Help! I have a 96 850 wagon with 172,000. I have owned Volvos since 1980,a 1980 240,1986 240 wagon, 1989 740 wagon and now this one.I have bought all used except the 1980 and driven all of them into the mid 200's for mileage. This has been a great car but....recently I smelled a burning oil smell. Told my mechanic friend who suggested my not panicking...yet. I had an oil change scheduled(local garage) so I went as scheduled and had it done. They claimed not to have noticed anything untoward. On an hour long trip I noticed the smell again and on checking the oil, I noticed; 1)on pulling the dipstick out it let off pressure as though there was vapor(pressure) in the engine 2)the dip stick was covered in a frothy milk chocolate-like excuse for oil(panic)3)the inside of the cap showed a thread of milky something,I assumed condensation or coolant? My buddy was saying the head gasket may be gone and it is so expensive as to just forget fixing it and buy a new car... I would love someone's opinion as the car seems to be running fine. It is not running rough or overheating or giving any indications of anything except I still have the same oil smell. I don't trust it for road trips til I find an answer. Any ideas? I was reading the postings on excessive crankcase pressure. Could my problem be related? There are no Volvo places near me and I am reluctant to just go to the nearest corner garage....Should I take these postings to my buddy(who is great with cars,just no specialty in Volvos)and see if he can make sense of it?
thanks.