95 850 Turbo, sludge under oil cap and Smoking

Nick777 · Post by **Nick777** » 24 Oct 2019, 19:45

Ok so here's the background. I bought this from original owner back in April 2019. Had a mechanic check it out so presumably there was no sludge under the oil filler cap, or smoking from the dipstick or oil filler cap or exhaust at that time (unfortunately I wasn't particularly sophisticated about cars at the time, i learned a hellauva lot more since then). Mechanic did say he felt it was slighly oil "wet" under Turbo - implying a possible very low flow oil leak. I bought the car from north NJ and drove it 2 1/2 hrs to south NJ with no issues.

Now for the next 6 MONTHS (no exaggeration) all I did was basically run the car twice a week for just enough time to move it to alternate sides of the street to avoid getting parking tickets (I didn't use it because of percieved electrical gremlins, but i resolved them, it was just my ignorance at the time). Also worth noting is that I live right on the NJ shore a block from the beach.

Now i finally got my crap together, know much more about the car than before, due some simple electrical maintenence work and fire up the car. No more electrical gremlins. HOWEVER, upon other inspections of my vehicle I notice that there's white creamy sludge under the oil filler cap (however i didn't notice any on the dipstick). In addition, there's light smoke (maybe Vapor?) coming out from both the oil filler hole and the dipstick sheath, as well as some amount of white smoke from the tailpipe (not a whole lot, but some).

So here's my question. Given that the car has literally been run so little for the past six months (and certainly not long enough to reach operating temperature) I'm torn between the worse diagnoses of a Head gasket issue to the less worse diagnoses of a crapload of water in the crankcase from condensation.

What do you fellow Volvo'ers think?

Also, could excessive condensation even cause all three -the filler hole, the dipstick, and the exhaust- to emitt white smoke?

Post by **abscate** » 24 Oct 2019, 19:57

Yep. You need to get your poor Volvo up to 60 mph for 20 minutes every other week or so. That’s white milkshake is water and oil

Post by **erikv11** » 24 Oct 2019, 20:03

Change the oil, run it for 20 minutes, then take another look for any symptoms. Sounds like it is wet but doesn't sound like any real problems necessarily.

Nick777 · Post by **Nick777** » 24 Oct 2019, 20:15

Thanks for the suggestions. I think changing the oil prior to running it is the extra conservative option which I'll go with.

I'm sure it needs an oil change anyway. Running it now, after all that time more or less unused, and having the original oil that i purchased it with (though the tech said was in ok shape), the engine currently makes fairly loud high frequency clack clack clack clack clack clack noise. I'm guessing maybe that comes from the oil having lost its ability to properly lubricate the valve system?

Post by **rguzz** » 25 Oct 2019, 05:52

Check crank case ventilation pressure "glove test" change oil and filter x 2 over the next few hundred miles, (arguable), cheap oil and filters, drive! Then appropriate to climate synthetic and correct filter and see if lifter noise goes away. You may be due for oil pick up tube gasket repair at some point, as associated low oil pressure is on the list of things to consider if lifter noise doesn't go away (having just done that it's on my mind). But, as everyone else has suggested, main point is clean oil and drive. Miles on motor?

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Oct 2019, 08:34

rguzz wrote: ↑25 Oct 2019, 05:52. ... You may be due for oil pick up tube gasket repair at some point, as associated low oil pressure is on the list of things to consider if lifter noise doesn't go away ...

Yes!

First get some "dry oil" in there and drive it, then see if the noise and any other symptoms are still there. Failed pickup tube o-rings is very common in these cars at this age, and not very easy to fix.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Oct 2019, 09:21

Dont go crazy worrying you have hurt your motor - it will be fine. One hot run will actually get rid of all the water and leave you with good oil - if you inspect it and find it is clear amber, I wouldn't even change it. A good hour at 60 mph uninterrupted - in NJ that should be easy!