I just checked the oil in my 95 850 and the dipstick is covered with a nasty thick white oily mess. i hope i dont have a bad head gasket!!! I only drive this car to work, 3 miles each way so i am hoping that it may just be condensation buildup. Also i am ready to do the pvc system replacment.

Can the dipstick tube be removed so that i could pull somthing through it to clean it out without pushing the crap into the oil pan?

I plan on getting running engine flush and changing the oil after i pick up some oil this afternoon.

thank in advance for any help Bob

Here is another product that you can use.

https://www.amsoil.com/catalog.aspx?subcategory=6.aspx%3fzo%3d531585

Click on the link above or copy paste it in your browser.

The above product is a better performing cleaner. Just follow the directions on the bottle and you will be all set. Should you have any other questions let me know.

I own a 1995 Volvo 850 GLT with 283K miles on it and still going strong. I average about 48K a year in driving and have the entire vehicle outfitted with Amsoil products. Full Synthetic Oils from top to bottom, Amsoil Oil Filters & Air Filters. Any questions let me know thanks.

When my daughter had 2 miles to go to get to high school, I told her to drive in 1st or 2nd, the speed limit is 30mph.
You are never getting the engine warm enough to boil off the water in your crancase. That is death to an aluminum alloy case, the inside must be pitted like crazy. Commute your 3 miles by bicycle.

Yes, the dipstick does come off, but you will need to get new O rings for the bottom end. I wouldn't bother doing that. Clean oil will clean up the dipstick tube.

There is probably a lot of gunk in your crankcase. I would reccomend using a bottle of AtuoRx, follow directions, but if you hardly ever drive the car it won't do any good.
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My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic.

Bob,

It is likely just what you thought it was, condensation. Cold weather and short trips cause it.

Just change the oil/ filter and give it 15 or 20 miles on the freeway and everything should clear up.

Unless you have a new O-ring handy I wouldn't pull the dipstick tube, there isn't enough there to cause any problems.

...Lee

thanks Lee & Klaus,
I gave a quick squirt of carb cleaner down the dip stick tube and that flushed it out, I hadnt wasnt even able to see the oil level before because of the crud! Then i checked it and the oil didnt look too bad, no water mixed in!

I had been planning to try the Auto-RX that i had seen mentioned here by klaus before, is it only available online? I thought i would do it after i replaced the pcv system in the next week or so. I can have my wife drive the car as she drives 25 miles each way to work. She actually has driven the car all but the last 5k miles of its 175k, so most of its life it has been warmed up fine ( she also drives it pretty hard) :)

Thanks, Bob

My local auto parts store carries AutoRx.
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My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic.