850 Turbo 1995 Cracked Engine Block?

gmanter · Post by **gmanter** » 25 Dec 2009, 10:42

Yikes , was not paying attention and may not have had enough anti-freeze in coolant. Following a recent 4 day cold snap we got low water signal. I noticed some oil foam in reservoir and pulled dipstick- bad news- there was some oil foam on stick.
We just got this car this year and the only Volvo I owned was a 122 when I was 20. Offhand I am thinking we likely cracked engine block. Looking for any insight on how one nails down source, or also beyond cracked engine block are there other ways to get oil and coolant mix?

Thanks Gary

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 25 Dec 2009, 10:56

If your radiator cracked, sometimes the oil and coolant can mix there as well. I'm not too familiar with possible damage associated with freezing weather in cars, but I would think a plastic radiator tank would be the first to crack under pressure.

gmanter · Post by **gmanter** » 25 Dec 2009, 11:26

New info-my son and I jacked up car and followed coolant leak. Leak starts from general vicinity of lower side of Turbocharger. . So at this point we know we have some mixing of oil and coolant as in there is foam on dipstick and some oil in coolant reservoir. Also coolant leaks from general vicinity of Turbo. once engine is running.
We opened the Haynes manual I got him for Xmas and it appears there is a coolant loop for turbo. News to me. Here is my question- is there a seal in turbo which isolates coolant from oil , if so is it possible my mixing of fluids is taking place at this location?
Tks Gary & Matthew

Post by **JDS60R** » 25 Dec 2009, 11:57

I agree you shuld check the radiator first as it has an oil cooler in it.

You can pressure test the turbo but the radiator failue is more common.

Please stop running th motor until the issue is resolved.
Remove the oil lines to the rad and pressure test the il cooler inside the radiator. There is one for the trans and one for the engine oil.

gmanter · Post by **gmanter** » 05 Jan 2010, 10:43

Appreciate help, I have a few comments/questions:

1) Turns out that antifreeze mixture was adequate and it is unlikely freezing contributed to problem.
2) A heater hose line was leaking and my son said that he did get a "low water" light on dash earlier in week. I aasume this was from heater hose leak.
3) Heater hose line has been replaced and we still get oil up in water reservoir. Sure sounds like your assessment of cracked oil cooler in radiator may be source. Will do pressure test as you suggest.
4) Am I correct that if oil cooler is gone we would replace entire radiator?
Thank You Gary

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 Jan 2010, 11:30

4) Am I correct that if oil cooler is gone we would replace entire radiator?

Yes, it is all one assembly. The motor is probably fine, but for the meantime, until you do a leakdown test, don't run it. Once (if) you determine the problem is the radiator and not a head gasket, change the oil and flush the cooling system before running it again.

gmanter · Post by **gmanter** » 10 Jan 2010, 09:45

Appreciate help, still seem to have problem- update.

We had a shop do a pressure test- they told us car was OK. Ran car for week short distances only and oil/water seemed stable. Car was run for couple hours on highway this week and clearly we have dropped a 3rd quart of oil and the water reservoir has an inch of engine oil foam on surface. Exhaust does appear slightly white when car is running, so it looks like issue is still with us. Looks like we better do testing ourselves, have some questions:

1) We have a haynes manual for this car yet it does not provide pressure test level instructions. Thinking as we like this car should probably get Volvo Service Manual- Best to get from Volvo or from Forum?
2) In order to do leak down test do we interface directly at radiator or do we tie in elswhere in system - any special fittings required.
3) What pressure do we bring cooling system to for test and is there a specified leakdown rate. If leak is in oil cooler would we likely see bubbles in radiator.
4) If issue is in oil cooler in radiator, can car be run short distance in winter minus this cooling loop as in we bypass cooler?
5) If issue is in head gasket would it be worth pulling spark plugs to see if one of them shows signs of contamination
6) If issue is in head gasket is there any value in checking torque on head retaining bolts
7) When I came into the forum page today I ran accross the add for Head Gasket sealer -"steelseal". Have you ever used this coolant additive?, would you consider trying it on our 95, 850 with 140K miles.

Thanks Gary