Posted by bob p on September 04, 2002 at 11:08:08:

In Reply to: oil in coolant on '95 850 turbo posted by Kevin Michael on August 31, 2002 at 09:08:12:

I have a '94 850T with 145K miles on it, had same problem, twice. Have a great Volvo mechanic who explained that head and gasket problems are very rare, most likely the problem is in the radiator because the turbo model sends the oil through a cooler in the radiator and it could be seeping into the coolant. Replace the radiator, voila, no more problem..... six months later, oil starts showing up in coolant reservoir again. He suggests that the radiator must be defective, so replaces it under warranty from first radiator, and the problem is gone again. Never had coolant in oil, always oil in coolant, suggesting that the oil pressure is higher than the coolant pressure, which it is. Annoying problem, but in the end I do believe that it is solved. Side problem, we burst a heater hose probably because the oil in the coolant will accelerate the decomposition of rubber hoses. These engines run very hot anyway (I live in FL), so coolant system has to be absolutely up to snuff. I just drove 1600 miles from Maine to FL in that hot spell in August, registering 100-103 degrees on the outside air temp computer for six hours a day, and car ran like a champ.

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