98 S70 has oil in coolant!! 2.3 turbo

derbydog37 · Post by **derbydog37** » 06 Jul 2007, 15:36

After changing the coolant it runs fine with no smoking issues. After 20-25 miles it starts to smoke a bluish grey color and still has no miss. All cylinders check out the same on a compression test. It is a 2.3 with turbo and has 200,000 miles on it. I started it 3 days ago and drove it for about 15 minutes to see if i could see any leaks from a possible head gasket leak and lost 3/4 gallon of coolant. At idle there is no smoke to talk about but under acceleration and when letting off it starts to smoke. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated..Thanks.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Jul 2007, 18:25

How does the engine oil look? How does the coolant look? If it is oil is creamy and gunky or if the coolant is oily, chances are you have a bad radiator. If they otherwise look fine, compression test notwithstanding, I think you blew a head gasket.

...Lee

Post by **pfeener** » 06 Jul 2007, 19:34

Looking at this from a logical standpoint; if you lost 3/4 of a gallon of antifreeze in 15 minutes; that's a lot and you should be able to locate it. The options are:

1. leaked out on the ground - not likely you would have seen it.

2. leaked into a cylinder because of a blown head gasket - again not likely; you would have white smoke pouring out the tailpipe and a huge skip in the engine.

3. leaked into the oil either by way of a blown head gasket or a bad radiator - this is the most likely. What does your oil look like. Is it chocolate colored and frothy?

The title in your post talks about oil in the coolant but your actual post talks about loosing excessive amounts of anti-freeze. If you have oil in the coolant the most likely cause is a bad radiator. Could you talk about this some more and clear up this issue?

derbydog37 · Post by **derbydog37** » 06 Jul 2007, 19:39

The coolant looks like a creamy melted milk shake. I think the coolant may be escaping from the overflow. But why would it smoke? This thing runs like a scalded dog so i am assuming that it is not a blown head gasket. I had the hoses to the throttle body changed and it started this right after that. Could the one with the little hose coming out of it be clogged?l

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Jul 2007, 21:35

Radiator.

...Lee

sixdown · Post by **sixdown** » 08 Jul 2007, 07:07

Just to confirm this. I had the same problem and it was due to the radiator.

I`ve also heard of it happening due to a blown head gasket, as mentioned already.

derbydog37 · Post by **derbydog37** » 08 Jul 2007, 22:26

Ok....I am going to start with a radiator replacement....But why would it smoke so much out the exhaust? Thanks to all that have replied.

MadeInAmerica · Post by **MadeInAmerica** » 08 Jul 2007, 23:32

You say you are losing 3/4 of a gallon in 15 minutes out the exhaust. Well when I had that happen in my truck it was the head gasket. I dont see how it could be anything but the head gasket(an internal leak in the engine).

By the way when that happened to my truck it ruined the catalytic converter. The truck wouldnt pass smog after the head gasket was fixed. Put on a new cat and it passed.

sixdown · Post by **sixdown** » 09 Jul 2007, 05:06

Admittedly, I`ve had the problem of accelerating too heavily for a long period of time and seeing bluish smoke come out the back. Now, I know thats due to the head gasket, but it only happens to me at full end acceleration. The radiator problem I had happened when I first got the car...and it had less smoke than I get now at full accel.

All you`re seeing is burning oil.

Check both the gaskets and radiator, the radiator because of the milkshake frothiness you described.

dougoliver · Post by **dougoliver** » 30 Jul 2007, 14:29

OK, I'm not sure you gonna wanna hear this, but...

I have a '94 2.3 Turbo also (T5 here in the UK) it has now done 242000 miles (and I don't drive lightly !) - so that was the good news.

At 95000 miles a routine service picked up oil in the coolant. In it went for a suspected radiator problem - not the rad.

Head came off, not the gasket, head went for crack testing, no issues.
Turbo came off, went for crack testing, no issues. In the end the Volvo dealer then stripped the block and [here's the crunch] separated the two halves of the block - both halves were then crack tested and no issues found. They then re-glued (or whatever) the 2 halves back together, rebuilt the engine (without new parts, only gaskets/seals etc) and as i say it has now done 242000 miles and is going VERY well

They can only conclude it was the bonding between the 2 halves of the block that had broken down.

Good luck !!