Help? Diagnosis for coolant loss

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 03 Dec 2002, 07:43

I am in the process of purchasing a '89 240 from a friend, who can't find the title. Meanwhile, he has loaned me his '87 240 wagon, which I have been driving for about a month.

Here's the problem. He told me that I should probably add oil the next time I filled the tank. The hood release is sticky, and I am a new Volvo driver, so I didn't want to mess too much with it (force it). Asked him, asked another friend, finally decided to force it and got it opened. Had driven probably another tank's worth of gas before adding oil. During this time (~a week), I kept a close eye on the temperature guage to make certain that I wasn't running the car too hot. It never went up. During this week, I also noticed that the heater was functioning much less powerfully (the blower was fine, but there was little heat).

The car took three qts of oil. It was cool when I added the oil. Driving away from the gas station, after driving about a mile or two, the temperature guage shot up, and close to the red. I was close to home, so continued another mile or two, and the guage went back down to just above the middle.

I called my friend, who said...you probably need to add coolant. It did this to me about a month ago. Add water--no, you should probably add 1/2 and 1/2. I didn't have antifreeze at home, so I added water --it wasn't cold out. The car sizzled like a frying pan in water. I added about a gallon. The next day, I added antifreeze--and it took almost another gallon. The heat began to work again, and I was happy.

But it needs coolant added all the time, and when I add it, I can see where it begins to leak--just where it starts to go into the engine area.

Obviously, I must have done something very wrong. (Maybe adding coolant when it was hot?)

Can anybody give me an idea what the problem is with the car and a guess about how big a deal it is going to be to have it fixed?

Thanks,
Kate

kdhith · Post by **kdhith** » 03 Dec 2002, 07:46

Sorry--that should have identified me as "kdhith"

Anonymous wrote:I am in the process of purchasing a '89 240 from a friend, who can't find the title. Meanwhile, he has loaned me his '87 240 wagon, which I have been driving for about a month.

Here's the problem. He told me that I should probably add oil the next time I filled the tank. The hood release is sticky, and I am a new Volvo driver, so I didn't want to mess too much with it (force it). Asked him, asked another friend, finally decided to force it and got it opened. Had driven probably another tank's worth of gas before adding oil. During this time (~a week), I kept a close eye on the temperature guage to make certain that I wasn't running the car too hot. It never went up. During this week, I also noticed that the heater was functioning much less powerfully (the blower was fine, but there was little heat).

The car took three qts of oil. It was cool when I added the oil. Driving away from the gas station, after driving about a mile or two, the temperature guage shot up, and close to the red. I was close to home, so continued another mile or two, and the guage went back down to just above the middle.

I called my friend, who said...you probably need to add coolant. It did this to me about a month ago. Add water--no, you should probably add 1/2 and 1/2. I didn't have antifreeze at home, so I added water --it wasn't cold out. The car sizzled like a frying pan in water. I added about a gallon. The next day, I added antifreeze--and it took almost another gallon. The heat began to work again, and I was happy.

But it needs coolant added all the time, and when I add it, I can see where it begins to leak--just where it starts to go into the engine area.

Obviously, I must have done something very wrong. (Maybe adding coolant when it was hot?)

Can anybody give me an idea what the problem is with the car and a guess about how big a deal it is going to be to have it fixed?

Thanks,
Kate

arete · Post by **arete** » 03 Dec 2002, 07:57

I have a 240- "81 wagon. Make sure your radiator fan is working properly. Mine turned but not enough, especially at low speeds. The clutch didn't engage properly. A new one costs about $150 + instal, but I installed a thermostatically controlled electrical fan for $100 and it works very nice. Also make sure your radiator is open and functioning adequately. If you have alot of miles on it, and you are always boiling over, then think about replacing your radiator. If you have leaks, that is something else.

kdhith · Post by **kdhith** » 03 Dec 2002, 15:23

There's a big leak that begins as soon as I pour the coolant in!!

Kate

Post by **matthew1** » 03 Dec 2002, 16:04

Kate,
Can you tell what part the coolant is leaking from? Hose, clamp, metal or plastic. Any descriptions will help.

Also be careful w/ buying... they say never buy a car from a friend. Also, and more impt., is the title. I went thru a big 4 month hassle whereby the lease company (title holder) would not give up the title to the seller until all i's were dotted and t's crossed. So I (buyer) did a foolish thing: gave the buyer the money and crossed my fingers there was no funny business going on with the title. I had the car but no title for 4 months - very scary when it's $13,000. Don't mess with cars with wierd title issues.

There wasn't, luckily, any funny stuff going on but the whole process took a great deal of time, and the whole time my dad was saying, "you're getting taken. You're getting taken..."

kdhith · Post by **kdhith** » 03 Dec 2002, 18:49

OK, here goes--

If I stand on the passenger side of the car, the leak is just behind the two belts which apparently run the fan. It's at a metal connection, with a rubber ring visible (broken?) Forgive my ignorance, but it's at the bottom front passenger side of the part that I pour oil in. And it leaks like crazy, as soon as I pour the antifreeze in.

Just below this, but not connected is a large rubber hose which I guess is connected to the cooling system.

Does this make things any clearer?

Thanks for the feedback about the title. I won't take the car until my dear friend gives me the title. Meanwhile, I am driving and apparently destroying his car, so that should be more incentive for him to get the title in hand!

Thanks.
Kate

elerner1 · Post by **elerner1** » 04 Dec 2002, 00:39

you need a new water pump.

mattp · Post by **mattp** » 04 Dec 2002, 07:21

You could either have a bad gasket...the piece of rubber that goes between the water pump....the metal part that you say is leaking water and the engine OR you could be very lucky and it could just be a hose. Best thing to do is take it to a local auto parts store and ask them if they can take a look and identify the problem.. Most stores have no problem doing this. Good luck....I have an electronic problem with my 740 gl and it is getting REALLY expensive....I hope your luck is better than mine.

kdhith · Post by **kdhith** » 05 Dec 2002, 09:21

Based on what I learned from you all and some other searching, I am fairly certain that the problem is the water pump seal. I explained the symptoms to the local Volvo guy (not the Volvo dealer, but the Volvo-specialist mechanic) and he guessed the very same thing.

I asked him what how big a deal this is, and he said it's probably a "medium-deal." Maybe around $200. Does this seem right? It's a relief to me!

The car goes to him tomorrow for repair. I'll let you know what the official diagnosis turns out to be. Thanks again!

Kate