98 Volvo S70 Pre Purchase Checklist, gas port smoke?

ToriWhite · Post by **ToriWhite** » 24 Mar 2025, 10:55

Local listing for a 98 S70 at a reasonable price ($2k) - what sort of "gotcha!"s should I be looking out for? Is there anything specific to an automatic transmission?
One of the photos looks like smoke(?) stains coming out of the gas fill port. What on earth could THAT be from?

: smoke stains from gas port?; smoke.png (284.57 KiB) Viewed 1222 times

I like the price, but seller says they're "selling it for a friend". Probably innocuous, such circumstances do happen - but I really hope they don't use it to dodge questions when I look it over...

I've spent many years under the hood of an 850 (dropping sockets, mostly) and it'd be great to get another familiar car to work on. Some of you may remember me, this time last year my Volvo 850 got hit, and insurance co scrapped it.
However, this S70 is an automatic! Not super excited about auto transmissions, all I hear is that they're headache after headache. But when you have no car, and you need a car, well, you find a few headaches can suddenly be tolerated.

Post by **scot850** » 24 Mar 2025, 17:49

Good to hear from you again!

Not sure what that could be leaving that residue unless someone has tried to torch the car?

There is a fuel tank vent near the fuel filler, but I would not expect to see that residue unless it was someone with oily hands?

Neil.

ToriWhite · Post by **ToriWhite** » 24 Mar 2025, 18:09

scot850 wrote: ↑24 Mar 2025, 17:49 Good to hear from you again!

Not sure what that could be leaving that residue unless someone has tried to torch the car?

There is a fuel tank vent near the fuel filler, but I would not expect to see that residue unless it was someone with oily hands?

Neil.

Too bad the photos are low quality, it's ambiguous if its soot stains or just regular oily smear or something. I'm going to take a very close look and ask about it when I check on it Wednesday.

I struggle to think it would be related to a fire with the gas tank.. I would think that'd cause a lot more more visible problems than minor burn marks around the fill port - but what else could leave residue or fumes that'd stain like that? So strange.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Mar 2025, 00:45

Road dirt creeps up into the fuel fill area on these cars , especially in dusty desert country,

Transmissions on the P80 cars are solid and will code problems deeper than poor shifting. Take a look at the fluid on the dipstick for guidance.

jmartin919 · Post by **jmartin919** » 25 Mar 2025, 06:26

How many miles on it?

ToriWhite · Post by **ToriWhite** » 25 Mar 2025, 11:10

abscate wrote: ↑25 Mar 2025, 00:45 Transmissions on the P80 cars are solid and will code problems deeper than poor shifting. Take a look at the fluid on the dipstick for guidance.

Yeah, planning on being the weirdo to do the glove test and the full erikv 9 yards on this pre inspection. I can live with buying an automatic, but not a blown headgasket

jmartin919 wrote: ↑25 Mar 2025, 06:26 How many miles on it?

180k, but if my last volvo was any indicator- that's just a measurement of odometer lifespan than anything else.

jmartin919 · Post by **jmartin919** » 25 Mar 2025, 17:03

The main thing I'd be looking for are oil leaks, especially rear main seal. I assume it's not a turbo?

jmartin919 · Post by **jmartin919** » 25 Mar 2025, 17:05

Maybe do the glove test for the PCV system and check boots on CV axles.

ToriWhite · Post by **ToriWhite** » 25 Mar 2025, 21:46

Sigh.. Someone was quicker on the draw and it was bought out from under me

Back to the craigslist hunt! If I keep eating these swedish fish every day perhaps another volvo will come my way. Can only hope.