850- antifreeze leak!!! Help

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » 19 Apr 2015, 11:44

95- 850- NA- losing a full overflow tank in 2 hours. Cleaned the entire engine...from underneath, it's on the driver's side of the engine. There is even antifreeze dripping from between the engine and tranny union. As I follow it up, it might be coming from around the distributer/ cam end area. Hard to tell cuz there are plates, etc hiding the end of the engine. Any clues? It's NOT hoses or hose connections. I didn't want to start taking stuff apart without some ideas. Is there a freeze-out plug on the end of the engine? Where else can fluid be coming from if not from hoses and hose unions? Does not appear to be the head gasket, as that is clean (from where I can see). HELP!

Post by **cn90** » 19 Apr 2015, 12:48

Maybe heater hoses connection at engine.

With the car this old (~20 years old), I'd replace:
1. Both radiator hoses
2. Reservoir/Cap
3. Hoses to and from reservoir
4. Heater hoses

PS: You have a non-turbo engine, so no need to worry about the 2 turbo coolant hoses.

See these links...

98 V70 T5 Replacing the Coolant Hoses in Pics
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=67217

DIY: 1998 Volvo S70 GLT Heater Core, Heater Hoses Rebuild!
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=69238

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » 19 Apr 2015, 12:56

If only it were the hoses. All have been checked, even put new clamps on all of the connections. It's coming from the end of the head...hopefully it aint the head gasket!

Post by **cn90** » 19 Apr 2015, 13:46

Extremely unusual to be from the head gasket, unless the car overheated in the past.

Do a pressure test and go from there. Make some kind of cap and hook it up to an air compressor set at 15 psi. Any leak will be obvious. Remove the air intake pipe, distributor wiring (mark them carefully before disconnecting)...it will be easier to spot the leak...

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 19 Apr 2015, 14:09

The heater hose can split back under the PCV line and it is very difficult to see.

...Lee

Post by **erikv11** » 19 Apr 2015, 15:56

Yes there is a freeze plug there at the back end of the head (driver's side), actually I think there are two of them. And there is a nipple threaded in, for the heater hose.

Post by **cn90** » 20 Apr 2015, 07:10

Ozark Lee wrote:The heater hose can split back under the PCV line and it is very difficult to see.

...Lee

1+,

In the 1st link I posted above, songzunhuang had similar experience: the heater hose split on the underside (right below where it attaches to the engine), dumping coolant rapidly.
You can't see it until the hose is removed from the car!!!

Post by **erikv11** » 20 Apr 2015, 08:55

To the OP: Yes triple checking the heater hoses for splits is a good idea, but your non-turbo car does not have a PCV line in that area so don't go scratching your head trying to figure out what is being referenced, just check the hoses ...