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blown head gasket? i can't tell.. 850 1995

posted by  chris with an '86 245 on  Sat Dec 12 08:05 CST 2009
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last visit: Sun Jul 10 12:16 CST 2011
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I can't tell if I have a blown head gasket or not... thoughts?

I checked the oil today and there was a small amount of milky cloudiness to it. It is 22 degrees outside too if that makes a difference with the synthetic oil. The oil has around 2K miles on it.

There is a very small amount of coolant that i have to replace, and i do know it has a very very slow leak around the edge of the radiator, so the location of the coolant loss isn't for sure other than the radiator location.

The car runs and idles great, and i don't see tons of smoke coming out the back.
However, when I really step on it and try to accelerate hard, it seems to stumble a bit. There is still power, and good power since it's a turbo, but I can't by any means mash it, I have to ease into the boost.

My dilemma is: is the milkiness of the oil pointing to a blown head gasket even when the car idles and runs and does great other than when accelerating hard.. and are these just unrelated things that i'm trying to put together?

This car has previously been very well maintained in the past, but does have 200K showing on the stopped odometer.
Thoughts?
Thanks!








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    blown head gasket? i can't tell.. 850 1995

    posted by  KlausC on  Sat Dec 12 09:44 CST 2009
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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    It's time to fix the odo and replace any burned out instrument panel lights, you timing belt is due at 210K if you change it at 70K intervals.

    If the compression check is OK, with a warm engine of course, then it is time to look for other problems:
    Vaccum leak around the manifold.
    Dirty throttle body.
    Dirty fuel filter.

    Do you regularly run the engine over 2K for a sustained period? If not, you could be developing dirt on the valves and a high rev will help clean them.

    Use premium for a while to counter any knock sensor that will retard the timing.

    Klaus
    --
    Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.








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      blown head gasket? i can't tell.. 850 1995

      posted by  chris with an '86 245 on  Sat Dec 12 10:13 CST 2009
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      last visit: Sun Jul 10 12:16 CST 2011
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      A compression check is definitely next in line. I just bought the car in september, so I haven't had it for long enough to know how its been kept. Since I got it I've replaced intercooler piping, plugs, oil change, air filter change, took the intake off and replaced the gasket, cleaned the oil separator box, repaired broken oil breather piping and vacuum lines... the transmission was rebuilt by aamco in june.

      compression check is definitely next. as far as i know, the timing belt wasnt done long ago either. I didnt think about the fuel filter.. on my old 240's that was rarely something I'd ever have to do..

      and yes, most of my driving is highway or interstate speed and have taken a couple of long trips since buying the car. I ALWAYS run premium in turbos as well. when I had the intake off i could see a lot of carbon and scratched out what i could and vacuumed.. I could tell that using premium was helping though because it was starting to wear away the carboned areas.

      and yes, the odo gear is coming soon as well. christmas and extra funding for the car don't go together terribly well these days, but I am an incredibly picky driver and notice and fix most any problem asap.... although i am a 25 year old dude from the sticks... who knew?

      anyhow, thanks and I'll report how it goes. This was just a very scary thought especially with a necessary trip cross country to texas is coming up in a few weeks.








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    blown head gasket? i can't tell.. 850 1995

    posted by  rkmacman on  Sat Dec 12 08:52 CST 2009
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    last visit: Thu Dec 12 07:58 CST 2013
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    The first thing to do is a compression test. Remove all the spark plugs and get a tester that will extend straight down to the plug threads and test for compression in all the cylinders. You'll probably find that the center two are very low. If that is true, than a new head gasket is in order. Pull the fuse No. 2 on the fuel pump first before starting the compression test and drain the fuel rail via the schrader valve at the end near the throttle body cover.
    Good Luck!!! RK







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