Possible blown head gasket 1996 850R

wackenhut · Post by **wackenhut** » 01 Jan 2024, 11:23

I have had issues with a intermittent no start issue with my 1996 Volvo 850R which no mechanic has been able to resolve.
Recently, I started the car and noticed it lost coolant and suspect it is a blown head gasket.
The car has roughly 253K miles.
As much as I love the car, I might be needing to just sell it and wanted to get thoughts from the forum.
The car's body is in great shape.
I have been looking for another 96/97 850R sedan as a replacement.

Post by **rguzz** » 01 Jan 2024, 11:41

Age old question for sure. When I burned my valves I needed a rack and pinion as well so might depend on where you are on the repair curve for other big items? Compression currently? Seven years after my repairs I'm still glad I kept the car though I'm feeling more than ever I need to stay in something more updated so I added a P3 to the stable which was a good compromise. Eventually, though the P80 will go simply because we are both aging, albeit gracefully, but nonetheless...have a good 2024, and have no regrets regardless of what you decide!

Post by **erikv11** » 01 Jan 2024, 23:16

Check inside the firewall and the carpets for both driver and passenger: any signs of wet coolant seepage?

It's tough to hang onto the P80 cars I am also thinking of handing my 95 R off to someone else.

Post by **foggydogg** » 02 Jan 2024, 06:54

wackenhut wrote: ↑01 Jan 2024, 11:23 Recently, I started the car and noticed it lost coolant and suspect it is a blown head gasket.

There are a couple dozen ways for coolant to escape the system; unless the car has obviously been overheated, a head gasket leak is the most unlikely. Are the coolant hoses original to the car ? Has the heater core ever been changed ? Does it make white smoke ? Crawl around under the dash as noted above, crawl under the car and have a good look at the bottom hose, pull the bottle up and check the feed hose, have a hard look at the hose on the coolant pipe at the back of the block. Turbo hoses are hard to see but be persistent. Top it off and drive it some, then see where things stand.
If it is shedding coolant there is a test for sensing exhaust gas at the top of the bottle.

wackenhut · Post by **wackenhut** » 02 Jan 2024, 12:38

Thanks, does a blown head gasket always result in a mixture of coolant with the oil? If I check the oil and it looks normal, does this rule out anything?

Post by **Sveedy** » 02 Jan 2024, 14:46

No, the oil and coolant do not always end up mixed together. If the head gasket fails at a cylinder, then that little bit of coolant will burn off before any chance of mixing with the oil, making the telltale sign of white smoke / vapor from the tail pipe.
I agree with others, that the coolant is probably leaking out somewhere. As foggy said, do the exhaust gas coolant test. I don't know if parts stores do that or not.