98 S70 is gulping engine coolant

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31 Jan 2005, 12:13

Last week, my check engine coolant light came on and I filled the tank with 50/50 antifreeze and water. A week later, the light came back on and the coolant level has dropped almost 2/3 down. Do Volvos really consume so much coolant over one week? What are possible reasons for the drop in coolant?

Post by **dosbricks** » 31 Jan 2005, 12:54

Always helps if you list your model, year, and mileage.

A pin hole can leak the amount you are describing when the system is hot and pressured up.

Most common would be a crack at the bottom of the plastic reservoir where the little hose attaches. Look for wet areas there and around all radiator and heater hoses and around the radiator. Feel the carpet inside under the dash next to the console (heater core location).

Worst case (but most unlikely) would be the head gasket.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31 Jan 2005, 13:21

I indicated make and year in the header, but not the mileage! Sorry! It's got 97000 on it.

So should I remove the plastic reservoir and inspect it?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31 Jan 2005, 16:59

I had this problem. However the coolant was leaking into the AC. Have you notice when driving your car a steamy build up on the window? If so its because the cooland leaking into the ac.

Post by **dosbricks** » 31 Jan 2005, 19:09

Anonymous wrote:I indicated make and year in the header, but not the mileage! Sorry! It's got 97000 on it.

So should I remove the plastic reservoir and inspect it?

Sorry I didn't pay better attention to your header. With 97k, inspecting the reservoir would be a good place to start. Coolant hoses will usually last over 100K on these cars, but you are about there. I changed ours at 100k just for reliability.

smithy · Post by **smithy** » 02 Feb 2005, 11:44

My 98 S70 had a similar problem and it was a cracked resevoir cap. That may not be the problem but worth it if it is because it's only a couple of dollars.