Here's what happened.

Son bought 245 wagon which ran good and we thought had been well maintained.

I changed the oil and filter and noticed that it was very hard to get a filter wrench on the filter, but didn't notice any other real problem.

A few weeks later, the engine lost the oil on the freeway and started rattling. Son put in some oil and kept driving. A little later, same problem, but this time it was too much and the engine threw a rod. Block was destroyed and is in the trash heap now.

The problem was caused by failed motor mount which allowed the oil filter to slip down and contact the fixed part of the mount, putting a small break in the filter and causing oil loss.

Check your mounts to keep this from happening to you.

Thank God for Brickboard! I'm new at Volvo maintenance. Daughter is changing oil on her 90 244 this afternoon, & can't get the strap wrench around the filter. Well, no wonder: the filter is kissing the motor mount! Glad to find this post; no engine damage, & I'm on the replacement tomorrow.
--
Jim (90 244DL 165K miles)

Sorry about your experience. Make note to sit down with son and explain that when red dash light comes on car must be STOPPED, right away. I believe this must be carefully and thoroughly explained along with threats of death if necessary to all drivers under 20 years of age.

Daughter #2 called me one day with a "flat". I flew to her rescue and found the tire had exploded, it actually bulged out the fender some and shattered the plastic wheel well lining (it was a an old Ford Mustang). Upon further investigation and some serious interrogation I discovered that all 4 tires were inflated to somewhere near 90 psi. She said she just filled them till they looked nice and round.

My daughters are now thoroughly schooled on my Introduction to Car Care and Maintenance forced training course. Daughter #2 now has an 87 240 and loves it, she even insists on changing the oil every 3K miles along with a new Mann filter. All this despite my urgings to extend it out a bit and leave my stock of Mann's alone.
--
David Hunter

I wouldn't have thought that was possible. I bet they were nice and round! And how could one drive like that? I'd think every pebble would send the car skittering all over the road.

I recently discovered that one of the trans-crossmember bolts worked its way out completely.

And just this weekend, the tie-rod end bolt (which I know was properly torqued down at installation a few months ago) worked itself out while on the freeway. I was able to pull over, and slowly driving on the shoulder, get off the freeway to wedge a lug nut (despite being SAE vs. metric) to hold it back into place, to drive off to the next street in a safer location.

For lack of proper parts, I did find a metric lug nut (though still wrong type) to cram a few threads in and used a 1/2" wrench as a spacer to hold in the rest. A zip tie served as backup.

-- Kane ... who at 1am in the morning, was 50-miles from home. And several hours to an open parts store.
--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40

My mount sheared right off at some point and when I was at a traffic light I noticed the engine shaking.I pulled over and checked the passenger side mount and I couldn't pass my fingers under the filter.I took a spare skateboard wheel and jacked up the engine and wedged the wheel between the engine and frame.I slowly drove home and put my spare mount on.
This reminds me to order a new one,the one I put on was from my parts car and probably 10 years old.I keep a close eye on it and wipe it dry after oil changes.
--
philvo '86 245 212k,'90 240 197k,'87 SAAB 900 SPG 213k

When you're pulling the old filter, protect your engine mount from oil.

Unless you change the oil after letting the car sit overnight (not advisable because you want as much as possible of suspended crud to come out with the oil) there will always be some spillage from the old filter as soon as you break the seal.

I put a couple layers of paper towel over the mount. That usually keeps the oil off the mount. But once the filter is out I wipe the mount with a clean paper towel just to be sure.

Not a good location for the filter--almost as though they wanted to rot the mount as fast as possible.

Good luck.

Doug Harvey

I do the same thing.

3 or 4 paper towels over the mount.
--
If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as 'Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!'

Been saving the plastic bags the newspaper comes in sometimes and stashing them with the oil filters. After loosening the filter, slip one over and keep it snug against the block while unscrewing.

If I can't get my fingers around the bottom of the filter it is a saggy mount.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

>>I took a spare skateboard wheel and jacked up the engine and wedged the wheel between the engine and frame.,<

Nice "MacGyver" there, philvo!

--
don hodgdon '89 744ti, '81 242t, '71 D-35

Wow - reminds me of the old days! Good ingenuity on the skateboard wheel!

skateboard wheel, eh? good idea

that being said, would it be a good idea to rig up a "safety catch" thing adjacent to the oil filter and motor mount (possibly in the form of an old mount or new cheapie one. Or, something stiff might help so the car shaking like hell will indicate something wrong.) This could be done such that a sheared old mount will dump the engine on this temporary support, rather than tearing a hole in the oil filter.

I'd suggest more, but i can't picture that space in my head right now, and I don't feel like going outside. any ideas?

Very unfortunate that your son's experience with his *new* Volvo starts off this way. The failed right side motor mount is not uncommon and is fairly well-known among Volvophiles. But if the car was 'well maintained' at a shop that wasn't aware of this problem area and the consequencess of ignoring it, the P.O. likely sold it to you in good faith with no knowledge of this.

Thanks for sharing the experience - I'm going to go check the mounts today....
--
Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

That hurts.
I was lucky on this one. Passenger side motor mount failed as I started the car in the Canadian Tire parking lot. The engine thrashed a hole in the filter instantly, and caused the idiot light to come on. I shut it down and walked to the service desk for a booking.

Marten

Awesome!

Thanks for the warning.

The idle on my 88 240 wagon has been rough for a long time. I have looked at that mount wondering if it was OK, it does seem to buldge out.

Now I won't hesitate, I'll just change it out!

Mike

Cheap to do - each mount is less than $10.00

Where do I buy the mount? (online)...any contacts???? (cheap prices)

I like www.fcpgroton.com ask for Nick..tell him John from SoCal sent you. or just order online :))
--
john,,1985, 245:Ti, 251k mi..so.california