HI All,

Loyal volvo owner here..on second 1998 v70 t-5 turbo with 170,000, manual transmission... Replaced timing, water pump around 145,000 sometime last year..radiator went end of last year, then heater core (coolant on drivers floor) this spring..after replacing the heater core and driving away from my volvo specialist mechanic I noticed a burning metalic smell coming from the heat..thought it might be a "new part" smell but didn't get any better after drving for about 15 minutes..called mechanic and turned around and went back..he never heard of this..and he checked it over quickly and also saw that the fans would turn freely..(we replaced a blower resistor sometime last year so that is new) He decided to spray deodorizer in the system and I drove home..figured it would go away..it didn't and 2 weeks later he replaced the heater core again just to be sure it wasn't a bad part...still has odor just the same..although it does not smell bad when ac is on only heat..and I haven't needed the heat in New England in quite sometime..Anybody ever hear of this? The smell when the heat is on is so bad it makes our eyes water..and again like a metalic type smell..

Today while out driving now..we found what seemed like the sheen of oil on windshield outside just over where the defrost would hit from the inside? went and checked oil (that was changed 5 days ago) and found the coolant bubbling over and looking brown (pretty sure they or I haven't mixed colors of anti freeze either)..Oil appeared down maybe 1/2 quart? Are these symptoms of a blown head gasket?
Anyone have any tips on the smell..or the oil sheen on the outside of my windshield? The smell I cannot live with in the winter and if we cannot determine where it is coming from I will have to get rid of the car (but it is my favorite make and model car)..it is that bad. And I want to be sure that this oily sheen (which doesn't wipe off....and is likely not from another car by the pattern)
Thanks in advance,
Alicia

 

Did the oil look like a brown/green milkshake? Even if not, the coolant bubbling over is symptom of blown head gasket. I am surprised your tech didn't catch this. May be time for a 2nd opinion?

Did they clean out the carpets when they repaired the heater core? Sounds like you have coolant (possibly with oil mixed in..) all through the interior duct system. Will need to R&R the dash and clean everything out. This would be expensive to pay someone to do this, but it's not too bad a job for a DIYer.

This is a great car, and the best MY (IMO)! It would be shame to let it go as you won't be able to replace it, at least not easily. Find a good competent volvo tech and get an honest assessment of what's going with the car; then you can make an informed decision.

Good luck!