Why is my 2013–2016 Volvo S60 T5 burning so much oil?

Short answer: Many 2013–2016 S60 T5s burn oil because the piston rings stick and stop scraping oil off the cylinder walls. Volvo has an oil consumption test and a technical journal that calls for new piston rings on the five-cylinder T5 (and new pistons and rings on the newer four-cylinder Drive-E). Start by having a Volvo dealer run the consumption test.

Symptom: The oil level drops between changes, a low oil warning comes on, or you need to add a quart every 800–1,500 miles, often with no visible leak or smoke.

What to check first

1. Check the oil every fill-up on level ground and write down mileage and how much you add.
2. Look for leaks first so a leak isn't mistaken for burning.
3. Ask a Volvo dealer for the oil consumption test. It documents how much oil the engine uses over a set distance.
4. Ask about the piston ring repair in Volvo's technical journal and whether any goodwill coverage applies.

Likely causes

1. Sticking or worn piston oil rings. Volvo's technical journal for the five-cylinder engine specifies piston ring replacement for high oil consumption.
2. Drive-E four-cylinder piston/ring design (2015.5+ T5). The same journal says the four-cylinder needs new pistons and rings because the revised rings need different grooves.
3. PCV (crankcase breather) problems. Worth checking, since a bad breather can pull oil into the intake.

What it usually costs

I couldn't find a reliable published price for the piston ring job. It's a major engine repair, so get a written quote, and ask Volvo about goodwill help if your car has documented consumption tests.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Yes, as long as you keep the oil full. Running low on oil can destroy the engine, and heavy oil burning can damage the catalytic converter and turbo over time. Carry a quart of the right oil and check it often.

DIY or shop?

DIY: checking and topping up. Shop: the consumption test and the ring repair (the engine has to come apart).

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• No recall covers oil consumption on the S60.
• Volvo technical journal on high oil consumption: for the five-cylinder T5 engine, replace the piston rings. For the four-cylinder Drive-E engine, replace pistons and rings together.
• NHTSA complaints: 49 keyword-matched complaints for Volvo S60 2013–2016 (of 195 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-17; keywords: oil consumption, burning oil, burns oil, low oil, oil level, quart, piston ring).

What owners report

• On SwedeSpeed, a 2013 S60 T5 owner posted oil consumption test results, another started another post about piston rings on a 2014 T5, and a third shared their oil consumption fix on a 2013 T5. Owners report new rings often stopped the burning, though not on every car.
• A shopper on r/Volvo asked if buying a 2015.5 S60 T5 five-cylinder is a terrible idea because of this issue.

My take

My advice as a former car salesman: when you're shopping for one of these, pull the dipstick before the test drive. If it's low or freshly topped up and the seller can't show consumption test paperwork, assume it burns oil and price it that way.

Vehicle focus: 2013–2016 Volvo S60 T5 (five-cylinder), plus 2015.5–2016 T5 Drive-E four-cylinder.

Safety / mechanic note

Running low on oil can destroy the engine. Verify with a mechanic.