1998 Volvo S70 white smoke issue

AltonGandy · Post by **AltonGandy** » 11 Mar 2019, 15:28

Thank you in advance for the help, this my first post so I also want to apologize in advance if this isn't 100% worded properly. So I have 1998 Volvo s70 non turbo that has a smoking tailpipe issue. It shoots small semi thick puff of white smoke at random times on cold start/warm start and when accelerating. It also smokes when idle ,again at random times but it's barely visible when idling. There no pattern to it really. I just bought the car and gradually working through the issues it has so just wondering what could be causing this? The car idles and sounds beautiful been driving a week now and no problems no check engine lights. Has a service light that turns on when I start it but turns off after 5 min driving and and abs light, it also has a broken dipstick that pops up, no washer on that. Just changed oil. I've been reading that it could be a coolant issue, the previous owner has some green coolant mixed with mostly water lol so I guess my question is could that be causing the issue ?

tardcart · Post by **tardcart** » 11 Mar 2019, 16:42

white smoke should be coolant, but you would be losing some from the reservoir. If you see it is going down, and since its only a small leak, get the AC Delco block seal tablets. Its just ground up wheat or something, and put it in your reservoir. It will take a while to work down, but I drove a 960 two years with a head gasket leak with that stuff. won't clog the radiator. Oil is also whitish smoke, so if you arnt losing coolant it may be related to your dipstick. If the dipstick is popping up you have to service the block vent or you will blow out a cam seal or even a rear main. Plenty of past info on crankcase breather system you can refer back to.
Most volvos sold are due to head gasket problems and the owner doesnt always tell you and its not always obivious. People don't sell a volvo because they suddenly want a Camaro. Its to bow out when they realize a rack is leaking or a head gasket and its time to pass the trash. Thats why they are so cheap to buy used compared to a Honda. only jaguar and merceedies have a poorer resale.

WhatAmIDoing · Post by **WhatAmIDoing** » 11 Mar 2019, 16:55

I wouldn't worry too much if it's not smoking all the time and you are not losing coolant rapidly. White smoke in an NA usually means coolant (headgasket leak). If it's only driven short trips, it could just be condensation. The most troubling thing you need to take car of is the popped up dip stick. That points to a clogged PCV, so you should do the PCV service ASAP. If you have no idea what coolant is in it or when it was changed, you should change it. Same goes for the engine oil, especially after the PCV gets serviced.

Post by **scot850** » 11 Mar 2019, 19:39

Also watch your brake fluid level in case the fluid is getting into the vacuum system due to seals failing in booster.

Neil.

tardcart · Post by **tardcart** » 11 Mar 2019, 19:57

(Also watch your brake fluid level in case the fluid is getting into the vacuum system due to seals failing in booster.)

new one on me, great info.

Post by **abscate** » 11 Mar 2019, 20:00

Sometimes a new Pope valve makes white smoke. No wait, that’s something else

AltonGandy · Post by **AltonGandy** » 11 Mar 2019, 20:36

WhatAmIDoing wrote: ↑11 Mar 2019, 16:55 I wouldn't worry too much if it's not smoking all the time and you are not losing coolant rapidly. White smoke in an NA usually means coolant (headgasket leak). If it's only driven short trips, it could just be condensation. The most troubling thing you need to take car of is the popped up dip stick. That points to a clogged PCV, so you should do the PCV service ASAP. If you have no idea what coolant is in it or when it was changed, you should change it. Same goes for the engine oil, especially after the PCV gets serviced.

Thank you for the reply , I took the oil cap off while it was warmed and did the glove w/rubberband and it tried to suck the glove in.... Not sure if that really works. And the dip stick is popping out because it's broken and has no washer seal. There isn't any oil shooting out either. I put the dipstick in and sealed by wrapping it a small amount of this pipe tape until I go get new dipstick from volvo. They have the one that's slightly shorter I read about. I'll check the brake fluid tomorrow to be safe. I'm not mixing any antifreeze into oil or visa vers. Maybe it is just condensation.

WhatAmIDoing · Post by **WhatAmIDoing** » 11 Mar 2019, 22:22

Do the glove test with another glove "sealing" the dipstick tube just to be sure. But it sounds like it will probably passes. How is your oil and coolant consumption?

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 12 Mar 2019, 06:27

For a new seal on the dipstick, cut a "ring" off the end of a 5 mm silicone vacuum tube and use that as the "o-ring". Worked for years on my first 850.

- S