Symptoms of a dying head gasket?

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 17 Aug 2016, 22:44

Stay positive! I feel like there's always hope (with a turbo!) especially if you have no signs of sludge in the crankcase or oil in the reservoir...

Post by **erikv11** » 18 Aug 2016, 00:27

A head gasket failure can result in leakage in any direction between two or more of the three compartments (combustion, oil, coolant). You definitely don't need to see oil in the coolant, etc.

Post by **rspi** » 18 Aug 2016, 01:56

the65dartguy1 wrote:I have a 2000 V70R that has a strange coolant issue. It keeps on bubbling the coolant out of the reservoir. I replaced the reservoir and the two hoses going to it. Also replaced the main coolant hoses at the same time.

How often are you adding coolant?

the65dartguy1 · Post by **the65dartguy1** » 18 Aug 2016, 09:04

Well...test failed. Off to pull the head!

wrybread · Post by **wrybread** » 26 Nov 2020, 00:04

Old thread I know, but my 2000 s70 (non turbo) has exactly the same symptoms:

- bubbling reservoir, need to add a lot of water
- changed the thermostat
- no water in the oil or exhaust or smoking exhaust
- car runs great, isn't overheating, and is running perfectly smoothly

But a friend's kit detected CO in the coolant... I'm hoping his kit is just wrong.

But if you happen to get this post, what did you see if and when you took things apart?

In the meantime I added some head gasket sealant snakeoil to my coolant and burned some tea leaves.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Nov 2020, 03:42

The exhaust gas detector gives false negatives but not false positives. Time to get the head off, mill flat, new gasket

wrybread · Post by **wrybread** » 26 Nov 2020, 08:23

It's still running fine. Can anyone comment on what I can expect? How long will the car be usable? It's probably heading to the great junkyard in the sky when it's done, as opposed to the mechanic shop.

wrybread · Post by **wrybread** » 26 Nov 2020, 08:36

Also any clue how it happened? It's never come even close to over heating and never had a coolant leak until it started boiling with exhaust.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Nov 2020, 09:37

In CA a you can get away running straight water in moderate temperatures for a longtime, like 10-20k

Post by **FLXC90** » 26 Nov 2020, 21:38

FWIW I, and then my son drove a 98S70 N/A with that type of leak for almost three years. Just topped it up with distilled water. Added about every four days (around a cup or two a week) and never had a problem attributed to that. Ran with the needle at three o'clock, heat was strong...