Getting a suspicious 96 960 wagon

d277121 · Post by **d277121** » 24 Feb 2012, 12:21

I'm being offered a 1996 960 wagon with 113,000 miles and not sure if it's going to be more trouble than it's worth. It's an original owner car belonging to a very old couple who did regular maintenance but car has been sitting alot the last 5 years. It drives fine but I notice that the oil on the dipstick has that mild chocolate milk appearance that I recently experienced on my 87 760 turbo that reqired a $4000 rebuild. On the 960 I'm not noticing oil in the coolant reservoir like on my other car but I am concerned about the head gasket. Is it possible that if the car has been sitting around alot that the oil could take on this appearance? If I get this car and It needs a new gasket, is the expense going to be worth it? If I get the car and decide not to repair it, what do you think it would be worth to do it yourself mechanics wanting a project car? It's possible the car may be free but I don't want to have to put more into it than it will be worth. Thanks

Post by **jimmy57** » 24 Feb 2012, 15:41

milky dipstick can happen from short slow driving trips in cold weather or by someone who starts car and lets it idle for 10 min to keep the battery charged.
My mom's 95 960 had a rusty dipstick and cruddy oil filler cap but several short interval oil changes and highway driving usage took care of it and cleaned things up a lot.

Post by **fazool** » 24 Feb 2012, 15:53

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =4&t=46812

Condensation can cause a watery emulsion in the crankcase, but the appearance of oil in the coolant is suspicious. How do you see this ?

Also, even if free.......its free....so possibly worth it anyway.

Where are you located?

Post by **precopster** » 24 Feb 2012, 16:53

If you have access to a testing kit for the radiator I would get hold of one. The 960 has a great motor but is prone to most of the problems associated with the five cylinders.

d277121 · Post by **d277121** » 25 Feb 2012, 10:00

Thanks Jimmy, Fazool, and Precopster for the good advice. I'm hoping that it does turn out to be caused by just lack of driving. I think the owner does drive it only about a mile a week and probably does idle for a long warmup. I'm not seeing oil in the coolant overflow reservoir like I had seen in my 760 overheat episode. In that case there were floating insoluble oil globs sort of like a motor oil and vinegar salad dressing. When I take it to my mechanic I'll bring your helpful advice with me. I'll cross my fingers and hope it's anything but a head gasket.
John, Sacramento, Ca