2009 C30 - Head gasket replacement at 90,000 miles? Topic is solved

[C30Vehicle]

My mechanic noted that the smell of combustion in coolant fluid usually indicates that the head-gasket needs replacement; yet at the same time, my mechanic mentioned that 90,000 miles on a Volvo C30 is normally too early for head-gasket replacement.

Is my 2009 C30 one of those exceptions where the 'head gasket' needs replacement earlier than normal?

What are other reasons for why the smell of combustion shows-up in coolant fluid?

Thank-you

[RickHaleParker]

Head gaskets and heads can get damaged. Did it get overheated? Did somebody add cold coolant to a hot engine?

Combustion gasses in the coolant is almost always blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head. The only other things I can think of is casting or milling defects which is very rare.

There is a chemical test call a Block Tester that can confirm that it is Combustion gases in the coolant. You should do a the Block test before you start throwing money at it.

[C30Vehicle]

Thank-you for your response!

My mechanic did a 'Block Tester' confirming combustion gases in the coolant.

In traveling short distances within town (rarely at speeds over 40 MPH) - my C30's temperature remains within a normal range. I monitor the coolant levels, and the vehicle seems to be running normally.

My mechanic advised that a head gasket replacement requires that the engine head be sent to a machine-shop.

With 90,000 miles on the vehicle, is it likely that the engine-head would need to be sent to a machine-shop?

[matthew1]

With 90,000 miles on the vehicle, is it likely that the engine-head would need to be sent to a machine-shop?

No.

Have you owned it since new? If not, what milage did it have when you bought it, and do you have its service history?

Head gasket failure is generally from overheating, rarely age, and -- speaking about this Age sliver of the Failure Pie Chart -- almost never at 90k. Overheating is caused by low/no coolant, or some other trauma like Rick mentioned.

[C30Vehicle]

I had purchased my 2009 C30 six years ago at 52,000 miles.

I do not have the vehicle's service history - I had purchased the vehicle as pre-owned from a Volvo dealer.

The only major repairs/replacement was the timing belt at around 87,000 miles. As for the engine overheating, this only happened briefly once about a year-ago due to a radiator value failure - that my mechanic quickly replaced. The vehicle has been running normal (normal temperature range) since - up to about a month or so ago.

I sense I need a second opinion from another mechanic who specializes in Volvos - as my mechanic has had some experience with Volvos.

I'm still not fully understanding what was mentioned in this thread; does the engine-head likely (or unlikely) need further attention from a machine-shop at only 90,000 miles?

[MoVolvos]

I had purchased my 2009 C30 six years ago at 52,000 miles.

I do not have the vehicle's service history - I had purchased the vehicle as pre-owned from a Volvo dealer.

The only major repairs/replacement was the timing belt at around 87,000 miles. As for the engine overheating, this only happened briefly once about a year-ago due to a radiator value failure - that my mechanic quickly replaced. The vehicle has been running normal (normal temperature range) since - up to about a month or so ago.

I sense I need a second opinion from another mechanic who specializes in Volvos - as my mechanic has had some experience with Volvos.

I'm still not fully understanding what was mentioned in this thread; does the engine-head likely (or unlikely) need further attention from a machine-shop at only 90,000 miles?

Since it overheated a year ago you should have it done. Don't want to go back in even if it's in few years.

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[matthew1]

With 90,000 miles on the vehicle, is it likely that the engine-head would need to be sent to a machine-shop?

No.

Let me qualify this: No. unless it’s been overheated.

Since it was overheated and there is evidence of combustion gasses in the coolant, it’s probably entirely true, what your mechanic said.

[C30Vehicle]

Is a drop in gas-mileage related or unrelated to head-gasket replacement issues? The C30 mileage dropped from an average of 23 MPG to just over 18 MPG.

[MoVolvos]

Is a drop in gas-mileage related or unrelated to head-gasket replacement issues? The C30 mileage dropped from an average of 23 MPG to just over 18 MPG.

Less compression, less combustion (Fuel Mixed With Coolant), less HP, less efficiency and more gas needed to make up the same driving habit.

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[RickHaleParker]

does the engine-head likely (or unlikely) need further attention from a at only 90,000 miles?

It is due diligence. He wants to make sure the head is not cracked or warped. If it overheated there is a reasonable chance the head is warped. If cold water was added to a hot engine there is a reasonable chance the head is cracked. On the other hand it might be fine. The only way to tell is to have the head tested.

I would go ahead and have the machine shop recondition the head not just test it. It is good practice to get do everything when a head is pulled. That way you don't end up paying a second time when something else goes wrong shortly after.

If you choose not to have the head examined by a machine shop and the head does turn out to be cracked or warped. You will need to pay him to do the work over because you made the decision not the mechanic. That is if the mechanic will accept the job without getting the head tested. They have a good reason for rejecting a job under that condition. They don't want deal with people that blame others for the consequences of their bad decisions or risks that do not pay off. The repair shop needs a good reputation to stay in business.