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Can't seem to pinpoint engine coolant loss C70 1998

posted by  RepairmanJackal on  Sat Aug 13 07:58 CST 2011
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last visit: Tue Jun 10 09:52 CST 2014
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220K 1998 c70

I've been loosing engine coolant from my system at a variable pace.

It vanishes at a variable pace but I find myself needing to top off the expansion tank after a few days.

Replaced the heater hoses, receiver block, seals and tubes to the heater core. Fluid is doesn't seem to be leaking on the inside, and I'm positive I'm not losing it from the received block at the firewall. I can't find a detectable leak at the heater core either. Main hoses and the expansion hose are all good. Generally, loss rate is slow, unless I've got the AC on.

I jacked up the car (with it running) and found that my coolant was leaking out from around the metal heatsheild on the bottom of the car. With the AC on, I can see it dripping out at an alarmingly rapid pace. It's coming from somewhere above (I can divert it slightly with my finger, but I'm not sure where the leak is at. It seems to be dripping more on the passenger side of the tunnel, but I'm losing it on both sides of the Cat.

Turning off the AC makes it stop immediately. 'though my coolant is still going somewhere even with the AC off.

Is there a known trouble spot somewhere above the Cat? I can actually smell the coolant in cabin air (with the fan on), but as I said, I can't see or feel any leak at the heater core junction.

I'm missing something big.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.








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    Cracked Radiator C70 1998

    posted by  RepairmanJackal on  Thu Aug 18 19:21 CST 2011
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    seems that the issue is the plastic side-tank radiator. After weeks of mysteriously vanishing, I found a pool of fluid under the car. I traced it to the starboard plastic side-tank of the rad. I could hear it sizzling and found trace liquid along the seams.

    Ordered a replacement from FCP. Premium shipping was insanely high, but free ground will put it on my front porch tomorrow.

    It seems a little buried, but I replaced one of these on my 1995 940 a couple years ago. Interested in any tips of course, but I'm not too worried about making this repair.

    I traced the fluid loss on the 940 to several horizontal cracks in the expansion tank lid. Replaced that and it was solved instantly.








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      Cracked Radiator C70 1998

      posted by  KlausC on  Thu Aug 18 21:55 CST 2011
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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      http://volvospeed.com/volvo_repairs_how_tos/engine_repairs/turbo_radiator_replacement.html

      The above should help. When replacing hoses, make sure the clamps are not too tight, you don't want to crack any more plastic.

      I always remove the bottom hose to let the antifreeze drain into a pan. Much faster than the radiator drain and block drain.

      Klaus
      --
      1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on








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    Can't seem to pinpoint engine coolant loss C70 1998

    posted by  KlausC on  Sat Aug 13 11:07 CST 2011
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    There is a coolant line going from the block to the turbo, one of the O rings might have disintegrated allowing the leak. This is a metal line.

    From your description, turning the AC on puts heat in the condenser which transfers to the radiator and makes the coolant slightly warmer. So the pressure rises and falls if the AC is on or off.

    Klaus
    --
    1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on








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      Can't seem to pinpoint engine coolant loss C70 1998

      posted by  RepairmanJackal on  Sat Aug 13 12:17 CST 2011
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      I saw a couple mentions of that over a matthews's volvo site. However, the coolant is being lost well aft of the engine itself. it seems like it's either coming out of firewall (somewhere other than the at the heater hose junction block) or it's being drained out through the cabin someplace. I can't see anything thanks to that aluminum heat shield. Just to be sure, the turbo's on the back end of the engine, right? Down low? This is my first turbo Volvo. However, on other models.. the turbo is usually on the exhaust side of the engine, up front...

      I just took her over to the junkyard looking for a replacement hood release cable and some other bits. Before I left, I could see that coolant was *still* leaking out from under the car (same place) even though the engine had been shut off for a couple hours and the coolant expansion tank cap was off.

      Aside from the twin pipe to the heater core, is there anyplace else inside the cabin where engine coolant would be circulating?

      I really hate doing exploratory work w/o a sense of the source as I often break things when I get into a new part of the car for the first time.








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        Can't seem to pinpoint engine coolant loss C70 1998

        posted by  KlausC on  Sat Aug 13 13:53 CST 2011
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        The turbo is center/left and slightly lower than the exhaust header. The turbo has 2 oil lines and 2 water lines for cooling. Yes, the heat shields do get in the way, but you should be able to find the leak.

        The following post is about repairing the turbo. It is soooo good that I plugged it into my favorites. If you go all the way to the bottom and then page up 3-4 times, you will see the coolant lines. Then read to the bottom from there. Remember, this is for a right hand drive car but the turbo is in the same place.

        http://www.volvoforumsrepairs.org.uk/800Repairs/turborefurb.htm

        Klaus


        --
        1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on








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          Maybe the heater core? C70 1998

          posted by  RepairmanJackal on  Sat Aug 13 14:45 CST 2011
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          I am almost positive that I'm *not* dealing with a leaking turbo, but I'm sure I will be eventually... so that *great* info to keep on the burner.

          I checked the metal tubes coming from the back of the engine to the turbo assembly and don't see anything to suggest that I've got a fluid leak there. The fluid is not leaking out of the engine are, but more like the "drive tunnel" area where the Catalytic Converter is located.

          I'm going to get back into the console here in a bit. I keep smelling coolant in my cabin air and I think that's where I need to investigate.

          Looking at some the diagrams over at Tascaparts I think I can see how coolant night be getting into my circulation system. It looks like the center drain hose is at the bottom of the ducting that contains the evaporator core and the heater core and is also connected to the blower fan... I now suspect that my heater core is leaking or perhaps something was inadvertently disconnected when I was replacing my firewall block and tubes...

          I'm dealing with replacing my hood release cable right now, but I plan to investigate the center console as soon as I get the engine compartment back together.








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            Maybe the heater core? C70 1998

            posted by  KlausC on  Sat Aug 13 16:11 CST 2011
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            There is no 'drain' for the heater core, which is why it leaks all over the driver's footwell. You will need to drop the vinyl kick plate\ under the dash, then remove the cover to the right of the gas pedal to see the heater core. The tubes are aluminum and connect the core to the firewall. Any leak will be evedent.

            Klaus
            --
            1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on








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              Likley not the heater core. C70 1998

              posted by  RepairmanJackal on  Sat Aug 13 16:30 CST 2011
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              Yep, checked that out. No leak in evidence. When I replaced the block and tubes, it was leaking until I tightened down the securing screw. I can't find any evidence of wetness down there... though my rug is still wet from last week's repair... Nothing was wet under the rubberized carpet so I don't think it's leaking. I can't feel any wetness when I touch the pipe junction.

              To add a bit more complication, I realized that the liquid dripping out under the car is pure water.. no anti-freeze in it. Which means that I've been tracing my AC condensate, and not the source of my leak.

              Dang. Now I've got no obvious culprit. I seem to loose it when driving only. It's almost like it's being consumed by the engine... But I am not seeing anything in my exhaust...






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