2000 V70 AWD 56 engine coolant now 1 in. higher in reservoir

Rocket99 · Post by **Rocket99** » 21 May 2021, 17:01

2000 V70 AWD
recently noticed 1 in. low coolant
After I refilled it to the seam ( new Volvo reservoir) it was 1 inch above the seam when warmed to full heat / temp
block tester does not change from blue to anything indicating no exhaust gasses in coolant

Is this normal for this 56 engine??

Post by **scot850** » 21 May 2021, 19:54

When you re-fill the radiator from empty, the system often 'burps' a few times as it can trap air. Carry some spare coolant with you for the first few trips and check each time you stop.

Neil.

850oldschool · Post by **850oldschool** » 22 May 2021, 14:12

My coolant level was climbing quite a bit after shutdown. When I tried to lift the rubber washer out of the cap it broke into pieces. A different cap cured the problem.

Post by **Chuck W** » 22 May 2021, 20:05

Why did you start a second thread?

Rocket99 · Post by **Rocket99** » 23 May 2021, 13:19

The topic went from (apparent) coolant leak to apparent excess pressure in the expansion tank.

I happy to hear folks not implying possible head problem.

Still im in a rental now to get to points 8 hr south.

I still have no clear idea how the coolant was suddenly 1 inch higher in the exp. tank... for months it was stable steady at the full level, ie the seam in the exp. tank, then suddenly one inch higher.

Post by **800artfreed** » 23 May 2021, 20:21

There is a chemical test kit that allows you to suck vapour from the reservoir into a clear plastic tube. This tube is filled with a small amount of liquid that turns a different color (blue to yellow) in the presence of hydrocarbons (combustion gases). This can help determine if you have a head gasket leak.

befarrer · Post by **befarrer** » 25 May 2021, 13:03

Are you comparing cold engine coolant level to hot engine coolant level? If so, that's normal to rise.

Post by **Clemens** » 26 May 2021, 14:58

Even cold, the level is not consistent. I have owned 3 850s over the last 10 years, and they all do it. No head gasket problems or whatsoever, the level sometimes is just higher or lower.

Post by **abscate** » 27 May 2021, 07:03

Quick math

Expansion bottle is about 10x10 cm, so each cm of change represents 100 cm^3 of volume

Total system volume is 7 liters or 7000 cm^3

so an inch of change is 250 ml or about 3% expansion of fluid volume.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 27 May 2021, 08:49

By my calculations and research, a 50/50 solution of ethylene glycol and water will expand .000392 for each degree F. Assuming temperature increases from 70 to 230 degree F and 7 liters volume, expansion would be .0627 (6.3 percent). About 440 ml expansion of fluid. This assumes engine, radiator and hoses do not expand (but they will).
Any mistakes here are my own dang fault.
volvolugnut