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Excessive Oil Consumption on my 2018 Volvo XC60 T5 - Is this normal?

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Eric V. · rep 0 · May 22, 5:20 AM · 1 replies · solved · Question

Vehicle: 2018 Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum

Hey everyone,

I've been noticing that my 2018 Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum seems to be going through oil faster than I'd expect. I bought it used about a year ago, and I've had to add a quart of oil between oil changes (every 7,500 miles) a couple of times now. There are no visible leaks on my garage floor or around the engine bay that I can spot.

I'm not seeing any smoke from the exhaust, and the car runs perfectly fine otherwise. No warning lights on the dash either. Is this level of oil consumption normal for these T5 engines, or should I be concerned? I've heard some modern engines can use a bit of oil, but this feels a little excessive.

Has anyone else experienced this with their 2016-2026 Volvo, especially the T5 or T6 engines? Wondering if there's a known issue or a specific component I should have checked out. Any advice on what to look for or ask my mechanic would be greatly appreciated!

✓ Accepted solution

ClearTheCode Admin

ClearTheCode Team · rep 0 · May 22, 5:20 AM

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ClearTheCode admin answer:

Excessive oil consumption in modern engines, including Volvo's T5/T6, can be a concern, though a small amount of consumption is considered normal. Your experience of adding a quart every 7,500 miles warrants investigation, especially if it's increasing.

Here's what you should know and do:

  1. Monitor Consumption Accurately: Keep a log of when you add oil and how much. Ensure you're checking the oil level correctly (engine warm, turned off for 5-10 minutes on a level surface).

  2. Common Causes for Oil Consumption:

    • PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) System Issues: A clogged or failing PCV system (oil trap, hoses, or diaphragm) can lead to excessive crankcase pressure, forcing oil past seals or into the intake manifold to be burned. This is a common culprit in Volvo's Drive-E engines.
    • Piston Ring Wear/Carbon Buildup: Over time, piston rings can wear or become stuck due to carbon deposits, preventing them from sealing properly against the cylinder walls. This allows oil to enter the combustion chamber.
    • Valve Stem Seals: Worn or hardened valve stem seals can allow oil to leak past the valve guides into the combustion chamber.
    • Turbocharger Seals: If the turbocharger's internal seals fail, oil can leak into either the exhaust or intake side, leading to burning oil or oil in the intercooler system.

  3. Potential OBD Codes (if issues escalate):

    • While you don't have a Check Engine Light now, a failing PCV system can sometimes lead to vacuum leaks, triggering codes like P0171 (System Too Lean Bank 1) or P0174 (System Too Lean Bank 2).
    • If oil burning starts to affect the catalytic converter, you might see P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1).

  4. When to See a Shop:

    • If oil consumption increases significantly.
    • If you start to see blue smoke from the exhaust, especially on startup or acceleration.
    • If you notice a burning oil smell.
    • If the Check Engine Light illuminates.

  5. What a Shop Will Do:

    • A qualified Volvo technician will typically perform a thorough visual inspection for external leaks and check the PCV system for proper function (e.g., vacuum test, listening for unusual noises).
    • They may recommend a compression test and/or a leak-down test to assess the condition of the piston rings and valves.
    • In some cases, a bore scope inspection of the cylinders might be performed to look for scoring or excessive carbon buildup.
    • They will also check for any relevant Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) from Volvo that address oil consumption for your specific model year and engine.
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