service records are unavailable, however, oil change was done 8/15/17 at 116,530 miles and 5W-30 straight synthetic was used (know this because the dealer did it). All fluids were checked when I bought it, as well as filters and the “little” things.
Problem: Car ran BEAUTIFULLY until yesterday. No issues whatsoever. However, on my way home yesterday morning, I got a message on the dash that read “NO OIL PRESSURE; STOP SAFELY”, and my aladdin light came on as well as the orange triangle (yes, orange, not red). I was a mile from the house, so I went home, parked it, and checked the oil (after letting it sit for about 15 minutes). It was low (about 2 quarts), so I had my sister run me to AutoZone to get oil, filled it, waited, checked again, and all was good. Drove it around the neighborhood for about 10 minutes and no issues. Problem solved, right? Nope.
This morning, as I was going to leave, I started the car to let it warm up (it was 3 degrees this morning) and everything was fine. It sat in the driveway for about 20 minutes before I came back out, and the first thing I noticed when I came out was it was rattling worse than a diesel. I got in, hit the accelerator, and the rattling stopped, so I assumed it was due in part to the fact that it was cold enough for penguins to feel at home, and drove off. I drove 7 miles to my destination, hitting a couple of stop lights along the way, and it was fine. Quiet, and ran perfectly. Then, when I got to my destination, it began rattling again – LOUDLY. I turned it off, went inside to do what I needed to do, came back out, started it up, and no noise. Yet, as I got about 1/2 mile down the road, it started again, and this time I got a message that read, “NO OIL PRESSURE; STOP ENGINE”, along with the aladdin lamp and this time, a RED triangle. Ugh.
Of course, I stopped driving at that point. Thankfully, I was only a few hundred yards from a gas station, so I pulled in there sounding like a Cummings Diesel and shut the car off. I checked the oil level again after sitting for 10 minutes and it was fine. Also saw no bubbles on the dipstick, nor smoke coming from it (yes, I’m well aware of the PCV issue and actually did the glove test on it the day before as a precaution). With no other idea as to the issue, I called for a ride, and called several indy shops, all of which refused to even look at the car because, GASP!, it’s a Volvo. I finally called a friend of my grandfather’s in a neighboring state who literally works on EVERY kind of vehicle imaginable, and I suggested to him it may be the oil pump. He said, “No way. Those things are built like work horses and the oil pumps on a Volvo rarely fail, if ever. My guess is you’ve got sludge in the engine. If that’s the case, you’re probably going to need a new engine.” Now that I think about it, there was gunk on the underside of the filler cap yesterday. I noted it and kind of tucked it away in the back of my mind, but probably should’ve given it more thought.
Anyway, I called the dealer I bought it from and had it towed back to them (an hour away). They said it’s still under warranty, so I’m hoping whatever this issue is, it’s covered. Which brings me to my question…what in the hell is it? Does ANYONE have direct experience with this, and if so, what ended up being the problem? Again, I’m well aware of the PCV issue and that doesn’t seem to be a factor. So then, is it sludge, is it a bad oil pressure sensor, a combination of things, what? They told me it was going to take a few days for them to get it apart and figure it out, so I think what I’m looking for now is not only some kind of clue, but also I want to be sure that whatever is done to the car is actually going to fix the issue and not leave me stuck with another $150 tow bill in a few weeks.
Thanks!