02 S60 2.4T burning coolant

[horseguytenn]

Have a 2002 S60 2.4T that seems to be burning coolant through the turbo. If you pop the hood it cranes steam/ssmoke coming off of expose steel area between turbo and exhaust pipe (by o2 sensor) and it blows out smoke/steam out exhaust.

Motor seems fine other and coolant is entering somewhere through or after turbo (I think). Point is pretty sure it is not head gasket or the like.

Seal or something in turbo?

[JDS60R]

Pull the exhaust shield - you could have popped out one of the turbo freeze plugs, sealing washers or cracked the housing.

What were you using for coolant mixture?

[abscate]

Much more likely a hose broken at turbo and a head gasket issue. The turbos on these cars are pretty bullet resistant.

[JDS60R]

Here are the lines to the turbo in case you want to check them. (see attached) You can see there is a small hose #10 that sits above the shield (in line with oxy sensor). I figured you would have checked that one already. But below there is another small hose #9. . There are also 2 lines on your oil cooler ( not in pic but on back of oil pan) and the clamps sometimes come loose. None of those would introduce coolant into the exhaust.

Let us know what you had for antifreeze as the turbo's often pop freeze plugs when they have an antifreeze mix that won't handle the temps we have recently had. You can also easily crack a housing with an antifreeze issue.

Because you said its blowing it out your exhaust we have to check how it got there. I would be thinking a cracked turbo center housing unless you are getting a sputter at idle and then we would suspect head gasket. You said head gasket is fine so I would focus on the turbo.

My next step would be to pressurize coolant system and pull either the oxy sensor or the downpipe to see where its coming from.

[horseguytenn]

Thanks all for the help! Pretty sure it's a headgasket. So.....here is the question.

It's either do a valve job and replace headgasket (2500 + bucks) or just swap motors. Have the shop space, engine hoist, and have swapped motors on several old chevys, are there any secret hurdles or craziness if we just swap motors. Found a matching motor locally with warranty for $600 and can keep mine for parts.

Please share your thoughts........and thank you for your time!!

[draser]

Well, it's your decission of course, since you know this engine best, but.. if you do the work yourself... even if you take head to shop for seat cut, guides and seals... that's a few hundred. Then you could get new con-rod and crank bearings which you may be able to replace leaving block in car. You could do new o-rings for oil pp as well. This is fun work, and you don't know what you get with the new engine. You could do PCV kit, injector o-rings as well. If you have access to gauges, you could at least pull head and check cyl wear to see if it's worth the trouble and cost. If you go this path you'll know what you have and end up with a good engine, maybe..

[horseguytenn]

For the head gasket it would go to the shop... $2500 plus. Engine swap I am pretty sure I can do myself. The motor that is in the vehicle I have no faith in as we have been chasing little things for 2 years. Why we are looking at just swapping motors. Either way a crap shoot.....but save $2000 with a simple swap. Most parts (turbo, water pump, timing belt, are all practically new) and I get to keep my motor as a parts engine.

So swaying towards swap.......any special tricks or hidden pitfalls? Have a well equipped shop......eengine hoist, etc.

Thanks for the info so far.....has been extremely helpful!!!

[oragex]

I believe it's pretty hard to swap on these

There's a good video about the head gasket- another pretty hard job, again. A used head shouldn't be that hard to find.