I have a 98 s70GLT with 100k> I bought the car in December 2004 for sround $7900 and have juust sent over $1200 on brakes cv joints and control links, now it has go oil and antifreeze mixing. The dip stip is milky and looks like anti freeze in the oil. Repair estimate is around $1500 head gasket ect. Is it would repairing and what next? Let me know your thoughts good info according my brother in law.

When i got the milky residue on my oil dip stick (S70 1998 T5) it was related to the PCV system being blocked. The dip stick was push out of his position in the tube after extended driving. To much pressure from the crankcase caused it. Water was condensing inside the tube. It was winter time and cold. Check the oil vapors recirculation valve at the turbo inlet for blockage, the oil separator box under the intake manifold and the rubber vacuum connection on the left hand of the intake manifold near the power steering pump. Mine had become soft with oil contamination. See FCP Groton for a kit to replace/renew the system. If not taken care of your RMS can suffer and you may get in real trouble. I do not beleive the problem is related to antifreeze. You can see many treads on forums covering it. Since i change the oil separator, the lines, clean up the valve, my pressure when down to normal. One good indicator of this problem is oil accumulation under the spark plugs cover caused by to much pressure.

Have a good Volvo tech check your oil and coolant.

FWD Volvo dipstick tubes get milky becaise they are out front and the plastic dipstick does not conduct heat up into the tube. I have seen ICE on mine.

Cleaning the stick will not get rid of the milky stiff in the tube. One way to clean the tube out is to fold a thin strip of rag over the end of the dip stick and stuff it down the tube. After a few tries with a rag, the tube will be clean.

Take your car for a nice 20 mile ride, then check the oil. The dipstick should not be milky. It will get milky again in a week or so of short trips. It will go away in summer.
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'96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '95 855, '95 854, the first three are mine, heh, heh, 415,000 miles put on 9 bricks

Antifreeze and oil mix is chocolate brown, not white froth. Mark the coolant level on the outside of the expansion tank with a magic marker. If the coolant level does not go down when the engine is cold, then no leak.
You do need to "drive" your car to get the oils nice and hot, so they burn off any water caused by condensation. That usually means one hour on the interstate, or an hour in D3 on local roads.

Klaus

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1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi

As the other post said many owners report a milky dipstick in cold weather/short trips and it is insignificant. Look in the coolant reservoir and see if there is oil there - if there is a headgasket or oilcooler leak the mixing goes both ways. It would be unusual. Your other expenditures are wear and tear items and their life depends on driving style and frequency of inspection / maintenance.

First, don't drive it because antifreeze is not a very good engine lubricant.

Second it it a Volvo store that wants to replace the head gasket? Because the oil cooler is an integral part of the radiator on Volvos and they sometimes develop compartment leaks. More often than blown head gaskets. If it's not at an indy Volvo shop I would take it there. I'd be reluctant to take off the cylinder head unless it's proven that the head gasket is the problem. Sometimes cars that are primarily driven on short trips and never warm up completely get condensation in the oil that makes it look cloudy. I'm usually not that lucky, though.

Good luck!

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 171k mi, Bilstein HD, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, Mobil-1 since new.

"Being offended by things is the world's big hobby at the moment. It's almost taken over from wearing goatee beards."-Douglas Noel Adams (1952-2001)

Bill the cat is right, I had a one way leak (unusual)with oil in the coolant, but no coolant in the oil. After a the head gasket and other work done, still had the oil in coolant. The radiator was replaced and resolved the problem. I should have taken it to the Volvo dealer, but the pressure test may have still suggested the leak was in the head. With your water in oil the pressure test should be more reliable.

RTF