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Hi, I bought my '89 760 B230 FT K motor with a blown head gasket, and took it to the mechanic, I put a new (rebuilt ) head, water pump, radiator, hoses, distributor, and etc. when he was done the car was running so smooth, that he could't beleive it, it was a dream... I took it for a ride down to the Keys right after all the repairs- good gas mileage, great engine. Here comes the bad news- I invested $2500 in this and I was determined to get the miles and fun out of it, but when in a hurry, I ment to change the heater control valve( never did), I had it new in the trunk, when the old one broke on the I-95( on the way back after 1000 miles), I didn't notice the temp gauge for at least 5 minutes, I felt the car started loosing power, and that's when I looked into the dash, pulled over imediately. After an hour replaced the valve FINALY and poored water.... the engine is spinning freely like you are almost sure there is no compression, so I towed the car back to him and he did compression tests- #1 5.5 #2 doesn't keep pressure, same as #3, he didn't check #4, he just said : the piston rings went bad. Now I assume that he doesn't want to take responsibility, I paid him $850 in labor to put the head on, and now I am suspecting I blew the head gasket again, I already started to take the head off.
Any Ideas?
Thank You,
Alex,
144 B20A 1970,
144 B20A 1972,
1987 740 B230F,
1989 760 B230FT,
1990 760 B230FT SW
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I agree with the previous posts and have seen this exact situation several times before on other B230 engines. During an overheat condition, the Aluminum head expands at twice the rate of the Iron engine block. Once it hits the maximum travel that the head bolts will allow it to expand, it bows upwards and looses compression (blowing the head gasket). This is very characteristic to Volvos, and I often see it as a result of a failed Wahler Thermostat (which often fail after about 3 to 5 years, -I personally recomend Vernat/Caloristat thermostats) and the occasional radiator failure.
Without seeing your car, I would give a 99% probability that your piston rings are just fine. However you will need to remove the head and have it resurfaced/machined flat again. Depending on how bad the overheating was, the mechanic or machine shop may determine that the head is warped beyond allowable machining limits. I've had success with going just a bit past the minimum head thickness and still achieving a good compression ratio and valve clearances, -and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Otherwise, you can get another head in a salvage yard for $50 to $100, resurface as needed, and install it.
God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
--
'87 Blue 240 Wagon, 263k miles.
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You cooked the head and blew the gasket, what is the question again? Forget wearing out the rings.
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I would like to thank everybody for your moral support and good knowedge- I changed the head gasket my self yesterday, and before I started I had my neibourgh look at the engine( he's got a Volvo shop) and he was clear: "The piston rings are gone, you need a new engine, this thing is not turning,
Any way this was discouraging egnough before I started the job, but I kept the faith, and few hours later I took the head off- no scuffs just little rust from the water I added when on I-95, sprayed the cylinders with WD40, rotated few times, now this thing is spinning fine.So then put the new head gasket, attached hoses and belts, and guess what: THE CAR STARTED after 2 turns!!!! It was diagnosed dead by one ASE certified mechanic who ripped me off, and again by volvo shop mechanic who has worked on hundreds of Volvos, Now the question is the guy who changed the first gasket, he serviced the whole cooling system, I mean I was very busy and the only reason I went to him was because of my schedule, he changed water pump, radiator, hoses, retrofitted the AC to 134, and head gasket- $1627 and didn't change the heater control valve, he said I have warranty, on What?
Regards,
Alex
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Well... He SHOULD have recommended that he change the heater valve as a precaution at the time, but he didn't HAVE to.
That really ticks me off when mechanics don't make thorough recommendations to customers, like they expect the people to tell THEM whats needed... That's what they're getting paid for.
I always give folks a full list of needed and questionable items for them to decide on and try to help fit in to their budgets the important things.
That said, the total bill was pretty reasonable , around here most places get around $1200-1500 just for the head work ( highway robbery )
--
-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '86 740 GLE turbo diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD for sale
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Normally, squirting oil in the cyclinder and pressure comes up, rings. No pressure increase, head. Unfortunately, I have to agree with your mech.(how can you hold him responsible) But, $850 for headgasket. Even if it cost $200 for the head to be milled. That is alot in labor costs.
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You lose the coolant, the engine overheats, trys to seize because the piston skirts have expanded beyond their normal size, the oil film deteriorates and metal to metal contact occurs. This is known as a scuff, both the rings, cylinder walls and skirts are damaged.
The rest of the story is that the castings (head and block) overexpand crushing the gasket and elongating the fasteners (headbolts)
When the engine cools down the pistons contract but it is likely that the rings, pistons and cylinder walls are severely damaged. (no compression?)
The crushed gasket (collapsed bore flanges and body material)can no longer follow the normal expansion and contraction of the normal thermal cycles. (heating and cooling) The gasket allows coolant leakage internally and possibly externally. Compression, if there is any will migrate to the cooling system.
The bad news is that you overheated the engine and the mechanic has no responsibility.
I would pull the head and see how bad the cylinder walls look. If the timing cover backing plate is melted then it was pretty severe.
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He said after squirting oil- no pressure, and also I found a lot of antifreeze in the engine pan,
Thanks,
Alex
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