engine meltdown

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 10 Jul 2006, 15:50

So a friend of mine has also has a volvo -an S60 T5. She drove it with the coolant level low... I know, it terrible, but it gets even worse! She tells me that the car "just died" on a hot day while she was driving. Her car is in the volvo dealer's shop for the 2nd week now, the mechanics say that a cylinder head warped, it needs a new radiator, etc. $6900
What do you guys think about how the motor will run after it is rebuilt? Will compression suffer heavily(noticably)? reliability of the turbo? Power and throttle feel?

Post by **pfeener** » 10 Jul 2006, 19:09

Tough to tell. Obviously if the car died and the cylinder head is warped the engine and turbo suffered severe overheating. Being an all aluminum engine, my gut feel tells me it'll never be the same without a new engine and turbo.

So the real question.....does your friend sink money into the existing engine or bit the bullet now for a new/used one.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Jul 2006, 20:40

Gee...for $6900 a "new" used car can be had (but probably not an S-60 T5). My suggestion is to buy a good used engine with warranty from www.erievovo.com at a fraction of the cost and have the work done by a good indy mechanic that deals exclusively or almost exclusively with Volvo's, also for a fraction of the cost.

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 10 Jul 2006, 23:23

I was wondering the exact same thing, I see plenty of warrenty T5 motors with around the same mileage as her car (32k) for a lot less. I asked the mechanics about installing a new motor, and they said it's just cheaper to rebuild because of labor costs. That poor S60, what a shame -it still smells new inside.

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 11 Jul 2006, 00:19

I just finished reading some articles about engines overheating, and none of them mentioned permanent damage to the block -does this mean that the engine can potentially still have good compression after it has been repaired?

Post by **JRL** » 11 Jul 2006, 05:37

Oh, that's not true.
I've seen a Volvo engine literally almost melted inside from overheating.
If, in fact even if she wiped out just the head she is still better off buying a slightly used engine from www.erievovo.com which comes with a warranty.
Cheaper in the long (and the short) run.
Low mileage used engines are only about $1000-$1300. Labor about 1500+

Post by **billofdurham** » 11 Jul 2006, 12:14

does this mean that the engine can potentially still have good compression after it has been repaired?

Yes, but the operative word in your question is 'potentially'. It can also potentially have bad compression and for the amount of money being asked I would go along with the others and go for a different engine.

Volvo dealers are noted for taking your eyes out and coming back for the sockets. It is obviously in their bank balance's interest to do the repair.

Advise your friend to get a written warranty before they turn a spanner.

Bill.

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 24 Jul 2006, 19:41

So the final figure was $7200. They rebuilt the thing, and to my amazement, the insurance covered it! I got the mechanic to do compression tests on all 5cylinders, and the results are 162 plus or minus 3. Is that good compression for a T5 engine? I understand that it's good that none of the cylinders deviate very much from eachother. The car gets 14mpg average now, as opposed to 18.8 before the cylinder head was replaced. What could be causing this? Bad sensor(s)? How to find out? The dealer says to wait until 2 tanks of gas have gone through the system to get long-term mpg results. 200 miles in, and it's not looking good.

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 21 Nov 2006, 22:41

after about 5k, the fuel economy has gotten better, and surprisingly the cylinder pressure tests are all +- 4psi of 165. Don't know if those figures are good for this motor... Anyway, the car has been running 100%, no problems, normal fast S60 T5... close call