Login Register

Loss of coolant summary, please.

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
abscate
MVS Moderator
Posts: 35301
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
Has thanked: 1505 times
Been thanked: 3818 times

Re: Loss of coolant summary, please.

Post by abscate »

We can borescope them up here and look for whistle clean cylinders and pistons, but I’m betting a thin split hose somewhere
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

User avatar
Roger_850T
MVS Moderator
Posts: 351
Joined: 31 December 2013
Year and Model: 854T 1995
Location: Frederick MD
Been thanked: 26 times

Post by Roger_850T »

The trouble is that often when things leak hot, it evaporates immediately and can't be readily seen. My preferred way to look for coolant leaks is to pressurize cold. I have a "tee" fitting that I put in the line going to the top of the overflow tank, and I have a gauge and a Schrader valve. I'll pressurize it to ~15psi and wait. (Cap should vent at 1.5 bar, or 22.5psi.) It should hold pressure overnight, easily. (Dropping a few psi is ok, but should not get to zero.) When cold, you should be able to see the coolant leaking out, sooner or later. Pull the spark plugs, look down each bore. Leave it overnight - eventually drips will probably make it to the ground. Feel for wet carpet. Pull back the covers (carpet plus black plastic cover) and look at the bottom of the heater core. Check the edges of the radiator where the plastic end meets the core. Check where all the coolant hoses connect. With luck, you'll find it in 30 minutes, but maybe it will take overnight.

Good luck!

Roger
11 XC60 137k
08 V50 Project... Still in pieces
05 XC90 V8 213k
95 854T 350k Still my favorite daily driver
02 V70 186k+ Gave to my daughter, still going strong
03 S80 111k (crashed, but driver walked away unhurt)
93 945T 217k (gone to be parted out)
87 245 300k+ sold, still going afaik
84 264 Diesel, RIP at 160k
78 242 manual everything.
73 P1800ES, fun until the rust set in...

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post