incontinent Volvo - leaking close to the turbo

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 25 Aug 2016, 07:29

Low coolant light came on yesterday and the coolant was gone. I looked under the car and saw a drip from the two aluminum pipes that run on the driver's side of the car, front to back. I'll guess they are transmission cooler lines. I can't see the origin of the drip, but I can tell it's more towards the front of the car. A cursory look at the lower radiator hose and check for drips from the radiator didn't reveal anything, so I would like to ask what are the fault possibilities? It would be great to have an idea of what to look for before I go under the car Saturday. Thanks in advance..

1994 855T auto, 240K miles.....

Post by **tryingbe** » 25 Aug 2016, 07:52

The two pipes would be for power steering.

Cracked coolant surge crank, sweeping hoses, leaking heatercore, cracked radiator, etc.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 25 Aug 2016, 08:00

Thanks, but you're scattershotting. Only one of what you mention is under the car and as I said, I looked there.

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 25 Aug 2016, 08:30

I'd say check the lower radiator hose first - it's long, and runs along the engine, making it pretty exposed to both chemicals and temperature. Mine split right at the connection to the radiator, and was spraying coolant in a fine mist - probably helped along by some oil from the cooler lines.

- S

kippster41493 · Post by **kippster41493** » 25 Aug 2016, 08:33

azureblue wrote:Thanks, but you're scattershotting. Only one of what you mention is under the car and as I said, I looked there.

I think he is more posing the idea it could from any of those spots and leaking down on that a hose that's lower and it drips down off that hose so it may not necessarily leaking from down low. That's just where it's dripping from.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 25 Aug 2016, 09:02

Maybe heater hoses but those aren't known to break, and those are closer to the firewall.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 25 Aug 2016, 11:05

Sorry, didn't mean to be terse. i gotta quit posting before the coffee soaks in....
I checked everything top side coolant tank, heater hoses, but the drip is on the other side of the car, after the radiator, and the drip is somewhere along the transmission cooler lines - driver's side, from front to back. I can see the it originates in the area where the lines' front clamp is. Drips onto the cooler lines....

PS, transmission fluid and oil looks normal and nothing odd in the coolant tank either...

Post by **dyn blin** » 25 Aug 2016, 11:59

I personally would start with inspection of the turbo coolant inlet hose. It's within the general area, may leak without any sign of odor since there isn't a source of heat under it, & may leave only a very small stain under the car. Given its position and the contortions it takes to change, it's often neglected.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 25 Aug 2016, 13:17

You could be right here. I just crawled under the and there is a drip coming through the driver's side engine mounting bracket- the one below the turbo- through the hole in it. I can't see what is above it, and it is possible the metal tube could be resting on the upper side of the bracket. I see two rubber hoses there the look to be a bit too big, or maybe the clamp was tightened down too much. I wiped he rubber hoses ends that hook to the large metal water hose, and didn't find any coolant there. I thought maybe it was running down the hoses and dripping onto the EMB. So I can't see where the drip originates because of the bracket. So how should I go about finding and repairing the leak? I see a PITA coming on....

Post by **scot850** » 25 Aug 2016, 13:38

Sorry to be late to the party. +1 on the turbo coolant hoses, and also check the lower coolant hose that connects at the back of the block in the same area. The turbo is hard on these lines as the heat dries the pipes and makes them more likely to fail. Just replaced the lower hose on the project 850 NA as it was weeping from the rear connection.

If you want to check the coolant fan and ETC/temp sensor, I have posted on both subjects in the past 2-3 days and have been given input, and given input/feedback on how to check their operation.

Neil.