HEADGASKET TROUBLES 1998 v70 T5 2.3 Turbo

[stoutlogic]

This is my first experience owning a Volvo. Bougth the car about a month ago with 111,000. Wagon is fully loaded, leather interior in very good shape as well as the exterior black paint. She drives well minus what appears to be the usual rattle from the plastic tailgate and the orange check engine light which holds a P0455, large evap leak code.

Anyway the short of it is I have what seems to be two problems, first the P0455 code and second and more concerning is water /coolant in the oil, not good. Compression test shows two ajacent cylinders are low, about 50psi compared with the other three which are 180psi.

Has anyone had experience / advice on replacing the headgasket on this engine? Will I need any special tools other then the usual? I don't want to get into it and find I need Volvo tool # *&^%&&!. My plan is to remove the head and have it check for flattness/ square, machine if necessary and reinstall. While I'm at it I'll replace the timiing belt / tensioner as well. Anything else I should consider while I go her opened?

[Ghassan]

My car has 180000miles . I live in cold climate of quebec, canada. My garage says that my car has the first signs of head gasket leak (white poweder somewhere near turbo).

I was assuming that car of this category will have a gasket that lasts until 200,000miles.

[White850Turbo]

My car has 180000miles . I live in cold climate of quebec, canada. My garage says that my car has the first signs of head gasket leak (white poweder somewhere near turbo).

I was assuming that car of this category will have a gasket that lasts until 200,000miles.

You gotta be kidding me. If your garage thinks that dried anti-freeze on the turbo is a blown headgasket, you need to find a new garage. There's a good chance that the hose just isn't sealing properly on the coolant line and is leaking a bit of coolant.

[Ghassan]

Thank you for replying.

I check my fluids weekly. Recently I noticed that my coolant level is not at max and drops down to miniumum and stays there. One day I parked the car and left it standing for two days. Then after the 2 day period, I checked the level and found there was no coolant at all. I couldn't identify coolant trace on the snow covered tarmac. The garage didn't find any signs of external leakage but said they found white powder in the pipe leading to the turbo. The white powder, he said, is coolant exiting with the exhaust. He said that gasket only leaks when the engine is cold; this means I don't burn coolant as I drive but only at start up.

I have to wait for the weather to cool down before I can see a repeat of the sudden coolant loss. I will keep you guys posted.

To collaborate, i spoke to another mechanic who works at the dealership. He couldn't be 100% sure about the coolant residue in the tubing leading to the turbo. He agreed that it was 10 to 12 hours of labour for the turbo. He said that gasket failures from his experience tend to be random failures once the car reaches 120,000kilometers. It could happen at 120,000kilometers or at 160,000 or at 180,000km.

Although the 260,000 km on my car is high mileage, my contention is that it is still a failure that should be deferred well into the 300,000km range. This is because I don't solicit the engine when it is cold I treat the car with sensitivity even though I frequenlty drive at aggressive engine speeds and aggressive decelerations. I have had the car since the year 2000 and have kept every single record and reciept. I bought the car used at 120,000km; the previous owner didn't take care of it since he had leased it. They found sludge everywhere when the turbo brokedown at 125,000km (covered under warranty).

Thanks.
Ghassan.

[Ghassan]

My car has 180000miles . I live in cold climate of quebec, canada. My garage says that my car has the first signs of head gasket leak (white poweder somewhere near turbo).

I was assuming that car of this category will have a gasket that lasts until 200,000miles.

You gotta be kidding me. If your garage thinks that dried anti-freeze on the turbo is a blown headgasket, you need to find a new garage. There's a good chance that the hose just isn't sealing properly on the coolant line and is leaking a bit of coolant.

Hi,

Can you please elaborate on how the cooling system is routed around the turbo? I want to be equipped with knowledge before taking this case to the garage. Will this type of leak cause a external leak or an internal leak? The leak is extremely slow. It is not leaving behind any trace on the tarmac (I even placed large flat cardboards under the car to catch any fluids but there none have been found because the leak seems to be extremely gradual).

Thanks.

Ghassan.

[phriedone]

Sounds like a head gasket...any "smoke"( White...or Gray?)...do you get poor mileage...is the Anti -freeze dis- colored?be carefull with the cam covers and ends on the block....both are very easy to brake

[Ghassan]

Sounds like a head gasket...any "smoke"( White...or Gray?)...do you get poor mileage...is the Anti -freeze dis- colored?be carefull with the cam covers and ends on the block....both are very easy to brake

Hi,

RE Smoke: There is no sign of smoke even at start up.

RE Fuel Consumption: I have compared fuel consumption with my other 2 sport sedans and the volvo provides better fuel consumption even though it is old and Faster. I did actual fuel consumption comparisons from the onboard digital fuel consumption indicator. The volvo repeatedly provides better mpg.

RE Antifreeze: The anti freeze appears perfect. There is no sign of discoloration.

[MadeInJapan]

Ghassan,
The more I read your posts, I wonder if anything is really wrong with your car at all...I'm almost wanting to suspect that you have a coolant leak somewhere...maybe your expansion tank is cracked and you always loose it after it warms up from the engine and it expands. When it's sitting and it's cold it won't leak....is this a possibility?