Fire trap, is it really that important to look after?

Ivans · Post by **Ivans** » 31 Dec 2009, 21:46

I take my 850 to regular service once or twice a year depending on the milage. And my question is would this fire trap be cleaned every service interval? Is this something that I need to pay attention to for once in a while?

I dont know much about car servicing as I normally just go and pay for it =D I went to volvo speed website and found a DIY article about it. And thought I'll ask here. Thanks.

Post by **t5rrr** » 31 Dec 2009, 22:42

Firstly, remove the flame trap and toss it into the bin, Volvo omitted them in the later 850/x70s.

Also remove the dipstick after the engine has warmed up and see if there is white smoke puffing out of the tube, that is an indication of a clogged PCV system.

Do a search for "pcv system" and "flame trap", many great discussions about this is all over MVS including this from the database:https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/2009/0 ... r-pcv-job/

Ivans · Post by **Ivans** » 01 Jan 2010, 12:43

Oh my...yes I noticed a white smoke puffing up the dipstick tube. The problem is I don't know how long this condition has been around. Would this cause problems?

By saying "toss in the bin" does it mean I need to replace the fire trap or just leave it without one?

I will look into this further. What does pcv stand for?

Thanks heaps

SidneyAB · Post by **SidneyAB** » 01 Jan 2010, 13:21

Ivans wrote:Oh my...yes I noticed a white smoke puffing up the dipstick tube. The problem is I don't know how long this condition has been around. Would this cause problems?

By saying "toss in the bin" does it mean I need to replace the fire trap or just leave it without one?

I will look into this further. What does pcv stand for?

Thanks heaps

I copy this from VADIS:

PCV System description.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 02 Jan 2010, 13:46

PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. You can throw the flame trap away w/o replacing it. A clogged PCV system can cause several problems. A rear main seal (RMS) leak can be caused by a clogged PCV system. I think performance could suffer from a clogged PCV system too.

Post by **patrioty3k** » 02 Jan 2010, 15:29

So the flame trap is also referred to as the oil trap?And you're saying that a turbo system does not need that?My '95 850 turbo s/w does leak oil,but not excessively,i do smell oil inside car when stopped at light and have couple drops on ground...also @194k,but she's just broken in...thanks

Post by **misha** » 02 Jan 2010, 16:22

Turbo models don't have flame trap.

Polskamafia was saying that Volvo quit with putting flame trap to models made from '97 and later.To be more precise....in s,v70 non-turbo models.

'97 850 models still have them but,as i heard at this forum,it's totally safe to pull them out & throw away.

Post by **misha** » 02 Jan 2010, 16:30

Ivans wrote:...my question is would this fire trap be cleaned every service interval? Is this something that I need to pay attention to for once in a while?

It's recommended to inspect & clean flame trap,if necessary,at every oil change.
It can make a lot of problems when it cloggs up,like higher oil consumption,poor performance...it can also blow the oil via oil filler cap,etc.

When flame trap become clogged the engine can't breath properly and,like pcv system is clogged,it can blow some oil seals at the engine.

Volvo stopped putting them from '98 in s,v70 models.You can pull it out and throw it away.As i heard at this board,it's totally safe.

Ivans · Post by **Ivans** » 02 Jan 2010, 16:36

I just noticed when I open up the hose that's connecting the airbox and the throttle body that the flame trap is already gone missing... It appears the mechanic where I took the car for service took it out.

Post by **misha** » 02 Jan 2010, 16:44

It looks like this: