Scott,

Because your Volvo is a T5, and therefore a turbo, I don't believe the engine has a flame trap. My '96 GLT is a non-turbo, and the owner's manual requires that the plastic flame trap be replaced every 30,000. I've done that religiously on both cars, and my independent Volvo mechanic has told me that is why I went well over 100,000 before I had to replace the RMS. Apparently, if you don't replace the flame trap, it becomes clogged (which it will) and in turn causes internal engine pressure to increase that leads to the demise of the RMS. It's ironic, the flame trap trap, like the RMS seal is relatively inexpensive, but left unattended can cost big bucks.

Thanks for your good wishes on high mileage motoring. I hope and expect to put 300K on my wife's red '96 850 (she does a lot of driving each day to work) and I do take pleasure at looking at the 100K and 200K Volvo High Mileage Club Medallions on the front grill. I've got only one on my silve '96 850, but hope to get another in two years, maybe less. I'm in no rush. It seems to be one of those things, that one day you look at the odemeter, and are shocked how many miles you have on your Volvo. Volvo's are not cheap to maintain, but if I was to sit down and crunch the numbers, I think I would still be ahead with the Volvo. At 200K, if I had an ordinary car, or didn't take care of it the way I do with a Volvo, I would probably have bought two, maybe even three new cars during the course of 200K miles.

By the way, I like the T5's. I'm hoping that someday, I'll be able to find a good used one with a 5 speed. They are very rare, but are out there.

Hugh



Hugh