2006 XC90 2.5T Timing Belt Flew Off

SoapyCoyote · Post by **SoapyCoyote** » 31 Jul 2017, 08:54

@Precopster, the years of the only two S60's in the yard are 2002 and 2003.

SoapyCoyote · Post by **SoapyCoyote** » 31 Jul 2017, 11:31

Danget! Both those S60 volvos 2002 and 2003 were almost a match, except they didn't have the CVVT camshaft for the intake, just the exhaust one. Oh well, I tried. I attempted to do a compession test by putting in the gage and turning the crank by hand, but after about 30 revolutions I still had no pressure, so I called that one a bad engine but who knows, my scope hasn't come in yet.

I've decided that I'm going to go ahead and go with Clear Water Cylinder Heads. Too difficult to find a matching head here locally and I'm running out of time before the fall semester starts and before I forget how to put this thing back together. Those S60's are beautiful cars though. I bet they haul donkey with that turbo engine. I know that my XC90 is pretty quick and fun to drive and its gotta be way heavier than those S60's with almost the same engine. I'm thinking about getting an S60 now hahaha. Thanks again guys for your help.

SoapyCoyote · Post by **SoapyCoyote** » 31 Jul 2017, 20:30

Welp now the whole town wants to give me their 2 cents. I do have to admit that there is a little bit of wobble at the top of the stroke on every piston, but mind you only at the top of the stroke. I made the mistake of showing that to my wife. She went up to "visit" with her mom and came back a few hours later telling me how her mom's friend the neighbor lady says I should change all of the rings because blah de blah the engine top and bottom wear together blah de blah I zoned out at that point.

Anyway, I told her that these Volvo engines go over 300,000 miles easily, and that these cylinder walls look great with crosshatch marks and everything. But I did promise her that I would ask the experts (you guys) and show them the video. So please, here's the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI5dTGq_C94

Please tell me I don't need to replace the piston rings. I have no idea how to do that but I'm sure I could learn, it's just that the engine was running fine before the timing belt flew off and that has nothing to do with the piston rings.

P.S. please excuse the paper towel debris on the tops of the pistons. I need to use my shop vac to clean them out but my kids got a hold of it so... never mind, that's another adventure for another day.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 31 Jul 2017, 23:23

At the top of the stroke any play is at its highest amount. Piston rings push out - so they will move. At the top of the stroke the resistance of everything below is at a minimum. Modern cars have piston rings that are not as rigid as old ones. I forgot the technical word - it will come to me at 4:00 am. If you had no play I would worry your oil rings were gunked up.

I think you are fine with the rings if the car was not burning oil before the mishap. Do all 5 cylinders exhibit the same amount of play? Did all five suffer valve contact?

I have mentioned it before - but have you sourced a used running engine? I have seen them as low as $600 on Craigslist with less than 150k. Your cylinder head will cost you $600 plus the gasket set - it may be a wash cost wise. Just more labor for you and your little helper.

Post by **precopster** » 01 Aug 2017, 07:59

You call that play?

I was hoping the 2003 would be the one for you because this was the first twin CVVT year. Too bad.

Yeah no oil burning before the event means you're pretty safe.

After having done about 5 head gaskets on Volvo whiteblocks I'd rather swap in an engine but that event has it's own dramas too.

SoapyCoyote · Post by **SoapyCoyote** » 01 Aug 2017, 22:08

Thanks guys, I needed to hear that. I'm new to all of this so I don't know what's normal and not. I appreciate your support and help with this project. I couldn't have gotten this far without you guys. The new head from Clearwater should be here sometime next Wednesday or Thursday. I ordered a new gasket set and new bolts. My friend from work is going to let me borrow a torque wrench, so I hopefully will be done with this project within the next 10 days or less.

Just for the record, I did seriously consider doing an engine swap instead of doing this head gasket. But I'm new to this and I found this video about doing a head gasket https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6TL52R81V0&t=454s but I couldn't find a similar video on doing an engine swap and hooking to the AWD transmission intimidated me. I also had hopes of just replacing these valves for $300 or $400 and putting the old head back on, but the clearances and $1000 estimate from the local machine shop put the kibosh on that. It didn't turn out how I planned it, but I've learned a TON over the past few weeks working on it and talking to you guys.

Now I know for next time. Next time I hear a little squeaking sound coming from the water pump side of the engine I'll know what to do. Maybe next time I can learn how to do an engine swap. Thanks again guys. Any advice to add to Robert's video?

Post by **oragex** » 05 Aug 2017, 11:56

SoapyCoyote wrote: ↑31 Jul 2017, 20:30 Welp now the whole town wants to give me their 2 cents. I do have to admit that there is a little bit of wobble at the top of the stroke on every piston, but mind you only at the top of the stroke. I made the mistake of showing that to my wife. She went up to "visit" with her mom and came back a few hours later telling me how her mom's friend the neighbor lady says I should change all of the rings because blah de blah the engine top and bottom wear together blah de blah I zoned out at that point.

If you just get an hour to waste sometime, google up and read various forums about a mechanical issue - for example when someone thinks his rings are stuck on the piston. As you go across the replies, you actually realize how many clueless people make firm and completely wrong suggestions/statements about the issue. Forums are full of people who think they know, because they've read something somewhere else, or because their father was thinking so, or worst, because Joe the mechanic was doing that for 30 years. I've rarely came across of more misleading information than on a car forum. That's why is always better to get more opinions then put them in a balance as much as possible. If I have a mechanical issue, I go across several forums and read dozens of opinions and even then, half the time I don't find a logical consensus.

There are other head gasket videos on Youtube, not necessarily the exact same engine but perhaps worth watching for their tricks.
For example

SoapyCoyote · Post by **SoapyCoyote** » 10 Aug 2017, 18:25

Nice videos thank you Oragex! I agree 100% with what you said, couldn't have said it better myself. I will watch those videos soon, and maybe therein I will find more answers to my current question.

My cylinder head came in today from Clearwater. My problem now is, it came without sprockets attached to the cams. I have to figure out how to remove the old sprockets from my old cams and attach them to my new cams correctly. Or can I just swap the whole old cams with the sprockets already attached? Anyone?

Post by **SuperHerman** » 10 Aug 2017, 19:20

Cams will wear to the head. Keep the cams that came with the head and move over the sprockets.

If the VVT hubs are attached - you are going to have fun. Post pictures so we can give you pointers before you start.

SoapyCoyote · Post by **SoapyCoyote** » 11 Aug 2017, 09:16

Here is a picture of the old head on the left and the new head on the right

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxrhCX ... NOEZF/view

My dilemma now is how do I move the sprockets and hubs from the old cams onto the new ones?

2006 XC90 2.5T Timing Belt Flew Off

Re: 2006 XC90 2.5T Timing Belt Flew Off