P80 grille guard

Post by **scot850** » 22 May 2016, 14:28

I noticed on a recent thread about the rally accessories that in the pdf attached by our friend sommerfeldt there is a plastic grille guard listed for P80 and 850 cars to help with cold weather starts and quicker warm ups.

The interesting detail that is has is it would appear to not be for use with turbo models. What the heck, if any engines need help in the cold it is the turbos. I have been looking for this item for a long time to help with the cold we get in the winter. Non-turbos at least pull warm air from the exhaust manifold until they are warm. We get the problem of intercooler freezing here on turbos (well know winter issue with 850/P80 turbo).

I'm curious why these don't work for turbo engines, especially as when I last checked V70 XC's were turbo engines?

I have a brother in Sweden who told me about these mythical parts but couldn't find a part number.

http://accessories.volvocars.com/Legacy ... _NL_DE.pdf

(Page 345 of the pdf).

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 22 May 2016, 17:27

I think it's an air flow issue. It wouldn't matter to those of us with open sports filters, for example, but closing up the only air inlet to a demanding turbo like that probably could cause issues with the stock air box in place.

A buddy of mine who lived in northern Sweden had two different grilles for his 850 T5 - one open "normal" xc-style grille for summer use, and another xc-style grille for winter use, which he had closed almost completely on the inside with black plastic. The only opening he had, was around the air intake, where he incorporated a black, relatively fine mesh metal screen, so there was no obvious opening there.
Acc. to him, it worked like a charm. Engine heated better in winter (they get pretty brutal up there), and still got all the air it could want.

- S

Post by **scot850** » 22 May 2016, 22:43

If I recall the NA also have the air inlet in the same place. The XC and the R have a lower air intake opening, in fact don't all P80's?

It doesn't make sense if the V70 XC can use it but the other turbos can't?

I used to use a bit of cardboard tired behind the upper main grille to warm the engine up more quickly.

This is strange.

Neil.

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 23 May 2016, 02:51

So, I talked to Volvo over here.

The guy there said that the grille cover was indeed not available for turbos because of the air flow problems it would create. I mentioned that the NA models had the intake in the same place, but it's a volume issue. He also told me that he wouldn't suggest putting one of those on an NA either, unless temperatures dropped to about -30F. For the sake of interest, he also said that there once was a leather flap made, though that was before the 850's time.

He didn't know if it would be possible to order that thing either, and I didn't have the presence of mind to ask him what he thought about the solution to the air problem with mesh where the intake snorkel is. To my mind, that would fix the air flow problem, though.

In the US, the 2.4L was the only option for the V70 XC, if I recall correctly, but other markets had turbo-less XC's available.

- S

ktuuri · Post by **ktuuri** » 23 May 2016, 03:47

Columba” 6,5 x 16” Rims are what I have for my s70 T5, but it says there is a right one + a left one.
I have the stacked in the garage, i will have to take a look to see if I have 2 of each. I guess it could affect how much cool air gets to my brakes.

Learn something every day. nice to look at the PDF file and see what there was

Blockpartie · Post by **Blockpartie** » 23 May 2016, 04:46

Sommerfeldt wrote: In the US, the 2.4L was the only option for the V70 XC, if I recall correctly, but other markets had turbo-less XC's available.

All V70 XC models were turbocharged. The 2.4L turbo was the only option in most countries, a 2.0L turbo version was made for places with high taxes on large displacement engines. Italy for example, which also got 2.0L R models.

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 23 May 2016, 05:08

Blockpartie wrote:All V70 XC models were turbocharged. The 2.4L turbo was the only option in most countries, a 2.0L turbo version was made for places with high taxes on large displacement engines. Italy for example, which also got 2.0L R models.

Hm. I'm not sure you're right. I read the specs as the 2000 XE AWD SE having an NA 2.4L option available, for example?

- S

Blockpartie · Post by **Blockpartie** » 23 May 2016, 07:19

[...] NA 2.4L option [citation needed] [...]

As far as I know Volvo only produced (first generation) AWD models with turbocharged engines. 850 AWD and V70 XC only came with the 2.4L turbo (193PS) engines; R AWD models with 2.3L turbo or 2.4L turbo engines. As previously stated they made 2.0L turbo engined versions for countries with high taxes on anything above 2000cc engine displacement.
If you are referring to these specs (http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/200 ... 0_V70.html) it is quite noticable that someone must have made a mistake when uploading the page as the XC model has everything as standard even if that isn't possible.

Post by **scot850** » 23 May 2016, 07:48

Interesting debate on the XC engine options.

As the web link is for the European market and with the language options they give, were any of those countries given the option of a non-turbo XC? I am not familiar of all the markets, but in the UK I don't recall a non-turbo option.

I was thinking that if you could get a plastic cover, you could experiment with the option of cutting a slot near the entry to the air intake. But if air flow were the issue, if I recall correctly the air inlet for a NA and a turbo are in the same place and size are they not? Looking at the front of the grille they are in the top RH corner. You could also drill a few 1/2" (12mm) holes to allow some air flow and keep an eye on the engine temperature.

I could appreciate this reduction in air flow could cause overheating issues if left on in warmer temperatures. But here we can get temperatures of below 20C and the lowest I have seen her was below -45C.

I doubt these are still available to order, but I will ask my local dealer and my brother in Sweden if they can check for availability and cost.

Neil.

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 23 May 2016, 08:01

Blockpartie wrote:...it is quite noticable that someone must have made a mistake when uploading the page as the XC model has everything as standard even if that isn't possible.

Well... the SE is kind of special... I read it as the options being available - instead of "not available" - N/A. From that spec sheet, it also has 2 HUs and sound systems, and 3 kinds of transmissions. Which makes it "SE" indeed. I may be wrong though - it's been known to happen, from time to time.

- S