luisa_lion8
Volvo V40 Sludge and VANOS Issue
Summary of the thread
A 2016 Volvo V40 diesel exhibited increased fuel consumption and a check engine light, suspected to be caused by a faulty inlet VANOS mechanism. Potential causes included a defect in the camshaft solenoid valves or a power supply issue, with concerns about oil sludge or engine misfire. Error codes confirmed an issue with the inlet camshaft solenoid, likely due to sludge build-up. The recommended solution was to have the vehicle checked by a workshop, which confirmed the sludge issue and replaced the faulty solenoid, resolving the problem.
Did this summary help you solve your problem?
4 comment(s)
luisa_lion8 (community.author)
Yes, I retrieved error codes pointing towards the inlet camshaft solenoid. The oil was changed about 8,000 km ago, but perhaps the previous owner wasn’t so diligent with maintenance. Is it likely that this sludge buildup requires workshop level reparations, and might be indeed be the only reason for the malfunction?
lea_knight7
Solenoid errors usually mean either electrical fault or mechanical sticking. Since you saw the high fuel consumption, and the error codes point to the solenoid, it's probably jammed. Given the mileage, the odds are definitely pointing towards sludge. Best to get it checked – trying to ‘fix’ it yourself without proper cleaning could wreck the whole system. Expect to pay around 250€ for repair.
luisa_lion8 (community.author)
I took your advice and brought the car to a trusted workshop. They confirmed the sludge build-up and replaced the faulty solenoid. The issue has been resolved and the car runs smoothly. The repair cost was almost exactly as you predicted! Lesson learned: maintain your engine!
rmh_community_comment_box_header
community_crosslink_scanner_headline
community_crosslink_scanner_intro
community_crosslink_scanner_title
community_crosslink_scanner_price
community_crosslink_rmh_headline
community_crosslink_rmh_intro
community_crosslink_rmh_title
community_crosslink_rmh_subtitle
community_crosslink_rmh_brand
VOLVO
community_crosslink_rmh_model
V40
lea_knight7
VANOS issues on that engine are nasty. High fuel consumption + check engine light strongly suggests the variable timing isn't working correctly. Did you check for error codes? Also, when was the last time you changed your oil? Sludge build-up IS a real concern with these engines and can definitely affect the VANOS.