96 850 GLT Drinking oil, coolant, smoke at start

[jefferino]

Thanks everyone. I did an oil change last night and found one thing....last oil change I was in a hurry so took it to a local "reputable" shop. They had the wrong oil filter on. It was MUCH smaller and I'm assuming is from the turbo. Therefore I would bet that was creating higher pressure and thus possibly leading to oil consumption.

On the positive, my oil was nice and dark coffee, no cream!

I was doing research and was about to mess with the heater core but read some cars have steel lines that could be the cuprit. Anyone know what years those were on? Mine is the 96 GLT non-turbo model. I just want to know before digging into it.

I am going to go mess with some rubber gloves thanks to the Volvo master's video And check the PCV.

You guys seriously saved me from buying a new car, I was about a day away from doing it.

[abscate]

If the carpet is wet, it's the heater core. A normal aspirated (NA) Volvo doesn't have a lot of coolant hoses other than the fat ones, unlike the turbos.

[rspi]

The best way to check for a heater core leak is to pull the carpet back on the drivers side, next to the gas pedal. Most people can smell it a little. Usually it leaks under the carpet so people can't see it past their floor mat and caret.

[jefferino]

So I did the glove test...I drove the car home and at a light was messing with my wife and punched it....saw some bluish (oil) smoke puff. I thought oh man, thats what it HAS to be burning oil. Burned my hand but put a glove and rubber band on and it was waiving at me.

Now the question...do I really have to replace the ENTIRE PCV system? I really am trying to not spend a lot and am so on the verge of buying a new car even though I really do like this car.

Right now it looks like my list of fixes needed:
- odometer gear
- washer sprayer
- driver CV
- now PCV
- heater core
- ball joints (not really bad but going)

I bought the car 3.5 years ago for $1000 and recently have done the front struts, strut caps, bushings, etc, front brake lines, rear brake hard line that ruptured, brakes all around, passenger axle.

Starting to wonder if its worth it for the money and safety of my family...

[abscate]

This car owes you nothing. It's safer than a lot of the tin boxes out there brand new.

Try cleaning the PCV..minimal cost in parts, just all labour

[jefferino]

This car owes you nothing. It's safer than a lot of the tin boxes out there brand new.

Try cleaning the PCV..minimal cost in parts, just all labour

Curious...if I was to upgrade to a newer, lower mileage Volvo what what you suggest as a mod to this site?

[jblackburn]

This car owes you nothing. It's safer than a lot of the tin boxes out there brand new.

Try cleaning the PCV..minimal cost in parts, just all labour

Curious...if I was to upgrade to a newer, lower mileage Volvo what what you suggest as a mod to this site?

For the PCV, you'd need the 3 hoses that connect to the oil trap box, an intake gasket, and some heater hose in replacement of the long, curvey oil trap to turbo intake hose. Should come out around $50-60 I think, last I priced it out.

Replacement? 2004-2007 S60/V70 or one of the 3.2 6's (though they do drink gas at an alarming rate). Avoid 2001-2002 models in their entirety.

[rspi]

Any 10+ year old car will have maintenance and upkeep repair cost. Try to calculate what the car is costing you per month and decide if you can get something cheaper. If you are doing repairs yourself, I doubt you can beat what these cars offer.