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Not Good - I'm sad! How much to fix this?? 700

posted by  Square Estate on  Sat Sep 27 10:50 CST 2003
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Guys,

I posted a while back about some black stuff getting into my coolant overflow tank on my 1990 745T. I worried it was oil and meant a failed headgasket.

Well, now, today, I discover that there is coolant coming down the side of the engine, under the intake manifold. It appears to be coming from where the head joins the block. This has to be the final sign that my headgasket has gone, right?

What is the going rate for a good Volvo-oriented repair shop to replace this? Is it common for a blown headgasket to leak down the block, or is this something even worse? The car is running great, not overheating, and blowing no smoke out of the tailpipe. No coolant in oil, either.

This car is really great otherwise, great interior, good exterior, great trans shifting, and whole new suspension. The car only has 118k miles.

I really need to know if this is big money or not. Any tips?

Sadly,

Gavin

1990 745T







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    Not Good - I'm sad! How much to fix this?? 700

    uid 18083's pic
    posted by  lucid on  Sat Sep 27 14:55 CST 2003
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 12:31 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    "... black stuff getting into my coolant overflow tank ..."

    Maybe rubber sludge from old hoses. How old are they?

    And as the others suggest, the leaking coolant could well be a minor one, since you don't seem to have any other blown gasket symptoms.
    --
    Bruce Young,
    '93 940-NA (current)
    '80 GLE V8 (Now gone)
    '83 Turbo 245
    '73 142 (98K)
    '71 144 (track modified--and still here)
    New 144 from '67 to '78
    Used '62 122 from '63 to '67








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    Even if it is the gasket... 700

    posted by  jsaw on  Sat Sep 27 12:53 CST 2003
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    last visit: Tue Nov 25 11:11 CST 2008
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    ..it's not that big a deal.They eventually disintegrate, just a matter of when.
    Those guys are right about checking hoses for leaks..I was given the wrong thermostat gasket, but installed it anyways. As a result a little coolant sneaks out here and there but the first time I saw it, it looked like it was coming from the block/head mating.Coolant kinda snakes around on the side of the block then finally drips down, giving the appearance of a leak in another spot.
    Are you sure it's oil in the coolant? get some on your fingers and give it the smell/touch test.

    If the gasket is toast, are you mechanically inclined? DIY headgasket replacement is actually not too terribly hard, mostly time consuming . There's a lot that has to come off before you can actually remove the head, then it all has to go back on...I did a B230FT and I can honestly say it was fun.Scary, sometimes, but still fun. Anyways, consider it as an option.( most of the money you'll give to the mechanic will be labour charges...)

    Good Luck and write back!








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    Not Good - I'm sad! How much to fix this?? 700

    uid 55's pic
    posted by  john sargent on  Sat Sep 27 11:55 CST 2003
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    last visit: Wed Oct 22 09:07 CST 2014
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    Before you jump to conclusions, make sure the coolant is not coming from the thermostat housing.

    If the head gasket needs replacement, it would be 4 to 5 hours at shop rate, plus gasket set and head surfacing. In the US this would be about $500.
    --
    john








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      Not Good - I'm sad! How much to fix this?? 700

      posted by  Turbine1 on  Sat Sep 27 12:27 CST 2003
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      last visit: Sat May 5 11:14 CST 2012
      [RELATED]

      This could also possible be a leak from the heater hose, which connects to the top of the block under the intake manifold. This is a cheap fix, as is a new thermostat gasket.
      However, as you have signs of oil in you coolant tank, a failing head gasket might the most likely culprit.
      But check the thermostat and heater hose first.

      Good luck,

      --
      Current: '95 945, 95k miles; '90 BMW 325i, 90k miles. Former Volvos, gone but not forgotten '85 245, 250k miles; '91 744T, 150k miles







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