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98 S70, N/A/ Random puff of black smoke?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70
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theWIFES_S70
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98 S70, N/A/ Random puff of black smoke?

Post by theWIFES_S70 »

Hey everyone, finally took the family Volvo for a nice long drive with the wife. We drove about two hours (approximately 75 miles). Mostly on the highway. Some hills, but nothing too dramatic. Everything felt fine. Significantly less noise in the cabin with new mounts all around and two new front subframe bushings. The car felt responsive and seemed happy to be getting a long drive in. It is so much more fun to drive these P80s long distances rather than a few miles locally. We're definitely planning on more long distance drives in the future!

Anyhow, we get to our location. The car sits for about four hours. And when I fire her up again, she puffs a cloud of black smoke that quickly dissipates! This has never happened before. Idle was fine. Fuel economy was about 25 mpg. There were no difficulties starting and everything felt fine. Is this foreboding of something horrible to come? I have a pretty reliable P0455. I'm also starting to get a pretty consistent pending P0133. Exhaust is starting to sound noisy... :(

For the 6000 or so miles we've had her: we've only put in 93 octane gas and I put in some Lukas every other fill up or so.

Do any of you ever get a random puff of black smoke? Or any other random puffs? Thanks, guys!
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K
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rspi
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Post by rspi »

I get a little bit of smoke EVERY TIME I start the car. 21 Year old value stem seals will let oil by. You don't let the car sit idling do you? What weight oil are you using?
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
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Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos
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abscate
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Post by abscate »

Have a canoli and enjoy life.

I came down route 79 west of Ithaca once, in the 1999, and when I hit the 'Octopus' (thats dating my time in Ithaca) I got a cloud of smoke that was so dense I couldn't see behind me. I had come down the hill about a mile in third gear at 30 mph, engine braking the whole way.

That was about 30k miles ago - never seen it since.
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A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
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theWIFES_S70
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Post by theWIFES_S70 »

Robert, 10-40 H.M Synthetic Valvoline. Haven't run anything but synthetic since I got the car.

Hahaha, thanks Steve! I had parked at Dia Beacon after an afternoon of racing down the Taconic! I thought it was nothing. Good to know from you guys that it's nothing to worry about.
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K
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rspi
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Location: Cincinnati OH
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Post by rspi »

I only worry about oil consumption/leaks. More than a quart every 500 miles and I think you should look at it hard and close.
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos
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E Showell
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Post by E Showell »

What Steve is trying to say is that he hasn't been to the eye doctor in a while. :D
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
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abscate
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Post by abscate »

I was warned about going blind as a kid...
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A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
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Sommerfeldt
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Post by Sommerfeldt »

My T5 did this after long trips for a while. It started after I plugged the last of the vacuum leaks (evap tank hard lines fixed), and continued to do that until I changed the MAF when that failed. Haven't seen it since. Black smoke should be too rich mix-related.

On a side note, I changed my oil to 0W-40 synthetic Mobil1 on the recommendation of the local mechanic. Got rid of ticking, and seems smoother than ever.

- S
2018 S90 T8 Inscription - glossy black with amber interior and dark as night rear windows.
[Gone] '96 855 T5 - R bumper and spoiler, Koni Yellows & blue H&R springs all 'round.
[Sold] '97 S70 T5
[Gone] '95 855 T5-R - one of the black ones... sadly stolen and wrecked.
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theWIFES_S70
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Post by theWIFES_S70 »

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on it. I have to plug a huge break in a fuel tank evap line... If this happens after that, I'll know how to proceed. Thanks a bunch.
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K
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