I think I got taken

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 25 Sep 2010, 16:46

Good chance that it is the PCV - fix is pinned to the top of this forum. Oil around the spark plugs may or may not be coming from a clogged pcv. If you spill oil while filling it, it will end up there too. Clean it up and see if it comes back on its own. Are you leaking oil from the rear main seal? (This is another common result of a clogged PCV)

Post by **1997volvo850** » 25 Sep 2010, 17:20

The old expression "What were you thinking" comes into my head. Sounds like everything
went well for the test drive.

Anyway, while I have a 1997 Volvo 850 with Low Pressure Turbo, there may be some similarities.

My car was sluggish, lacked power, and didn't have much energy. I did a lot of things, changed the
plugs, tried treatments, etc. without any luck. I even had smoke coming out my tailpipe. I finally
notices my old rusted FUEL FILTER and changed it. It was like having installed a new engine in
my car. I didn't see anyone mention fuel filter.

One other thing. You mention heading out to get parts. The one thing folks have taught me here is
you don't skimp on parts for these cars. I do OEM for most of the critical parts and I get almost all
of my parts on-line at one of the site that advertises here. Mainly IPD and FCP Groton, Everything
associated with the timing belt (tensioner/rollers) I went with OEM. Water pump too. My sense is
these are more expensive, but so is having to do a job twice as a result of cheep parts.

Finally, the smoke out the dip stick. You need to determine if the PCV system is the problem.
MANY people replace their PCV system ONLY to find they still get smoke out the dipstick.
This is simply due to too much blow by for the PCV system to bent off.
The Volvo dealer told me to replace my PCV when I was getting a check engine for lean fuel
mixture. I went with the $17 fuel filter (fixed the problem and CE) over the $500 PCV job.

The one thing to do soon, in addition to the timing belt, is CLEAN the flame trap. If this is clean,
and the hoses from the crank are NOT clogged then excess pressure will vent back into the
intake and burn off. When clogged pressure builds up in the engine and ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

I bought a 850 unseen off of ebay so don't feel bad, Test drove well but had a few minor problems.
Ended up with a great car that has under 90K miles. I've also revived my other 850 with thanks to
this site.

Good luck,

jamesspringer · Post by **jamesspringer** » 25 Sep 2010, 18:25

I will try the fuel filter. I should be so lucky if that is the problem.

I couldn't check the compression with the kit from autozone. The wells are so deep with the volvo that after I put in the adapter, I can't get my fingers down there to screw on the hose for the gauge.

As for the flame trap, can I just take that out? I have read somewhere here that the part is not needed here in the US.

VolvoTurbo850 · Post by **VolvoTurbo850** » 25 Sep 2010, 23:04

well i know all my flame traps are .... missing

jamesspringer · Post by **jamesspringer** » 26 Sep 2010, 10:15

I will replace the fuel filter today. Is there a fuel cutoff somewhere? Is the tank going to start draining when I remove the old filter?

Post by **jblackburn** » 26 Sep 2010, 10:24

By all means get rid of the flame trap. It was a carry-over design from the old 4-cylinder motors that would occasionally backfire, and was left in the design of these as a precaution. But all it does in reality is clog.

Let the car sit for a few hours, and then bleed off any remaining fuel pressure at the schraeder valve at the drivers side of the fuel rail.

Just stick a bucket under there as you change the filter, but there shouldn't be much fuel left in the system afterward.

jamesspringer · Post by **jamesspringer** » 26 Sep 2010, 13:37

OK, fuel filter changed. Flame trap was already missing but the holder was full of oil and pretty gunked up. I washed it out with gasoline. The little rubber tube connected to the flame trap holder fits very loosely. Is that supposed to be a vacuum tube? As loose as it is, I don't think it will sustain much of a vacuum (if any).

Started it up and ran it a minute or two. Still white smoke coming from the dipstick.

jamesspringer · Post by **jamesspringer** » 26 Sep 2010, 14:05

1997volvo850 wrote:The old expression "What were you thinking" comes into my head. Sounds like everything
went well for the test drive.

Anyway, while I have a 1997 Volvo 850 with Low Pressure Turbo, there may be some similarities.

My car was sluggish, lacked power, and didn't have much energy. I did a lot of things, changed the
plugs, tried treatments, etc. without any luck. I even had smoke coming out my tailpipe. I finally
notices my old rusted FUEL FILTER and changed it. It was like having installed a new engine in
my car. I didn't see anyone mention fuel filter.

--------

Finally, the smoke out the dip stick. You need to determine if the PCV system is the problem.
MANY people replace their PCV system ONLY to find they still get smoke out the dipstick.
This is simply due to too much blow by for the PCV system to bent off.
The Volvo dealer told me to replace my PCV when I was getting a check engine for lean fuel
mixture. I went with the $17 fuel filter (fixed the problem and CE) over the $500 PCV job.

The one thing to do soon, in addition to the timing belt, is CLEAN the flame trap. If this is clean,
and the hoses from the crank are NOT clogged then excess pressure will vent back into the
intake and burn off. When clogged pressure builds up in the engine and ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

---

Good luck,

Thanks for the advice. I don't know if changing the fuel filter changed the power issues much. I am afraid to drive it or even run the engine more than a minute or two. If the PCV is really plugged, the pressure could blow out a seal couldn't it? THAT'S all I need.

The flame trap was already missing. Shouldn't the excess pressure be vented back into the intake and burned off as you said?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 27 Sep 2010, 21:49

SOP with a N/A 850 is to take the flame trap out an stomp on it so that it can never come back. All it does is clog the system up. Most of us threw them away years ago.

Don't base any decisions as to whether or not the flame tap is in place when you decide to re-do the PCV. The crankcase pressure will tell the story.

...Lee

jamesspringer · Post by **jamesspringer** » 28 Sep 2010, 06:08

Is there any other possible reason for the white smoke from the dipstick and oil blown all over the motor?

Do I risk blowing seals by driving the car in this condition for a short while before I get the chance to fix it?

Will fixing the PCV do anything to increase the pickup or make the engine run more evenly?

The timing belt was apparently changed 48k ago (date and milage on the cover). I took a peek inside the cover and the belt doesn't look cracked or dry-rotted. How can I tell if the timing is off? Can you fine-tune the timing at the distributor (by tightening or loosening bolts)?

Finally, what is the trick to checking the compression on these deep well cylinders? Is there a special tool for getting in there to tighten the adapter AFTER you finger tighten on the hose? I don't think there is room for a crow-foot.....

I think I got taken

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