My 75 year old uncle reports that his 2000 V70 with only 15,000 miles blew a head gasket yesterday. Check engine light came on and he pulled off freeway, then smoke poured out, and lost all electrical power and steering as motor died. Towed to dealer where purchased (Carlsbad CA) and maintained according to factory specs. Now they say, he needs to buy a new motor for $8,000 and no coverage under warranty.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

This is good tale about the need to take the car for a good drive.

Low miles in a 4 year old car is a bad sign, which means he only drove the car to the grocery store an back.

The car needs to be drive at highway speed for a couple of hours at least once a month, so that the engine reaches normal operating temp and all engine components are lubricated and cleaned.

Buy the car from your uncle, spend a $2000 for a head gasket job AND DRIVE THAT BABY ON THE HIGHWAY!
--
'88 240, '92 745, '98 v70 John, Tampa Bay

I'm wary of a "low mileage" car because it may have 1000 bazillion hours on the engine idling outside the Middle School waiting for Buffy and Muffy.

I'd wonder if he melted the motor, though, and I'd wonder if he did that either because of a stuck thermostat or punctured radiator, or something. My '98 is up to 148k now and it still uses no oil!

We're missing part of the story, I am sure! The elderly or mechanically uninterested must do better with Toyota Avalons.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5M, 148k mi, IPD stabilizer bars, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, about a half pound of felt applied to the RH corner of the dash, glovebox and A pillar today and the *&^%$#@! thing still squeaks!!!

I imagine you can get a used engine for much less then that.

part of the story here!! Something let loose for a reason! I wonder if he severly overheated it at one point OR he lost all his oil du to a bad gasket filter or something! These 5 cylinders just don't let go at that kinda mileage!
If he did nothing wrong......I would ram this case as hard as I can back into Volvo corporate!