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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Spokane WA
    Posts
    47

    Default Vanishing coolant.

    Here we go again.Now to add to my AC and Evap problems I have the missing coolant mystery.Every 40/50 miles or so I get the message "coolant low,stop asap. Check coolant and sure enough it's low,top up and off we go again for another 50 miles then same again.The mystery part is where is it going.Have found no leaks anywhere after running quite hard,no sign of coolant in oil or vice versa,nothing coming out of exhaust.Occasionally I will smell hot coolant but that's about it.Suggestions would be most welcome.
    Geoff69.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Northeast
    Posts
    584

    Default

    You definitely want to check to see if you have coolant in the footwells/under the floormats of the interior cabin compartment on both the driver and passenger sides. This is a sign that your heater core is leaking! Search on Heater Core for plenty of info:
    http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/search...archid=2487116
    2007 XC70, 206,000 miles
    2002 V70XC, 130,000 miles, parts car

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Spokane WA
    Posts
    47

    Default

    I did think of that but have only had a cursory look at the floor.I will go and check thoroughly later.How hard is the heater to get at?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    163

    Default

    I was getting some very minor coolant loss that became major rather suddenly. Mine was from the two piece thermostat housing, the gasket had failed. It was very hard to see. A new thermostat housing assembly took care of it.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Midwest
    Posts
    100

    Default

    Have you checked the water pump? If not, take the TB cover off and check it ASAP.

    Let us know what the issue is. Also, how many miles does your Volvo have?
    2002 S60 2.4T 173k

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Pretoria, South Africa
    Posts
    318

    Default

    A bit distant but I had similar issues.

    For the "slow" water loss:

    1. Replace the cap of the expansion bottle - the seal does get hard and does not keep pressure.
    2. I had a hairline crack in the expansion bottle itself - I eventually saw some coolant crystals on the side of the bottle that was not a result of overflow.

    For the rapid water loss:

    1. The water pipe between the engine and the heater (internal) radiator split - the heater radiator was fine and there was no water inside the footwell.

    Hope this helps!
    Pierre

    2016 V40 D4 AT
    2010 XC60 3.0T AT
    2004 Mazda Miata 1.8 - My new toy and restoration project ... Not everything you do in life has to be rational!

    Gone: 2015 V40 D3 AT, 2002 V70XC 2.4T AT, 2007 S60 2.5T Manual, 2004 S60 2.0T Manual, 1996 850 GLT Manual

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    56

    Default

    Is your Head Gasket ok?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Devon PA
    Posts
    11,409

    Default

    This is very simple
    Have a pressure test performed, takes 5 minutes.
    If there is no leak, then your head gasket is the issue, but I will guess that you will find the leak.
    All emails please use: jrl1194 (at) aol.com

    2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak, 112K miles. My daily driver and GORGEOUS
    2000 V70R wife's. Won't sell, now at 148K miles !! and still (almost) perfect.
    2000 S70 GLT SE with 29,000 miles!!! A time capsule, V70R front bumper, Volans, etc. SOLD!!! (I Will regret selling this!)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    56

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JRL View Post
    This is very simple
    Have a pressure test performed, takes 5 minutes.
    If there is no leak, then your head gasket is the issue, but I will guess that you will find the leak.
    Simply noting that you said the same thing as myself. Good job, bro-bro.

    Quote Originally Posted by GearheadTool View Post
    Is your Head Gasket ok?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Virginia Beach
    Posts
    4,116

    Default

    Pressure test it. There are lots of potential leak sites.

    My car had a leaking coolant reservoir: if you used a mirror, you could see the "crust" on the bottom, where the hose came in. New reservoir and hose fixed it. But there are so many possibilities: thermostat housing, water pump, heater hoses, radiator hoses, and yes, head gasket, that a pressure test is far better than guessing and throwing money at the problem.

    What JRL is saying is that a head gasket leak may not show up during a pressure test because it's potentially internal.

    But a pressure test is the ONLY way to go in narrowing this down. Too often, I see folks throw parts (and therefore, $$$) at a problem with their Volvo, and then complain that the car costs too much to maintain...well, it does cost a lot to replace working parts over and over...it costs a lot less to properly diagnose an issue...
    Current Fleet:
    2016 Tundra Crewmax 4WD 1794
    2005 MB S600 (126K, Michelin AS4, HPL 0W40)
    2005 MB SL600 (55K Michelin AS4, Mobil 1 0W40)
    2004 V70R (143K, six speed M66, HPL 5W40)
    2004 XC90 (235K, HPL 0W30 Euro)
    2002 V70-XC (295K, HPL 0W30 Euro)
    2002 V70-T5 (225K, IPD bars, Bilsteins)
    2001 V70-T5 (125K, IPD downpipe, cat back and other mods)
    1932 Packard Sedan (straight 8, dual sidemounts, original paint and interior, Shell Rotella 15W40)

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