Login Register

Recovering Lost Power

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
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

Post Reply
User avatar
WhatAmIDoing
Posts: 965
Joined: 30 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S/V70 T5M
Location: North America
Has thanked: 104 times
Been thanked: 105 times

Re: Recovering Lost Power

Post by WhatAmIDoing »

jtp wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 20:07 I’ve had this work before:

Shift into one of the lower gears at the bottom of the shift selector plate, get it up to 4K rpms more or less continuously for several minutes on a stretch of state highway. Repeat that multiple times in the same outing.

If what I’ve read is true there is a TSB out there that is basically a more extreme version of this where you just drive at high rpm for like 10-20 minutes straight. Idea is to clean intake valves for better sealing.

I can’t personally bring myself to keep the rpms up ten minutes straight so that’s my watered down version.
Did that today. Will see if things change. Compression test seemed to indicated that valves aren't stuck.

Just had a thought, maybe fuel pressure isn't high enough to support high load?
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:

User avatar
June
Posts: 2275
Joined: 4 May 2016
Year and Model: 2004 S80 T6,1991 740
Location: Arkansas
Has thanked: 523 times
Been thanked: 261 times

Post by June »

WhatAmIDoing wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 20:41
jtp wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 20:07 I’ve had this work before:

Shift into one of the lower gears at the bottom of the shift selector plate, get it up to 4K rpms more or less continuously for several minutes on a stretch of state highway. Repeat that multiple times in the same outing.

If what I’ve read is true there is a TSB out there that is basically a more extreme version of this where you just drive at high rpm for like 10-20 minutes straight. Idea is to clean intake valves for better sealing.

I can’t personally bring myself to keep the rpms up ten minutes straight so that’s my watered down version.
Did that today. Will see if things change. Compression test seemed to indicated that valves aren't stuck.

Just had a thought, maybe fuel pressure isn't high enough to support high load?
Lack of fuel would cause pinging? June
My Volvo cars owned
1989 740 GLT ordered
1994 850 4door standard shift ordered
1996 960 ordered
1998 S90 ordered totalled after 3 weeks
1998 V70 GT dealer stock car
2002 S80 T6 ordered totalled
2004 S80 T6 dealer stock car and current car owned

User avatar
WhatAmIDoing
Posts: 965
Joined: 30 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S/V70 T5M
Location: North America
Has thanked: 104 times
Been thanked: 105 times

Post by WhatAmIDoing »

June wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 20:59
WhatAmIDoing wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 20:41
jtp wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 20:07 I’ve had this work before:

Shift into one of the lower gears at the bottom of the shift selector plate, get it up to 4K rpms more or less continuously for several minutes on a stretch of state highway. Repeat that multiple times in the same outing.

If what I’ve read is true there is a TSB out there that is basically a more extreme version of this where you just drive at high rpm for like 10-20 minutes straight. Idea is to clean intake valves for better sealing.

I can’t personally bring myself to keep the rpms up ten minutes straight so that’s my watered down version.
Did that today. Will see if things change. Compression test seemed to indicated that valves aren't stuck.

Just had a thought, maybe fuel pressure isn't high enough to support high load?
Lack of fuel would cause pinging? June
Then maybe not that. I just don't get it. It's a beast the rest of the time, but once she hits an uphill grade it's like I'm hauling a 25 tonne trailer.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:

User avatar
SuperHerman
Posts: 1798
Joined: 1 December 2014
Year and Model: 2004 & 2016 XC90
Location: Minnesota
Been thanked: 207 times

Post by SuperHerman »

Were it me and I had a lack of power and an over boost situation I would focus on the turbo, its plumbing and boost solenoid like FLXC90 suggests.

Just went through this on my XC90 - it was a compromised hose. What codes are you getting?

User avatar
June
Posts: 2275
Joined: 4 May 2016
Year and Model: 2004 S80 T6,1991 740
Location: Arkansas
Has thanked: 523 times
Been thanked: 261 times

Post by June »

Perhaps the TCV is failing? June
My Volvo cars owned
1989 740 GLT ordered
1994 850 4door standard shift ordered
1996 960 ordered
1998 S90 ordered totalled after 3 weeks
1998 V70 GT dealer stock car
2002 S80 T6 ordered totalled
2004 S80 T6 dealer stock car and current car owned

User avatar
WhatAmIDoing
Posts: 965
Joined: 30 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S/V70 T5M
Location: North America
Has thanked: 104 times
Been thanked: 105 times

Post by WhatAmIDoing »

I'll inspect and try to smoke all the vacuum lines and hoses again tomorrow. Wish I had a known good TCV to test, but find it weird that it would boost fine on a flat but not uphill. I have codes for the evap system and for an unplugged downstream O2 sensor.

I just feel like even without the help of a turbo, it should hold more speed uphill than this. I would think an S70 NA could maintain 55mph on a 1 mile 6% grade, meanwhile I can barely do 45 before I hit the summit, and i was doing 80 at full throttle when I started the incline.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:

mecheng
Posts: 1271
Joined: 27 March 2014
Year and Model: 1998 Volvo S70 T5
Location: Ontario, Canada
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 21 times

Post by mecheng »

Squirt some WD-40 in your TCV, it could be getting lazy, but if you can change it. Check all your vacuum lines, they tend to degrade with time. Make sure you are using 89 octane minimum, you could be getting detonation and the car is adjusting the timing on the grades. Lastly, complete the tune up with air filter, fuel filter, and cap and rotor. If all else fails, adjust your waste gate actuator, but only a fine tune adjustment.
1998 Volvo S70 T5 - SE - 240km - Sold July 2018
1997 Volvo 850 GLT - 190km
Boost is my drug of choice

User avatar
jtp
Posts: 490
Joined: 3 October 2007
Year and Model: 99 v70R
Location: Westminster, MD
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Post by jtp »

Have you done a leakdown test since this issue started?

I've read ring wear problems can show up when driving uphill before they show up elsewhere.

I believe this is because there is more positive crank pressure to begin with on an uphill climb relative to flat pavement, so when you punch the gas while going uphill it's harder for worn rings to seal than when you punch it on a flat stretch.
99 V70R AWD
Almost 155K Miles
Breaking is how I know it’s working

98 S70NA (sold)
95 850 Turbo Wagon (RIP)

User avatar
WhatAmIDoing
Posts: 965
Joined: 30 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S/V70 T5M
Location: North America
Has thanked: 104 times
Been thanked: 105 times

Post by WhatAmIDoing »

jtp wrote: 06 Jun 2018, 09:20 Have you done a leakdown test since this issue started?

I've read ring wear problems can show up when driving uphill before they show up elsewhere.

I believe this is because there is more positive crank pressure to begin with on an uphill climb relative to flat pavement, so when you punch the gas while going uphill it's harder for worn rings to seal than when you punch it on a flat stretch.
Did a leak down test, 1,3,4,5 passed with flying colors. I couldn't get a good seal on #2 due to the plug coming out cross threaded.
mecheng wrote: 06 Jun 2018, 08:13 Squirt some WD-40 in your TCV, it could be getting lazy, but if you can change it. Check all your vacuum lines, they tend to degrade with time. Make sure you are using 89 octane minimum, you could be getting detonation and the car is adjusting the timing on the grades. Lastly, complete the tune up with air filter, fuel filter, and cap and rotor. If all else fails, adjust your waste gate actuator, but only a fine tune adjustment.
WD-40 into the TCV, is that safe? Or would silicon be better? TCV lines are in good shape. Running 93 octane. Air filter is brand new. Fuel filter and cap & rotor are only a year old. Inspecting the wastegate today.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post