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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by Mr. Detail on Mon Oct 3 05:13 CST 2011
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last visit: Mon Sep 8 11:44 CST 2014

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Recently bought a '98 S70 that was dealer maintained throughout and when I opened the hood this morning after having the car for a few weeks I noticed that the color of the coolant was an ugly looking brown/black. Couldn't miss it, right through the plastic reserve tank. Just wondered if the previous owner used genuine Volvo coolant, is that a different color than the standard stuff (yellow-green)?

Obviously I need to flush this stuff out, right? Is there any reason to use the more expensive "Volvo genuine" coolant?

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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by Tapsa on Mon Oct 3 23:51 CST 2011
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last visit: Sun Oct 19 13:29 CST 2014

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Hi,
if the coolant is dark brown/black and viscocity is thicker than usual you might have a oil leak into coolant. flush first and check both coolant and oil on regular basis for some time.
Had recently oil leak into coolant in my D5 engine which has Behr oil cooler on the back of the engine.
br tapsa

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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by KlausC on Mon Oct 3 09:18 CST 2011
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014

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Wrong color! I would flush it with Zerex G-05 this weekend, watch it for a week or two, then flush it again in a month IF the color does not change, using OEM.

You might have a pending headgasket or radiator leak, so watch it closely. If you have time, get a compression check with the engine warm.

If you decide to repl the thermostat, always get OEM. They are not that expensive and come with the gasket.

Klaus
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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by Mr. Detail on Tue Oct 4 05:26 CST 2011
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last visit: Mon Sep 8 11:44 CST 2014

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Klaus, I need your help on thermostat selection.

FCP Groton is showing an 87 degree and a 92 degree thermostat. Which one should I choose? I live in suburban Philadelphia, PA where the last two winters have been pretty cold.

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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by KlausC on Tue Oct 4 09:19 CST 2011
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014

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The 87C thermostat is for turbos, the 92C is for NA engines.

Word of caution, the 2 torx screws that hold down the thermostat covers are very, very tight and easily stripped. You must have a good quality T40 driver with at least a 2 inch extension for the ratchet. I had to push down very hard at the top of the ratchet and tap the handle with a small hammer to get the screw to break loose. The cover and thermost body are aluminum and can crack easily. Replacement screws at the dealer now have a 10mm head.

Klaus
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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by Mr. Detail on Tue Oct 4 10:57 CST 2011
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last visit: Mon Sep 8 11:44 CST 2014

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Thanks Klaus.
I will check my tool box tonight when I get home. I believe if my memory still works, that I have a T-40 driver with a T-handle. The shaft is like 6 inches long.
Will that work?

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Thermostat S70 1998

posted by KlausC on Tue Oct 4 11:17 CST 2011
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014

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You can give it a try tonight on both screws. Just see if they loosen and tighten them back up (not too hard, just snug). Make sure there is no dirt in the screw head.
If you hear a 'creak' when you try to loosen, they will get loose. WD40 is not to be used, won't work anyway. A drop of penetrating oil at the base of the screw head might work, just don't get any inside the torx hole. It is the head of the screw against the housing that gets stuck, once you turn 1/4 it will unscrew easily.

Klaus
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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by Mr. Detail on Mon Oct 3 15:35 CST 2011
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last visit: Mon Sep 8 11:44 CST 2014

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Klaus,
Is this a fairly easy job to do? (Draining & flushing the coolant)

Do you know of any step by step instructions?
I am willing to try and do a job as long as I am prepared in advance with the proper tools and anything else I might need.

Thanks! :)

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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by KlausC on Mon Oct 3 16:02 CST 2011
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014

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It's not difficult, but might be messey. You will need to buy a gallon of distilled water at the grocery store - not spring or drinking water!

There is a drain on the block and one on the bottom of the radiator. I cheat and just pull off the large bottom hose from the engine block - can be a bit messy if you don't have a large catch pan.

If you decide to repl the thermostat, now is the time to do it. Just make sure you have a very good 40 torx driver.

After the fluid is drained and the petcocks or hose is fastened back to the block, fill up the engine/radiator with distilled water and antifreeze. I prefer to add 1/2 gallon of antifreeze, followed by 1/2 gallon of water. Then I pour the rest of the water into the antifreeze bottle, and fill up the overflow bottle.

Start the car with the cap off the overflow. Add fluid when needed. When the engine appears to be warmed up, turn it off. Wrap a cloth over the large hose and squeeze it several times to get any air bubbles out (the engine must be warm enough to have the thermostat open). Fill the bottle to max line and put the cap on.

Go for a drive and make sure there are no leaks. Check the bottle level again when the engine is cold. Fill if needed.

Klaus
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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by Mr. Detail on Mon Oct 3 17:10 CST 2011
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Thanks much Klaus. I just checked my manual in the glove box and it states that the coolant capacity is 8 quarts. According to what you wrote above, it sounds like you are only filling it back up with a half gallon.

Wouldn't I want a 50/50 mix in there? 4 quarts coolant and 4 quarts distilled water?

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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by KlausC on Mon Oct 3 17:30 CST 2011
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LOL, you buy a gallon of distilled water and a gallon of antifreeze. That's 8 quarts last time I looked. You don't have to mix it all first, it will mix nicely in the engine.

You will have a little left over. Not all of the coolant will drain from the heater core, but that is OK.

Some people used to use a garden hose to flush the system, but that introduces calcium and chlorine.

Klaus
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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by Mr. Detail on Mon Oct 3 13:09 CST 2011
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Klaus, over on Matthew's Volvo website I read that Volvo's own brand of coolant actually is the color of brown. Is this possible?

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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by KlausC on Mon Oct 3 15:42 CST 2011
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To use the California saying, yellow is mellow, if it's brown, flush it down. OEM is blue-green. Brown would be a totally bad choice of color for any antifreeze, one would never know if it is contaminated.

Klaus
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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by jadnhm on Mon Oct 3 07:19 CST 2011
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last visit: Tue May 22 18:03 CST 2012

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I don't think the coolant should be brown or black so please flush it.

I don't know the colour of the OEM fluid - maybe blue?

There are good reasons to stick to the OEM fluid. The only reason not to use it is that it's expensive. Do your research, but it's possible that BMW and MB OEM fluid is the same or very similar - not sure on cost comparisons.

I've been using Zerex G-05 which seems like the most suitable aftermarket alternative to the OEM fluid. It's an orange-y colour.

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1998 V70 AWD->FWD->AWD Turbo 220k+

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Color of the coolant? (Genuine Volvo) S70 1998

posted by jwalker on Mon Oct 3 07:50 CST 2011
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last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014

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OEM antifreeeze is blue/green in color.

When I recently replaced my radiator I used the Volvo OEM. Yes, it is about twice the cost of the cheap stuff. My view is that it is cheap insurance for your cooling system. Why skimp?

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