Welp... I want another 850... Maybe this time's the charm?

krush · Post by **krush** » 05 Oct 2020, 19:58

So, it's been about 8 years since I've been here. I have yet to land another 850 BUT that could possibly change in the next few days depending on what you guys say.

There's an 850 Wagon up for sale on Offerup for only $500. The owner says "Smokey exhaust with rough idle."

My question is: What could cause this kind of a problem? Smokey exhaust? Rough idle I'm going to assume maybe it needs a tune up or something, but smoke in the exhaust is my biggest concern. He's selling it for best offer so if the problem isn't too bad maybe I offer him $350-$400 for it and take a few hundred to get it running right.

Post by **abscate** » 05 Oct 2020, 20:26

It’s usually $1500-2000 to get an old P80 to a Stage zero

Post by **erikv11** » 05 Oct 2020, 23:12

Smoky exhaust is usually burning oil (which burns gray) due to worn out valve stem seals which is a bunch of head work to fix, or you can live with it the smoke and oil consumption. Smoke may also be unburnt fuel (which leads to black smoke, running rich) from poor running condition. If it smokes all the time then the running rich is actually more likely.

I'd find out what color the smoke is.

Post by **Clemens** » 05 Oct 2020, 23:25

Remember: there is no thing as a cheap p80. The lower the base price, the more you dump into it.
But for a few hundred you can give it a shot if it looks solid and not too badly abused.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 06 Oct 2020, 02:36

krush wrote: ↑05 Oct 2020, 19:58 My question is: What could cause this kind of a problem? Smokey exhaust? .

Look at the color and smell.

White smells like steam because it is steam. Water getting into the combustion cylinders.
Blue, Blue-gray, Gray smells like oil because it is oil. Most likely valve stem seals. Could be turbo seals. Extreme cases piston rings.
Black smells like fuel is incomplete combustion. Not all the fuel is getting burnt. Needs tune up, possibly a set of injectors.

Post by **abscate** » 06 Oct 2020, 03:17

Green smoke..frogs in the fuel tank

Blue smoke..the car has been used for smurfing

Orange smoke....someone put Tang in the Tank

krush · Post by **krush** » 06 Oct 2020, 11:07

So I got two replies:

I asked what year it was and if it was currently driveable:
“96 no turbo yes turns on and is drivable just that the idle acts up"

Then asked what color the smoke was:
“The color it smokes is black "

Looks like tune-up and injectors. I'm going to offer him $400 to "take it off of his hands".

How hard is it to change the injectors on this thing?

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 06 Oct 2020, 12:09

krush wrote: ↑06 Oct 2020, 11:07 How hard is it to change the injectors on this thing?

Real easy.

Cookeh · Post by **Cookeh** » 06 Oct 2020, 12:15

Changing them is very easy, and replacement o-rings are still available. Finding replacements is much harder (in the UK at any rate, I can't speak for the US), but cleaning is a viable option.

Post by **erikv11** » 06 Oct 2020, 14:59

Yeah, just send them out for cleaning and refresh, they will be good as new.