'98 V70 XC - Two problems,

Post by **jblackburn** » 22 Jan 2014, 15:48

Have you done a recent compression test?

Idk if it's eating coolant...but it is a possibility, especially for hard cranking. Another thing you can do is pull the plugs and see if one looks "steam-cleaned".

White "smoke" is normal for any car in cold weather, though.

mindshadow · Post by **mindshadow** » 23 Jan 2014, 07:58

Yeah, sorry. It's definitely blue in the morning. Probably is the cold weather for white smoke. Brain wasn't working right there. What do you mean by if the plugs look "steam cleaned"?

Last compression test was probably within the last 1.5 years. None of this crap started until after the most recent mechanic's visit though; it's never been difficult to start. When I pull the plugs they were clean, no oil on them, so that's a good sign. Coolant looked fine. I guess I need to check the oil and see if it's looking milky, to help rule out a head leak.

Post by **osman** » 23 Jan 2014, 12:37

Replace your ECT.

mindshadow · Post by **mindshadow** » 23 Jan 2014, 12:55

Three words, and you could be on to something osman. This DID just start when winter finally arrived in Alabama. That plus the erratic thermostat temps. I like this answer better than "your valves are shot" because I have no interest in rebuilding the head.

Post by **jblackburn** » 23 Jan 2014, 13:08

mindshadow wrote:Three words, and you could be on to something osman. This DID just start when winter finally arrived in Alabama. That plus the erratic thermostat temps. I like this answer better than "your valves are shot" because I have no interest in rebuilding the head.

ECT would explain hard start/fuel smell, not blue smoke, and I would agree. Blue smoke = oil = leaky valves (or oil entering intake from oil-covered hoses/intercooler).

Since your PCV was routed incorrectly, it could very well be oil ingested through soaked intake hoses. Pull one off - is it covered with oil?

mindshadow · Post by **mindshadow** » 23 Jan 2014, 13:33

jblackburn wrote:
mindshadow wrote:Three words, and you could be on to something osman. This DID just start when winter finally arrived in Alabama. That plus the erratic thermostat temps. I like this answer better than "your valves are shot" because I have no interest in rebuilding the head.
ECT would explain hard start/fuel smell, not blue smoke, and I would agree. Blue smoke = oil = leaky valves (or oil entering intake from oil-covered hoses/intercooler).

Since your PCV was routed incorrectly, it could very well be oil ingested through soaked intake hoses. Pull one off - is it covered with oil?

I'll check it out when I get home. If I can get the hard start dealt with, I'll just have the PCV job done at a good, reputable shop and call it good. Then all I'll need is my driveshaft back and my wagon will be almost new.

Post by **jblackburn** » 23 Jan 2014, 13:41

Is the oil dipstick smoking when the engine's warm? I thought the PCV had been done recently; just hooked up incorrectly?

mindshadow · Post by **mindshadow** » 23 Jan 2014, 13:49

There was definitely some back-pressure, but that was before I reconnected the hoses correctly.

PCV wasn't done REAL recently, just within the window of when it should be done. I suspect the shop cut corners, because it's had the blue puff in the morning for a while.

mindshadow · Post by **mindshadow** » 23 Jan 2014, 16:23

Can the ECT sensor be replaced without draining the coolant? I think I might can pull it without removing the thermostat. The thermostat should be new because I had the radiator replaced probably 15K miles ago so the thermostat should be new (had it done at the good mechanic). Of course I wouldn't know until I pulled it myself I guess.

Post by **JimBee** » 23 Jan 2014, 20:25

If it's like my '96 855 you'll need to drain some coolant — maybe a couple of quarts will do —so you can pull the hose cap off the t-stat housing. I don't think there's another way to get a wrench on the ECT.
If you drain it into a clean container you can put it back into the system when you're done.

BTW: be careful prying the electrical connector apart. While you have that open, clean out any rust or corrosion in the female part—there will be some. You can use a sheet metal or drywall screw with sharp threads. Just scrape up and down. Then a little dialectric grease on the contacts before you plug the new one together will ensure at least that connection won't cause a problem.