Hello,

I'm looking at buying a 245 automatic with 155k miles. I was looking at the engine and I saw there was a duct hose which was disconnected from the engine. What is the hose for and why might one disconnect it from the engine?

Also, I saw what looked like oil which had leaked from an area just below the timing belt cover on the exhaust manifold side. Is that a bad area to be leaking oil? What manifolds or seals might need to be replaced to stop a leak in that area?

Finally, are there any areas which are particularly prone to rust or should be concerning if there is rust on the under carriage? If the car has spent its entire life in Atlanta, GA is rust probably not an issue?

Thanks for your help and assistance.

Image link: https://imgur.com/a/YnZkq

The oily engine doesn't concern me as a prospective new owner. In fact, it says the car isn't primped for sale, but probably just suffering the ordinary lack of TLC that occurs once a vehicle is relegated to "second car" after a quarter century. You can fix this yourself.

Look under the left side of the front, behind the wheel. Does the control arm look much like the one on the right? Even in Atlanta, rust can kill a car if it starts from a leaking or outgassing battery. In addition to the usual rust spots in the rear quarter, look carefully around the windshield for bubbling. I once pulled a sill from the driver's door opening to check under the carpet, to a seller's consternation (I've never broken one yet).

Rust is just about the only reason to pass up one of these wonderful 245's.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

Rust shouldn't be an issue if the car spent its entire life in Atlanta. Plus, the later 240's have much better factory rustproofing than the early cars which can be rust buckets. If you are unsure, have a professional check it out for rust. Some places to look for rust include spare tire well, rear quarter panel lips (edges), rocker panels, door bottoms and trunk lid (especially wagon). To be thorough, have the car put on a lift and look for rot and signs of structural damage underneath on the unibody.

One word of caution regarding the duct hose that connects the exhaust manifold to the air filter box. If Georgia has an emissions inspection, the removal of that hose might be a cause for an emissions failure. In some states the inspector will look for the hose to be connected as it's considered part of the vehicle's emission control system. Personally, my 240 passed the Mass. emission test with the hose totally removed but I understand that may not be the case in other states. A possible solution would be to have a duct hose available and only connect it prior to going in for your inspection...:)

Hi efcdons and jwalker,

Happy early munday to you!

Yep, as jwalker, machine man, and Art Benstein say. Wiser folks than me.

I would ad that the disconnected preheater hose in your images may be the engine only air inlet if the inside the air filter box springy thermostat controlled cold air or preheat air intake flappy valve has failed to hot air only. While disconnected, the available air around the exhaust manifold and heat shield is warmed.

As wikipedia says here for GA-state auto inspection, no safety inspection and:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_inspection_in_the_United_States

Georgia no vehicle safety inspection. Emissions inspection is annually for Atlanta 13-county metro. The three most recent model year vehicles and those that are 25 model years or older are exempt from emissions testing.

So, maybe one or no more more emission test round(s) for this 1993 240? Though the 240 works best with the emissions devices working. (This 240 may really need the preheat function in Hotlanta, GA.)

The machine bolts to secure the upper timing belt cover is missing. It is best to keep the cover secured. What you see above the water pump.

It would help if you could please post more images like the entire engine bay, with left and right side detail, around the battery, and the rear of the engine in relation to the firewall bulkhead.

You will have some work to do on this. The 1993 is a very good year and you'll be among the few to have one. Is this Volvo 240 of your fancy a 1993 Volvo 240 Classic?

Easy to work on, is a learning experience, and you'll get no better support than this forum in North America if not the entire English-speaking world, lest you're in the UK (ha!).

Hope that helps.

Early Morning Earl Grey Tea MacDuffed.
--
Give your brickboard.com a big thumbs up! Way up! - Roger Ebert.

Hello,

I see that you are a newbie or at least your handle seems to be. Welcome to the 200 series side of the Brickboard.
This appears to be a low mileage car for that year so it might be a good buy. It looks to have the a decent set of ignition wires.
Just from what I can see, the engine looks normal for an oil leak from the upper cam seal and that could be caused by a dirty or clogged up flame trap hose.
The seal can and should be addressed when you change out the timing belt if you can determine it is due for a change.

The hose is off for a very good reason if the air filter box has not been modified to close of heat from going to the Air Mass Meter. A Very costly item to replace OEM new is about $400 and even when rebuilt it can be $100 to $150.
There is a air flap inside the filter box, that is controlled by a $12 wax type thermostat, that has a high failure rate that will destroy the AMM.
Since its undone and the car runs well, you are probably safe on that issue.

I cannot advise you on rust as I live on the west coast and do not see these cars close up enough to know much.

Phil