Day 4 - not so great :(

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 10/23/2018 at 18:06 • Filed to: None

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Drove the Volvo to work without issue, and on the way back did a few pulls. Oil pressure light came on and engine started ticking. Made it home, and there i s now a large oil puddle to the inside of the passenger wheel. Disptick shows basically no oil in the engine.

I was hoping a hose came off or something, but all I’m finding is oil pooled near the valve cover gasket on the camshaft side.

Diagnosing the Miata is one thing, but this is an all new platform for me. Sigh. Should I try filling her up with fresh oil?

Echo51 > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:13

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Is it running out when stopped? If yes, clean and find leak. If no, put oil in, clean it all up as best as you can, start it and ensure it has oil pressure, then diagnose for where it runs out.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:13

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Did the dipstick indicate it was full when you bought the car?

... You did check the dipstick when you first looked at it, right buddy?

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/23/2018 at 18:14

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Yes, it was good. I'm not quite that clueless 

sony1492 > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:15

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Personally I’d throw some oil in there and let it idle for a bit. (If I can't pin down where the leak actually is with the car off) 1.) To see if the ticking goes away. 2.) To find that leak, which should be apparent with this much oil loss. I’m guessing something is loose, potentially a pressure line to the turbo

lone_liberal > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:16

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I’d clean it up and fill it then run it to see if you can figure out where the oil is coming from.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:16

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I was hoping you were, in which case the solution could be easier.

I agree with the actually- useful comment belonging to Echo51: clean up and hunt for blooooood... Oil.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:17

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You have:

A) bad camshaft (and/or front main- seal) end- seals.

B) a clogged pcv system.

C) blown rings in at least one cylinder.

D) some of all of the above.

Put more oil in, start it up, if it pukes it all out immediately your next step is to check compression, if all 5 are good, your next check is to find a junkyard oil filler cap, drill a hole in it and run an oil catch can hose to it, if it still pukes out oil and the compression is good, its time for new seals everywhere. The camshafts go first (and on older distributor-equiped cars often fill the distributor with oil, causing ignition problems too) but the main seals are gonna need it soon... If the vented filler cap solves it, you might try cleaning the PCV system, but it’s a PITA, and just installing a vent and catch can is a much easier solution. If none of those things are true, sorry, its dead Jim.

promoted by the color red > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:18

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It’s a Volvo, check the PCV and cam seals .

Chariotoflove > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:18

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Other people have useful comments.  I’m just here to say :(

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:19

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Worst case scenario, fill the oil resinous with gas, take your plates off and leave it burning in a safeway parking lot.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 10/23/2018 at 18:26

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This is the most useful yet depressing reply ever.

vicali > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:28

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You’ve mentioned pulls and runs a few times in the last few days.. looks like you might be pulling the engine before all the oil runs out.

I love $2k projects as much as the next O ppo, but sometimes beating on a beater is asking for trouble..

($ 2K Rally project - good times..)

vicali > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/23/2018 at 18:30

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haha, funny advice considering the source ..

AestheticsInMotion > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 10/23/2018 at 18:31

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What if it doesn’t puke out the oil after being filled up and started ?

Tristan > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:31

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I thought I read in the ad that the PCV system had been replaced... Sounds to me like it was clogged and when you got on it hard *pop* goes the camshaft end seal. :( Did you do a glove test when you bought it?

someassemblyrequired > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:32

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I wouldn't be surprised if it is a seal or line, lots of good advice here, top up and try to determine the source of the leak.  I'd honestly be shocked if the motor was toast,  there's a good chance it can be saved, if not a junkyard replacement won't be too expensive.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > vicali 10/23/2018 at 18:33

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Should have added

*insurance fraud is a crime**

**A very hard to prosecute crime....

sony1492 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 10/23/2018 at 18:33

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You could quickly check blow by, by taking the oil cap off and seeing if it runs different and or blows alot of fumes

vicali > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/23/2018 at 18:36

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Canadians don’t do that kind of thing..

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:37

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Welcome to true Volvo ownership!

AestheticsInMotion > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/23/2018 at 18:38

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All the stars.

I fixed an electrical problem last night. I was feeling confident.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:39

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Run it hard and see if it does it again, if so I lean toward situation B, and/or A, as if you hav e trahsed rings, even at low speeds the crankcase pressure should get high enough to force oil out the s eals. Checking the compression is a good idea regardless, you can have enhanced blowby, without the rings being totally trashed, in which case some Engine Restore may be in order (as well as seal and pcv checks) The high-pressure turbos are known for this... The LPTs less so, but I have seen it. The cam seals and pcv system are both notorious in HPT and LPT engines. I don't know what the compression numbers (and leakdown) should be off the top of my head, but a quick google should solve that. 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:41

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I’ve advised against it many a time, only to hear “Volvos r 2 reliable, I’ve only replaced *insert War and Peace* on it” on here. Sorry you had to find out like this. We had an 850 Turbo for 6 months, growing up.  It worked for 2... weeks. That was after 240’s and a 740 TD, which always needed work.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:44

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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > vicali 10/23/2018 at 18:45

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Let’s hope for the best, but I will agree: $2k is coin-flip territory.

[traumatic flashbacks]

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:54

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Remember I mentioned that glove test? You need to replace the PCV which involves removing the intake. It’s probably a four hour job the first time. That oil is from a blown cam seal. If it’s on the passenger side you need to clean off the timing belt too. You can probably get a new seal, seat it and not have a problem as long as you stay out of the boost.

Misterstrachan@gmail.com if you want any advice. I've been there. And I've done that. 

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 18:55

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You can relieve the pressure by simply pulling the dipstick up too. 

Sovande > Tristan 10/23/2018 at 19:00

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The problem with ads saying that is that replacing it is a true and total pain in the ass. You have to remove the intake, the fuel rail and some other shit. The easy fix which makes it look like it was done is to just replace place the top hose. You also need to clean the oil drain in the block as it gets all sludged up.

When you do the replacement, only use Volvo parts. Yes it’s more expensive, but it’s worth it.

The car holds like 6.2 qts of oil, so if not that much is on the ground, you're fine. 

Tristan > Sovande 10/23/2018 at 19:05

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I’m familiar... That’s why it’s so vital to ensure it’s good, and it’s awfully shitty if someone lied about doing the job . I don’t shy away from major projects, so the Volvo PCV system isn’t that bad in my opinion. Pain in the ass, sure, but not as bad as people make it out to be.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Sovande 10/23/2018 at 19:10

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it is such a PITA job :P

Sovande > Tristan 10/23/2018 at 19:13

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Whoops! I thought I was replying to the OP. My bad.

I was lied to about the PCV (and a great many other things) with my V70. Like the new O2 sensor. Like the no check engine light (he pulled the bulb), like the struts, like the headlights, like everything else that was, for whatever reason, wrong. It sucked. And the guy I bought it from was an honest to God Volvo mechanic. He did do a good job with the engine install as it was a 98 with 2000 R engine, which was fun. And it had an 850R single mass flywheel and clutch which was heavy and awesome. 

Sovande > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 10/23/2018 at 19:15

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It’s a fucking pain in the ass. I don’t care that it’s doable and blah blah blah, it’s a fiddly pain in the ass. The intake bolts on the passenger side blow. 

AestheticsInMotion > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/23/2018 at 19:19

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I've found most Volvo folk are well aware of the reliability issues, but love them in spite of that. After 4 days with the 850... I totally understand

Tristan > Sovande 10/23/2018 at 19:20

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Damn, that’s horrible! :(

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 19:22

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I’d check the PCV system first, simplest thing which can cause massive oil puking. Replace the PCV valve, make sure the hoses are clear. If it puked oil out of a breather into the air box, you’ll want to clean that up and change the oil-soaked air filter (have seen this happen). Refill and monitor the level.

If that doesn’t do it, try and clean up the engine bay to see where exactly it’s coming from. Try removing the oil fill cap and revving it, there shouldn’t really be any sort of blast-of-air from the filler (ungood if there is) .

Sovande > Tristan 10/23/2018 at 19:31

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I took a train from DC to Newark. The guy drove the car from Massachusetts to Newark to meet me. I figured that was a good enough test drive. I paid him, left to head south and about a mile from the train station and a mile from 95 it just quit on me. Died. In traffic in Newark with the tags from the other silver V70 I owned at the time on it to get it home. “Low mileage turbo on a nice Japanifold.” half of that was true. The turbo gave up about a week after I got the car in spectacular smokey fashion. So I rebuilt it and got it all back together. It was a crash course in all systems of the car.

It was a beast though and I wish I still had it. 

AestheticsInMotion > Sovande 10/23/2018 at 19:37

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You don't think it could be the rear main seal? I'll be tearing into it this weekend, thank you for the contact info

Tristan > Sovande 10/23/2018 at 19:42

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Damn... were there any unloaded truck/car trailer rigs in the lot where you met him?! I can’t imagine doing that to someone. Usually I end up selling cars that are nicer than anything else on CL for too cheap because I disclose too much and convince myself they aren’t that nice. I’m always reminded how nice I keep my own cars when I go test drive literally any other used car.

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 19:46

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Pull the timing cover and take a look. My guess is you’ll see the cam seal pushed out a little. Shove it back in and see what happens. You can run the car with out the cover on it. Just don’t drop anything into the belt :).

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 19:53

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Wait, so is this a V70R, or an 850?

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/23/2018 at 19:56

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It is a 95 850, with a full interior swap from a 97 850R. There are a few V70R bits but it’s mostly 850. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 19:58

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Hmmmmmmm Volvo-fu 3spooky5me. Good luck, though...

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/23/2018 at 20:03

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Four days in... The worst part? I love this thing. It doesn’t matter what happens, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep myself from m aking bad decisions and throwing money/time at it until it’s fixed.

And then there’s the Miata, which is still doing great despite three years of torture testing, all of which has been spent at over 300,000 miles. I'm quickly seeing some major differences between Japanese and European build philosophies... 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 10/23/2018 at 20:07

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Yeah, you do you on that Volvo thing, I’m gonna hug my non-Swedish wagon tonight and be thankful :)

My Tercels were not cheap to throw parts at... Can’t imagine one of these things.

Amoore100 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/23/2018 at 20:31

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Volvos are never reliable. We just like them enough to fix them instead of buying a Camry (or three).

Amoore100 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/23/2018 at 20:34

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that’s a Renault

promoted by the color red > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/23/2018 at 20:50

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My 240 started puking oil after I undid the oogabooga drain bolt and oil filter and refilled it. This was about three hours after I bought it.

10/10

AestheticsInMotion > Amoore100 10/24/2018 at 01:35

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Yep. I've had this for a couple days, it's already (figuratively) blown up on me, and I can't stop thinking about how much I love the damn thing 

AestheticsInMotion > Chariotoflove 10/24/2018 at 01:36

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It's okay. We can rebuild her. Bigger. Better. Stronger.