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Bad head gasket?

Help, Advice, Owners' Discussion and DIY Tutorials devoted to the second generation C70, S40 and V50 Volvos -- awkwardly model year 2004 ½ onwards -- plus where to go for advice and discussion on Volvo's sporty C30 Coupe powered by Volvo's ubiquitous inline 5-cylinder power plant.
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au6553
Posts: 1
Joined: 7 March 2026
Year and Model: 2008 Volvo S40
Location: Virginia

Bad head gasket?

Post by au6553 »

I looked under the oil cap and there is a little white. The dipstick looks ok and it runs fine.
It hasn’t been overheated.
See attached photos.
Do you think I have a bad head gasket?
IMG_0094.jpeg
IMG_0095.jpeg

scot850
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Joined: 5 April 2010
Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Post by scot850 »

From this? No.

If you do a lot of short trips when it is wet or cold or both, you can get a little condensation in the oil cap and sometimes on the dipstick. If a longer run on the highway does not clear it, then worry.

Clean the residue with brake cleaner and then monitor.

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold

Vova585
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Post by Vova585 »

If you are concerned and in need to have 99% certainty, I would suggest- replace oil and filter with a quality and correct oil(fcp, ipd sells those so you dont have to waste time researching grades, specs..). Drive it for around 1k with at least weekly good highway ride(20-30 min) as suggested above by sir scot850. After 1k suction a sample of oil(either harbor freight kit or a big 50cc syringe and a piece of plastic hose from your local hardware store) through the dip stick and send for analysis to the lab of your choosing(other members would be able to suggest possibly reputable names). But I would not stress at this time without all data. You also can rent/buy combustion leak detector and check your coolant for traces of exhaust . Good luck

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