Wondering about d24's

[IceV_760]

So, ive keep wondering one thing.
Here, in finland atleast, most d24 powered Volvos ( mostly 700s and 900's)
are driven approximately 400k miles and still runs, all of them
havent even been overbuild yet.

What i wonder, is why i keep reading, mostly USA's, to
to have their d24's ruined when they reach 100k miles?
Was it a lack of knowledge in services, or did
people drive them some bad way, like going to interstate
straight after getting car running? Any thoughts?
What people at all thinks/ speaks about d24's on USA/ other countries
than scandinavians.

[jbg]

Originally Posted by IceV_760

Was it a lack of knowledge in services, or did
people drive them some bad way, like going to interstate
straight after getting car running?

Hello IceV_760,

I think the comment above is accurate in that there are three main reasons:

1. Lack of knowledge in both factory-affiliated dealerships and independent shops (diesels in general, inferior oils, maintenance intervals);
2. An ignorant public at large not used to, or caring to know, the peculiarities of a 1970's designed diesel;
3. Poor fuel sources in many parts of the country.

I think with the introduction of the D24-T in the US (1983?), General Motors had already done significant damage to the perception of diesel passenger vehicles with the advent of the Oldsmobile 4.3L v6 and 5.7L v8 diesel engines. I am sure there are other factors, but I have heard the above reasons cited numerous times.

Anyone else in the US have thoughts on the matter?

[Jason]

I agree with what you say, and additionally a big fail on Volvo's part was recomending a 15,000 mile oil change interval. With high sulfur content diesel fuels in the 80s and into the early 90s, these engines burned dirty by todays standards. That is just too long to leave conventional oil in an engine. It gets contaminated with soot and increase the rate of wear on the engine and specificly on the piston rings. Running conventional oil, the change interval should have been 5k miles with a filter change each time. On top of the crazy long change interval, if I remember right the ownders manual recomends a filter change every OTHER time!!! Its like they wanted the engines to die early!

Jason

[RedArrow]

Originally Posted by Jason

I agree with what you say, and additionally a big fail on Volvo's part was recomending a 15,000 mile oil change interval. With high sulfur content diesel fuels in the 80s and into the early 90s, these engines burned dirty by todays standards. That is just too long to leave conventional oil in an engine. It gets contaminated with soot and increase the rate of wear on the engine and specificly on the piston rings. Running conventional oil, the change interval should have been 5k miles with a filter change each time. On top of the crazy long change interval, if I remember right the ownders manual recomends a filter change every OTHER time!!! Its like they wanted the engines to die early!

Jason

This is very true. I remember and i will never forget. People thought, even in Europe, (!) that you dont `have to` change your oil too often because `It`s a diesel, it runs forever`etc crap... NO! It won`t.
These cars and vw were blamed every single time their owners made a huge mistake.