Oil in Water
Oil in Water
My daughters 1998 S70 T5 with 145000 miles suddenly has a problem. She heard a noise and reported a tan sludge on the dip stick. Her friend at the volvo dealership said head gasget and around $1000 to fix. Went to her college today and did a compression test. Checked out OK 1-5....175,174,179,178,180. Checked the radiator resavoir and a noted dark cooler to the coolant and a oily texture. Checked the dip stick....no oil showing. Went and got oil and put 2 qts in. The oil fill cap shows no sign of water....just oil. Went for a ride, no nioise, and it runs fine....temp gauge a little higher than usual but didn't overheat. Checked oil again....still no oil on stick. Put in a 3rd qourt and went for a ride. Does show oil at the add 1 quart line. I noted the resavoir seems to be getting fuller. Any body care to comment....much appreciated! BillE
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JDS60R
- MVS Moderator
- Posts: 3532
- Joined: 21 February 2009
- Year and Model: 2007 S60R 2016 XC70
- Location: Mount Juliet, TN
- Been thanked: 3 times
Sounds like a failed radiator oil cooler or a head gasket. Remove the engine oil cooling lines from radiator and test cooler in radiator for leaks.
If this is the leak then connect the oil cooling lines together temporarily. Chemically flush the cooling system until very clean. Oil will strongly inhibit the ability for the heat to pass to the coolant where it touches in the coolant passages. Oddly enough any good radiator flush or liquid Cascade dishwasher detergent works great.
Then replace radiator,
Flush engine and change oil.
If head gasket then remove head after flushing radiator and engine , replace gasket, check for warp and repalce gasket and head if within spec.
If its a turbo I suggest the Volvo coolant and demineralized or distilled water. it will cost you $10 more than normal but it is a very good coolant.
Let us know if you need detailed instructions for the radiator or head removal and please let us know how it turned out. Pictures are great if possible.
If this is the leak then connect the oil cooling lines together temporarily. Chemically flush the cooling system until very clean. Oil will strongly inhibit the ability for the heat to pass to the coolant where it touches in the coolant passages. Oddly enough any good radiator flush or liquid Cascade dishwasher detergent works great.
Then replace radiator,
Flush engine and change oil.
If head gasket then remove head after flushing radiator and engine , replace gasket, check for warp and repalce gasket and head if within spec.
If its a turbo I suggest the Volvo coolant and demineralized or distilled water. it will cost you $10 more than normal but it is a very good coolant.
Let us know if you need detailed instructions for the radiator or head removal and please let us know how it turned out. Pictures are great if possible.
Retired
Thanks JD for your quick response. I kinda thought it could be the oil cooler because it happened so suddenly. Also the large amount of oil involved. It has never used oil since I bought it. I just had the oil changed about a month ago and my daughter only put 1200 miles on the car since then. Do you think i can drive it 25 miles from her college to my mechanics place? I would definitly put oil in it and stop if it starts to overheat. Thanks again! BillE
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JDS60R
- MVS Moderator
- Posts: 3532
- Joined: 21 February 2009
- Year and Model: 2007 S60R 2016 XC70
- Location: Mount Juliet, TN
- Been thanked: 3 times
I think the best advice I could give is to tow it.
Even if you have to run over to U-haul and rent a car carrier for a few bucks. Or call your mechanic. He maybe able to work something cheap out for you as he is doing the repair. I know I do a lot to get a repair to my place. I know many will disagree but we are talking about two of the most important systems in the car (lubrication and cooling) and they have both already been comprimised. Its just not good to drive a car with oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil.
This way you don't chance an overheat or more importantly the breakdown of the oil that is protecting the engine. It sounds like you took care of that car. I would hate to see that wasted. It might make it but who knows what damage could occur.
If you have to drive it (financial) then grab some rubber hose, hose clamps and some plugs. Plug the radiator where the oil lines went and properly connect the two oil lines together. This way you have bypassed the mixing of the fluids. I don't recall the exact fittings on that car but take whatever you would need to connect them safely, and plugs for the radiator.
I would rather have it towed by the mechanic and have him help you out on cost of the tow and repair together. This way you know when you get it back that you stopped any excess wear. With coolant in the oil you can put many miles of wear on an engine in a very short time.
Even if you have to run over to U-haul and rent a car carrier for a few bucks. Or call your mechanic. He maybe able to work something cheap out for you as he is doing the repair. I know I do a lot to get a repair to my place. I know many will disagree but we are talking about two of the most important systems in the car (lubrication and cooling) and they have both already been comprimised. Its just not good to drive a car with oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil.
This way you don't chance an overheat or more importantly the breakdown of the oil that is protecting the engine. It sounds like you took care of that car. I would hate to see that wasted. It might make it but who knows what damage could occur.
If you have to drive it (financial) then grab some rubber hose, hose clamps and some plugs. Plug the radiator where the oil lines went and properly connect the two oil lines together. This way you have bypassed the mixing of the fluids. I don't recall the exact fittings on that car but take whatever you would need to connect them safely, and plugs for the radiator.
I would rather have it towed by the mechanic and have him help you out on cost of the tow and repair together. This way you know when you get it back that you stopped any excess wear. With coolant in the oil you can put many miles of wear on an engine in a very short time.
Retired
Just got the T5 back today. All is good. My indy mechanic towed it for me. Turns out it was not the head gasket or the oil cooler. No oil in the antifreez. The pcv/oil trap was so clogged the engine couldn't function. I got the pcv kit from groton and my mechanic fixed me up. Runs great. Oil looks great. He suggests switching over to synthetic. Thanks to JD and the rest of the people on this great forum. BillE
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