I bought a 2002 XC70, very clean, great price. Next morning I started the car and it ran rough for about 30 seconds. Then "Low Coolant" , and "Check Engine" lights came on. I took it to a mechanic, and he said cyl #4 had misfires, and I have a blown head gasket, & don't drive the car.
I took it to another guy who checked the spark plugs, the oil, the coolant and smelled the exhaust, and said I don't have a blown head gasket. Although spark plug #4 was browner than the others. He swapped #2 & #4 plugs and coils and said drive it for week, then come back and we'll check the new #4 plug. He recommended I put stop leak, in the coolant in case there is a small crack in the gasket.
It uses 1 cup of coolant a day, with no signs of leaking, and runs great!
Is there any way to tell if head gasket is blown with removing the head?
Is stop leak is a good idea?
2002 V70 XC Disappearing coolant & Misfire cyl#4
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FLXC90
- Posts: 1132
- Joined: 18 August 2014
- Year and Model: 98 V70 T5
- Location: Florida Panhandle
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You have a leaking head gasket. NAPA sells a Blok-Chek kit, $50. It detects the exhaust gasses in your coolant system (check Youtube). DO NOT use stop leak. and get a new mechanic for your Volvo. Better yet, use this board as a resource, and be your own mechanic. Or sell he car, because less knowledgeable mechanics will hurt your car, and your wallet.
Current Volvos:
1998 V70 T5, 112k sat 5 years, still in mechanical coma (finally at the top of the pile )
2004 XC90 T6 AWD: 186k, 60 on transaxle ( traded in )
1998 POS70 N/A: DD/training aid, 236k but really about 240k, I think...ABS module( passed on to son who sold it)
1998 V70 T5, 112k sat 5 years, still in mechanical coma (finally at the top of the pile )
2004 XC90 T6 AWD: 186k, 60 on transaxle ( traded in )
1998 POS70 N/A: DD/training aid, 236k but really about 240k, I think...ABS module( passed on to son who sold it)
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oragex
- Posts: 5347
- Joined: 24 May 2013
- Year and Model: S60 2003
- Location: Canada
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Great find Flx
It sells off Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Head-Gasket-Com ... ls&vxp=mtr
Youtube video - look at the end
It sells off Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Head-Gasket-Com ... ls&vxp=mtr
Youtube video - look at the end
Several Volvo Repair Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... s0FSVSOT_c
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draser
- Posts: 790
- Joined: 18 August 2011
- Year and Model: 2005 S60 2.5T
- Location: Detroit MI
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Did mechanics say how'd they determined the hg was blown or not, what test they performed?
A plug that's browner does not indicate coolant leak in cylinder, plug should be rather white since it's getting steam cleaned.
A plug that's browner does not indicate coolant leak in cylinder, plug should be rather white since it's getting steam cleaned.
2005 Volvo S60 2.5T, Zimmerman/Akebono brakes
2012 Honda Accord, EBC slotted rotors
2012 Honda Accord, EBC slotted rotors
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FLXC90
- Posts: 1132
- Joined: 18 August 2014
- Year and Model: 98 V70 T5
- Location: Florida Panhandle
- Has thanked: 16 times
- Been thanked: 45 times
LarryMo; I may have jumped the gun a little. But don't assume it does not have a bad head gasket until you check it right. The coolant may be low from a leak in a hose, heater core or radiator. But that is the common Volvo head gasket failure mode, coolant loss because it gets blown out the overflow during driving. plug that is brown may have oil crud on it. if it is different, it may be attributed to the misfire. Observe it for a couple local drives, pay especially close attention to the water temp guage. But remember, low coolant will mask temp issues. Find out which lights come back first.
Also, there are two ways to deal with a gasket leak: if it looses water quickly, it needs to be fixed immediately. Some people who were aware that their cars were losing water, but otherwise ran great drove them for months before they HAD to fix them. Read up, be aware, I wasn't trying to be a bully in my last post, but know how your car behaves, what the real failure symptoms are, and most importantly, If you can either perform the repairs yourself, or can afford to have someone else do them. If you read around this forum, you will see that a Volvo can be demanding and occasionally expensive to repair, but if maintained well, very rewarding and durable cars. End of my rant!
Also, there are two ways to deal with a gasket leak: if it looses water quickly, it needs to be fixed immediately. Some people who were aware that their cars were losing water, but otherwise ran great drove them for months before they HAD to fix them. Read up, be aware, I wasn't trying to be a bully in my last post, but know how your car behaves, what the real failure symptoms are, and most importantly, If you can either perform the repairs yourself, or can afford to have someone else do them. If you read around this forum, you will see that a Volvo can be demanding and occasionally expensive to repair, but if maintained well, very rewarding and durable cars. End of my rant!
Current Volvos:
1998 V70 T5, 112k sat 5 years, still in mechanical coma (finally at the top of the pile )
2004 XC90 T6 AWD: 186k, 60 on transaxle ( traded in )
1998 POS70 N/A: DD/training aid, 236k but really about 240k, I think...ABS module( passed on to son who sold it)
1998 V70 T5, 112k sat 5 years, still in mechanical coma (finally at the top of the pile )
2004 XC90 T6 AWD: 186k, 60 on transaxle ( traded in )
1998 POS70 N/A: DD/training aid, 236k but really about 240k, I think...ABS module( passed on to son who sold it)
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