Regular oil changes are crucial for maintaining the engine performance of your 2016-2025 Volvo XC90. Driving on dirty oil can lead to unnecessary strain on your vehicle and costly repairs down the road. This step-by-step guide will show you how to do everything from draining the old oil to resetting the maintenance reminder. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or just someone looking to save money on maintenance costs, these steps will ensure your car gets the care it needs.
Vehicle Specifications
- Oil Type: Fully synthetic ACEA A5/B5
- Oil Capacity: 5.6 liters (L) / 5.9 quarts (Qts.)
- Oil Filter: Genuine Volvo OEM
- Drain Plug Torque: 28 nm
- Oil Change Interval: Every 3,000-5,000 miles
- Required Tools: Socket set, torx screwdriver, oil filter wrench, drain pan, funnel, paper towels
Step-by-Step Instructions
Draining the oil
- Before you begin, make sure your vehicle is parked on a level surface and the engine is cool.
- Locate the jack points under your vehicle and lift your car.
⚠️Warning: Give your vehicle the shove test before going under to ensure the car is secure on the jacks. If the car moves a lot, resecure the jacks. - To access the oil drain plug, you will need to remove the splash shield using a torx screwdriver. Put the torx bolts and the panel in a safe place for later.
- Find the drain plug, and place your drain pan underneath.
👍Pro Tip: Do not place the pan directly under the drain plug. The oil is under pressure and will flow out, not down. Instead, offset it so only part of your drain pan is underneath. - Unscrew the drain plug and put it in a safe place for later. Allow the oil to drain for at least five minutes. The more dirty oil you let drain out, the better.[Need an image of the panel under the car] [add vehicle field “drain_pan_location” or “drain_stopper”]
- While the oil is draining, find and remove the oil filter housing, and let that drain.
- Clean off the oil filter housing with a paper towel or microfiber cloth, and replace the o-ring.
- Remove the old oil filter, clean around the top of the oil filter housing, put a new filter in, and then put everything back in place.
- When the oil is finished draining, clean the drain plug and replace the washer. Wipe off the area around the drain, and screw the drain plug back in.
- If everything is tight, put the splash guard back in place.
Refilling the oil
- Lower the 2016-2025 Volvo XC90onto the ground and put the jacks away.
- Find and pull the hood release handle under the dashboard on the driver’s side. The release handle is marked with a hood symbol.
- Walk to the front of your vehicle and find the hood safety latch under the hood’s front edge. Push the latch to the side to fully release the hood.
- Find the oil filler cap in the engine bay and remove the cap.
👍Pro Tip: Clean the cap and the area around it with a paper towel or a microfiber cloth to prevent containments from entering the reservoir. - Refill the oil reservoir a little at a time so you don’t overfill. The Volvo XC90 has an oil sensor and not a dipstick. To check the oil level, you must drive for about 20 miles and let your car sit for five minutes for an accurate reading.
- Check the instrument cluster and dashboard for any warning lights.
- Monitor the dashboard during startup for proper oil pressure indication.
- To reset the oil service reminder on your 2016-2025 Volvo XC90, start with the car turned off, find the down arrow key on the left of your steering wheel, and turn the vehicle on while holding the button down. Watch the dashboard; the oil reminder light will flash three times, then you can release the steering wheel button, and the service reminder should be reset.
👍Pro Tip: If you are having trouble resetting your oil service reminder, see our guide, “2016-2025 Volvo XC90 – How to Reset Oil Service Reminder,” for more information. - Take your old oil to your local oil recycling plant or Auto Zone to properly dispose of it.
Important Notes
- Always use the correct oil type.
- Replace the drain plug washer at every oil change. Not replacing the washer can lead to leaks.
- Make sure the drain plug is screwed on tightly before putting more oil in.
- Clean the oil filter gasket before placing the new filter in.
- Document service date.
- Verify oil life reset.
Oil Life Reset Procedure
After completing the oil change, reset the maintenance reminder using either:
- Vehicle menu system through the instrument cluster.
- Manual reset procedure (press specific buttons).
- OBD scanner if required.
Sources:
FCP Euro. Volvo XC90 Oil Change DIY (2015-2021 SPA Volvo XC90 T5 Momentum, T6 Inscription, T8 R-Design). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdVWr6GKoM4.
Volvo XC90 Owner’s Manual, 2018.