1997 850T Engine Life

MichelleOverman · Post by **MichelleOverman** » 05 Feb 2009, 09:36

Warning: New to this site and likely ignorant!

I have been browsing the topics and have not seen one that specifically addresses my question so starting fresh.

I have an 1997 850T wagon and am curious what the average life (mileage) expectancy is for its engine. I am at 140,000 but she has been babied for every one of those miles and consistently maintained. My other car has passed an astonishing 300,000 mile mark and is still running fine but my mechanic just told me that a Volvo turbo engine is blessed if it passes 100K and I should be prepared for the worse.

Anyone have a ballpark range for possible engine life on my Volvo?

Post by **Sperry** » 05 Feb 2009, 10:38

I'd bet the engine is the last thing to go. Unless something goes that is too expensive to fix. [Think t-belt].

Post by **matthew1** » 05 Feb 2009, 11:13

I don't know that we've actually had an MVS forum user say that their Volvo inline-5 met its end without the T-belt breaking, total oil loss, etc. These engines are very robust. I think your mechanic doesn't work on Volvos very often.

JFO · Post by **JFO** » 05 Feb 2009, 14:39

There are many, many high mileage 850 and S/V70 turbo drivers on this and other Volvo forum sites, and you never hear about longevity issues with either the turbo or non turbo models, with normal care and maintenance. The exception as noted would be a catastrophic failure like a broken timing belt. You don't need to "prepare for the worst" over 100k.

Cheers
Jim

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 05 Feb 2009, 15:26

I've got three of them.

The '94 N/A has around 220k on the clock - zero engine problems and it burns less than a quart of oil every 5000 miles.

The '96 N/A has around 150k on the clock - no engine problems other than it is due for sump O rings and a reseal on the sump.

The '96 turbo has 146k on the clock - zero engine problems beyond a slight oil leak on the turbo line that I need to fix.

I want all of them to make at least 500k miles and I think that I can do it if I keep the maintenance up .

...Lee

meteg · Post by **meteg** » 05 Feb 2009, 16:14

the engine will last forever if:

you change the engine oil and filter on time
if you check your oil level everytime you refuel
if you dont have overheating problem or coolant leak in areas which is hard to see(heater core)
if you dont drive the car with minimum oil in the engine
if you replace the timing belt on time
if you replace the trans fluid every 30,000 miles or 5 yrs.if manual replace the fluid every two years.
make sure the car is filled with distilled water and with antifreeze equally %50 %50

use the same oil as much as possible and when topping oil up do not mix with other types of oil.. for example if you are using 5w-30 dont use 10-30 to top it up.

do not race the car after starting up in the cold, allow the car to idle for least 30 seconds before moving(this is necesary so the oil is pumped all sections of the engine.

if your car is a turbo then before switching off the ignition after a drive allow the car to idle for 1 mins then stop the engine.

these are what I always keep in mind.. if you apply these things your engine will last forever.. my engine got replaced after 550,000 kms (320,000) miles because the previous owner had overheating problem and didnt take care of the car properly and not maintaned it properly.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Feb 2009, 16:46

matthew1 wrote:I don't know that we've actually had an MVS forum user say that their Volvo inline-5 met its end without the T-belt breaking, total oil loss, etc. These engines are very robust. I think your mechanic doesn't work on Volvos very often.

I can attest to that...even the guy over on the Brickboard who was driving an 850 and pulling a trailer wherever he went lost his engine with the timing belt breaking. He was almost at 500,000 miles and kept posting that he was past due for a timing belt and wondered how much further he could go. Anyway, long story short, it was a weekly event to hear how many more miles he put on his 850- He had no intention of changing the belt- said he had gotten his money's worth out of his Volvo and was wanting a new one so he was going to let the engine self-destruct. Sure enough, it eventually did....

larryh · Post by **larryh** » 05 Feb 2009, 17:33

276,000 miles on my 94 850...TURBO... it uses no oil and purrs like a kitten.
Might be time for a new mechanic? It sounds like yours is old school and dislikes the modern cars (perhaps because he hasn't bothered to learn how to work on them

).

Japedo · Post by **Japedo** » 06 Feb 2009, 10:58

I have a 94 850 T with 478kilms. or "260 miles". The car has the original engine and tranny. The only problem I have had in 5 years is a blown headgasket, due to a heater hose breaking and the engine overheating. Which could have been avoided. The engine only burns half a quart between oil changes.
I have owned 3 volvo's and never had a turbo related problem. I know alot of ppl who are having to repeatedly replace their VW turbos. But the volvo turbos are solid.

japedo
94 850 turbo
01 V70 XC

MichelleOverman · Post by **MichelleOverman** » 06 Feb 2009, 21:09

Thank you so much for the reassurance and information. I am so very glad that I found this forum to ask.

She runs beautifully and has been religiously maintained (had the T belt replaced at 87K). I do have to add oil sometimes but am consistent. Glad to hear it is not just a given that her engine is going to start to fail soon.

Thanks.