'98 V70R 185K Lots of White Smoke

[BigRed]

It was -10 degrees with windchill yesterday, and I started my V70R and went back inside for 10 minutes. When I went back out and opened the door, the cabin smelled horrible of "old car exhaust". I noticed the exhaust appeared more dense than usual, and the wind happened to be blowing it right along passenger side where air intake for the cabin is. When I pulled out, the smoke screen visible in rear view mirror started. When I gave it substantial throttle to climb hill, it became so thick I couldn't see a thing behind me.

The smoke is dense white, and smells of burning oil. There is no perceptible difference in how the engine running since this started yesterday (I drove a few miles to pharmacy and back), and the check engine light is not on. When I looked under hood there was a bit of oil puked up and pooling around the wire for #3. I'm thinking this was from oil filler seal, but not sure. I did glove test and there is vacuum at the dipstick. When the engine speed is raised, it momentarily changes to positive pressure, but then resumes being vacuum.

A little history on vehicle; it is about 7K miles and 18 months post a DIY head job with Clearwater re-manufactued assembly. The PCV was done at the same time. Some parts of PCV job are not OE; bulk vacuum and heater used for the usual suspects back to PTC, but the box and breather hose to top of head are new OE. Before the head job, and still persisting after there is a short lived blue smoke at start-up.

I plan to do a compression test for piece of mind, but I'm thinking oil is entering the exhaust from the Turbo. I'm on familiar with the concept in theory but not the specifics on how it connects, and what specific seal failed. In either event, with it being -10 degrees, and with currently finishing out my 2 weeks notice before starting a new job (and thus having 0 time off for awhile) I will need to pay someone to do this. Assuming consensus on the diagnosis, what can I do to confirm failure before shopping for someone to do the work? Any estimates on what I am looking to pay in labor to R&R Turbo? And any recommendations on where to purchase a re-manufactured Turbo?

[scot850]

When these engines get really cold, the intercoolers can freeze, and in worst case cause the car to refuse to move. I had a 98 V70XC and when it was cold, you were sure it had a blown head gasket with the dense white/grey smoke behind the car. I had replaced PCV, cleaned the PTC, checked that everything was cleaned, replaced the SAS pump and valve (this did help somewhat).

However, in my case, once the car was warm, the smoke levels returned to normal.

Never really got to the bottom of the issue, but car ran like that only in winter, at low temps > -10C. Once warm at even lower temps it was no worse than other cars.

Appreciate it is a risk, but it may be worth taking the car for a gentle longer run to allow the car to get properly warm, and see if the issue diminishes or goes away.

I eventually removed the intercooler and had it flushed, drilled a 1/8" hole at the lowest point to allow condensation to drain, and also drilled a similar sized hole in the bottom of the SAS pump case to allow moisture to drain from there also.

As long as I have owned Volvos (over 45 years), they have always gathered a lot of moisture in the muffler systems if not driven regularly for a good distance to allow all the moisture to burn off. So if you do a lot of short runs, take the car for a decent run to blown it out once in a while.

Also, have a check of the intercooler rubber pipes when the air temp is this cold as you may be surprised to see them collapsing, which can get worse as the rubber ages and becomes softer with the oil in them.

Neil.

[Sommerfeldt]

My '96 850 T5 does this same thing. It's been down to about -5 F here this last week, and there's always an impressive cloud of white smoke until it gets warm-ish. I've always found that it disappears when the temp goes up a bit, and with a couple of 850s on my conscience, I can attest that all of them have behaved the same way.

That doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with yours, of course, but I'd say that the dense white cloud is pretty normal, at least.

- S

[BigRed]

I sure hope it's just related to the extreme cold. It's going to be in to the 20's tomorrow, so I'll take it for a run.

Anything about the super low temp that would make the exhaust smell so bad (which was filling the cabin with the defroster on)? Despite it's age and mileage, it doesn't stink like other older cars I've owned (including a '96 855t). As for the IC hoses, they are all in tip-top shape having been replaced with silicone few years back; they're not collapsing.

[scot850]

Normally a bad smelling exhaust is due to a failing cat, but it could be your engine is running overly rich. Take the car for a run like you say, and get it good and warm, but watch out in case there is something else going on. Watch the temp needle and oil pressure. Once the car is good and warm, pull over and check under the hood and a quick look under the car to check for any issues.

Neil.

[abscate]

My '96 850 T5 does this same thing. It's been down to about -5 F here this last week, and there's always an impressive cloud of white smoke until it gets warm-ish. I've always found that it disappears when the temp goes up a bit, and with a couple of 850s on my conscience, I can attest that all of them have behaved the same way.

That doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with yours, of course, but I'd say that the dense white cloud is pretty normal, at least.

- S

Dense white smoke is often accompanied by popeing from the exhaust.