Engine blowing up, sort of.

TripleEight · Post by **TripleEight** » 07 Jan 2016, 00:22

Hey guys Im new here,
The site has been really helpful thanks to you all.

I have a pretty beat up 1995 850 that im pretty much trying to get every mile out of it while it lasts. Apparently its been neglected in the past by the previous owners to a point where its not worth restoring, torn leather, minor collision damage, interior panels falling apart, squeaking everywhere, suspension systems are pretty worn and mushy etc. etc. Still love the car as it drives like a tank and the 5 cylinders sounds great.

I do all the minor maintenance stuff like oil changes by myself, the biggest work I've done was the heater core replacement as hot coolant exploded on my feet.

Anyways the problem that i have now is that the car will not start. It first happened when i was driving to work and the car stalled on me, and i couldnt get it to start, ended up towing to AAA, got diagnostic saying its oil in the distributor and plug, which i dont think is the main problem, ended up towing it to my apartment since i can do all those for 1/4 the cost they where quoting me.
The car will turnover but not start, and if I let it crank for a couple of seconds, as it almost seems like its about to start, the car will make a POOF sound and white smoke will blow out of everywhere, and oil will pour out of the closed oil fill cap. Im guessing its the PVC system at this point and have started taking the intake area apart with the PVC diy here.
But im trying to figure out why or how a pressure will build up to the point where it blows up, since there is large amount of air and smoke coming out of the dipstick as im cranking, there cant be pressure building up right?

Is there a possibility that it can be a different problem other than the PVC? or should i tackle the PVC system first?

BTW the car passed inspection the day before it stalled.

Thanks

Post by **rspi** » 07 Jan 2016, 03:02

Did you read the no start thread?

Post by **erikv11** » 07 Jan 2016, 08:52

This is not just a simple, no-start. From what you have told us, I think the shop is probably right.
1. The PCV is badly clogged, especially the drain port into the oil pan.
2. The rear cam seal has blown out, and the distributor cap is doused in oil and moisture. This is probably the main cause of the no-start.

Fix the PCV, you can use DIY hoses and clean out the oil trap box to reduce the expense, clean out the cap and rotor with electrical parts cleaner and paper towels etc, put the cam seals back in, then try to start it.

Post by **j-dawg** » 07 Jan 2016, 20:35

Pop the dipstick out, wrap a rag lightly around it, and try to start it that way. It'll give those gases a vent path, so you can at least see if that's the problem.

Post by **erikv11** » 07 Jan 2016, 22:35

Doesn't hurt to try, sure, but it likely will not start until the oil and moisture is cleaned out from inside the distributor cap. I would say the chances are 99.999999% that the rear cam seals blew, given the crankcase pressure OP describes.

TripleEight · Post by **TripleEight** » 07 Jan 2016, 22:48

Thanks for the quick helpful reply guys.
I've yet to check out the no start thread, I will right after.

So far what i know now...
The car cranks and the motor sputters as it seems like it wants to start, and eventually it will go POOM! and white smoke everywhere, and this time is with the dipstick OUT and oil cap OFF, i also get a shot of oil out the dipstick hole at a pretty high velocity and a glob of oil popping out of the oil fill when it explodes. Another note is as Im cranking i get puffs of smoke coming out of the dipstick hole so Im guessing the pressure build up is happening deep inside the engine? I shouldn't be doing this over and over so its the last lol.

I took a look at the distributor and the plugs today and they all seem to be dry inside, no evidence of oil splatter, theres only a tiny bit of oil leaking from the cam seal. Plug wires did a good job sealing the plug hole, i did some cleaning and changed the spark plugs anyways, still no start. BTW the AAA guy quoted me $850 to replace the distributor, wires, and plugs...

I should of known i could clean the trap box lol, but I already ordered a PCV kit from FCPEuro, should get it by monday.

So far I got the air intake off up to the throttle body, Im trying to figure out how to remove the ERG piping, also need to find tools so i can get the bolts off the intake manifold. I found out the flame trap thing was clogged inside with a 1/3 inch of solid carbon, and the flame trap itself was so brittle it cracked as i punched the carbon out so i guess i can justify the new kit now lol.
I also poured seafoam into the crankcase and the trap box through the hose on the top to see if it does anything tomorrow.

Post by **erikv11** » 07 Jan 2016, 23:02

Ummmm guess I was wrong about the cam seals.

Sorry I have not worked with EGR, can't recommend anything for disassembly there. Check out the sections relevant to EGR in this thread, it may help: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=28973

The EGR is probably also completely coked up, you are going to have to do some major cleaning. There is a channel from the bottom of the oil trap through the block into the oil pan as mentioned; this must be completely cleaned so oil flows freely down into the pan. You'll see what I'm talking about when you get in there or search this site for pics of it.

That flame trap disc: just throw it away, it does nothing but get clogged.

Post by **tryingbe** » 08 Jan 2016, 06:37

Have you visually check the cam timing and the timing belt?

TripleEight · Post by **TripleEight** » 10 Jan 2016, 00:58

Back again,

So I have time till the PCV parts come so I replaced the plugs, cleaned the distributor and the rotor thing, still the same problem.
After about 20 sec cranking it goes POOF with white smoke everywhere, rag on the dipstick hole pops over from the force, and you can see residual white smoke whiffing out from the dipstick hole and oil filler hole (im hoping its not from the other seals).

One thing Im afraid of is that when the time comes when i actually get the motor started, the blow by gas is gonna blow up the seals, as the cranking alone is making a good amount of explosive force. Maybe i should not touch the car until i actually nail down the pressure build up, hopefully being the PCV pipes and trap.

Thanks for the link, its just what i needed with pictures.

No I haven't checked the cam timing or belt, and i probably wont know what im looking for either. Is there way to check if its in the right position?

Post by **tryingbe** » 10 Jan 2016, 05:09

Here are some of the reference sites you want to know.

www.youtube.com
www.google.com

They will have pictures and video of showing you how to check timing for a volvo 850. Just search for volvo 850 timing and spend a little time reading and watching.