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'98 V70 Water Leaking into Engine Bay

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
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bmdubya1198
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'98 V70 Water Leaking into Engine Bay

Post by bmdubya1198 »

Thank goodness the car isn't driveable right now anyway... it's got another leak.
It's been rainy here the past two days, and I had just put in new license plate lights, and I was going to test them. I opened the hood to jump the car, and I find water everywhere. Just looked like condensation from something, but it was definitely wet. The valve cover, spark plug cover, thermostat housing, radiator hose, brake booster, and battery were all wet. There is also and iridescent blue residue on the intercooler hose and strut tower, and green on the valve cover PCV hose. It won't come off, and it seems dry.
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I left the hood up and ran some water on the windshield to see how it drained. There was nothing coming in, but there was water pouring out near the steering rack. I'm pretty sure that is a drain that's supposed to be there (if anyone knows, that would be appreciated). It's on the passenger side, just in front of the fire wall.
I thought it could be that seal along the cowl where the wipers are, but it doesn't seem to be coming in there. It is broken, but that doesn't seem to be a big problem. However, water is dripping down right onto the brake fluid reservoir and brake booster through that cowl.
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Does anyone know where the leak is coming from, and how I can repair it? Should I run some RTV along the bottom of that cowl?
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regent
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Post by regent »

On the pictures it looks like water condensation rather than a leak, with most of it occurring on the metal srfaces. This can happen easily if the car has been sitting a long time in warm humid rainy weather.

I would blow the excessive moisture with some compressed air or even with a leaf blower before I start the engine, just for peace of mind.
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Post by bmdubya1198 »

That's what I think, but the turbo/exhaust manifold shield collects a lot of water.
It has been VERY warm, humid, and rainy today. Hopefully that's why, because I've never seen it like that before. Absolutely disgusting weather, I can't wait for it to get back down to the 50s, where it's supposed to be this time of year.
00 V70R Venetian Red/Charcoal M56 Swapped 214k
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Post by regent »

Yea, I was thinking about this condensation again...

You may want to ensure averything is dry in the High Voltage Department before attempting to crank.
Not sure if you have the coil-over-plug arrangement, but if so, remove that cover and the coils and dry them up nicely. If you have a distributor, coil(s) and HV wires to each plug, then you want to dry up those components accordingly, even 'the goodies' inside the distributor cap. Moisture + oil and dust contamination will cause high voltage surface breakdown on the insulation and cost you more time and $$$ down the road
Example of Precision: Measure with a Micrometer, mark it with Chalk, and then cut it with an Axe.
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Post by bmdubya1198 »

regent wrote:Yea, I was thinking about this condensation again...

You may want to ensure averything is dry in the High Voltage Department before attempting to crank.
Not sure if you have the coil-over-plug arrangement, but if so, remove that cover and the coils and dry them up nicely. If you have a distributor, coil(s) and HV wires to each plug, then you want to dry up those components accordingly, even 'the goodies' inside the distributor cap. Moisture + oil and dust contamination will cause high voltage surface breakdown on the insulation and cost you more time and $$$ down the road
Yeah, that's what I was a little concerned about. My distributor cap was a little damp.
00 V70R Venetian Red/Charcoal M56 Swapped 214k
07 XC90 V8 AWD Sport Titanium Grey/Black 220k
92 245 White/Beige 249k
91 944 Turbo 175k
…and a bunch of other stuff
Sold-
03 S60 2.4T
00 S70 GLT
98 V70 GLT
93 944
98 S90
95 850 GLT
01 S60 2.4T
05 S60R M66
08 S40 2.4i
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Post by gmh »

To the OP: There are drains for the cowl below the windshield on both sides of the engine. I've circled them in your photos. Each has a hose (about a foot long and 2in diameter) attached with a spring clip. Either remove the hoses, clean and replace or flush with water and compressed air. Once these are free, you'll have much less water in the engine compartment.
drivers side drain.jpg
drivers side drain.jpg (102.43 KiB) Viewed 3032 times
pass side drain.jpg
pass side drain.jpg (98.96 KiB) Viewed 3032 times
Gary

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Post by bmdubya1198 »

Okay, those ARE drains. Thank you, and I'll take a look at those today!
00 V70R Venetian Red/Charcoal M56 Swapped 214k
07 XC90 V8 AWD Sport Titanium Grey/Black 220k
92 245 White/Beige 249k
91 944 Turbo 175k
…and a bunch of other stuff
Sold-
03 S60 2.4T
00 S70 GLT
98 V70 GLT
93 944
98 S90
95 850 GLT
01 S60 2.4T
05 S60R M66
08 S40 2.4i
88 744 Turbo M46

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Post by abscate »

Yuo will need to clean the holes up top, where the hoses attach, too. It looks like they are blocked.

I'm sure you condensation is waterproofing and getting splashed onto the engine.
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