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2017 xc90 T6 aprox 46K miles, P0171 Lean code, diagnosis and Fix | SwedeSpeed

2017 xc90 T6 aprox 46K miles, P0171 Lean code, diagnosis and Fix | SwedeSpeed

Posted on February 7, 2025 By rehan.rafique No Comments on 2017 xc90 T6 aprox 46K miles, P0171 Lean code, diagnosis and Fix | SwedeSpeed

Hi folks, I want to share my experience to dignose and fix the lean code in Volvo XC90. All the cars I have owned so far this was the first time this happened to me. I saw the dreaded check engine light, it reminded me how dreadful it was when I saw a blue screen on a windows xp. I am not a race car driver, I drive gently and like to enjoy my car. When I even feel that my car is experiencing problems, I dont hold off, and I fix it, either myself or I take it to a mechanic. I didnt expect a check engine light, especially on a car with less than 50k.

Last November I saw the check engine light come on, right before the car registration was due. And I thought this will drain my pocket, but luckily I found a supercharger install video, it helped me decide to do the work myself, I included the link to the video below. During October I add a quart of oil since I saw oil level slightly less than usual. I must say here volvo should show the amount of oil in gallons or quarts in the digital output.

Observation
===========
1- Obvious check engine light, OBD code P0171, “and only P0171”.
2- Once the car did hesitate when leaving the gas station, the check engine light was on for almost two days. it felt that the engine was having trouble idling.
3- OBD reader show, the oxygen sensor bank 1 output was between .9 to 1.01 (I think the unit is volts but OBD reader does not show the unit).
4- MAF sensor output 2.66 g/s at idle, 11.37% engine load, a new MAF did not solve the problem.
5- Occasional misfire observed in OBD reader data stream, only on startup, but was not noticeable.
6- Filled engine coolant once in two years, zero coolant leaks so far, I checked.
7- Oil leak from the drain plug, lucky.
8- All Spark plugs looked barely used, cleaned and reinstalled.
9- Intake smoke test show smoke between the intake and the supercharger, but only when the engine was cold.

How to Fix this
===============
1- Replaced PCV oil seperator box, Diapharagm was boken, mostly likely due to repeated removal of the pcv cap, self inflicted, Part#32140004.
2- Tighten oil cap gasket using teflon tape, didnt need to but I did this before using smoke machine. A simple DIY, dont need to purchase a new gas cap.
2- Cleaned the PCV valve, valve was clogged, used non-clorinated brake clearner.
2- Cleaned and re-installed spark plugs, checked for gasoline oil burn signs, no ash, all dark, all good.
3- Air intake connection with Supercharger, (replaced some seals, which I believe I didnt need to replace). The bottom screws connecting the airi-ntake to the supercharger were loose.
4- Replaced Bank 1 Oxygen sensor, I dont believe the oxygen sensor was bad, see the pic. But replacing Oxygen sensor did fixed the issue, new O2 sensor purchased was, Denso Part#234-9160.

Tools purchased
===============
1- Universal O2 sensor socket 7/8 O2, 3/8 inch drive.
2- 15mm wrench, preferbly a 12in long handle, I couldnt find a 12in long wrench, did all the work with a 9in. This is for releasing the belt from the supercharger, make sure to buy one with anti-slip design.
3- Torx bit set, T40, T30 and T25, for supercharger work.
4- TOPDON TopScan OBD reader/writer, this did not help much other than clearing the code. I was hoping to find a smoking gun, but OBD readout of the new oxygen sensor was the as the old one.
5- Automotive Smoke Machine & smoke oil.

Preventative maintenance
========================
1- Periodically clean PCV valve and oil seperator, probably around every 10K to 20K mile.
2- Always fill oil with 4 quarts, no more, no less.
3- At every oil change look for oil leaks, and always look for source.
4- Watch for fuel trim ratio, may reveal more, I have to do more investigation.

Most likely cause the lean condition.
=====================================
1- Clog PCV oil valve, started chain reaction that eventually lead to the lean condition.
2- Slow oxygen sensor, oxygen sensor was either already bad / slow ,or was bad / slow from the lean condition.
3- Loose air intake connection with supercharger. I am not sure which one happened first, bad oxygen sensor or the loose air intake connection, But one thing is for sure that almost every volvo T6 supercharger video I observed that the bolts were loose, causing the gap between the intake and the supercharger.
4- Less driving, I read in one of the forums that shorter distances allow oil accumulation in the PCV oil seperator box, which eventually leads to clogging.

Resources
=========
1- This video helped in understand the work I needed to remove and install the supercharger.

2- Sweed speed forums and other forums helped me understand the variables that can cause this problem.

*I hope now that I had this runs past 100k.

This is the picture of the old Oxygen sensor.

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