Hi all,

I recently purchased a '98 V70 with about 120k miles on it. The dealer told me that the car was fine according to their inspection, but they couldn't verify if the timing belt had been replaced in the past.

After the purchase, I took the car to my local mechanic to check on the timing belt. They verified that it had been recently replaced, but hit me with the following:

1. Front lower control arm bushings are worn
2. Rear shocks are leaking hydraulic fluid
3. Multiple engine oil leaks

They recommended replacing the lower control arm bushings, front struts, and rear shocks. Below are photos of what they sent.

Am I getting my chain yanked here?!



Front suspension

Rear suspension

Engine

 

1. You have just purchased the car
2. How much oil does it use? A quart every xx miles? Find out before fixing oil leaks.
3. Put your knee in the center of either bumper and use your weight to push the car down. Does the car rebound evenly on both sides and stop moving in the first rebound? The rears will probably feel different (stiffer) than the front. That's normal. When you drive over dips in the road does the car bounce evenly? If it does - DON'T REPLACE THE SHOCKS
4. Do the tires show uneven wear? Any clunks, strange feelings from the front end while driving? (I know you just bought the car and don't have much seat time)
5. Is it a turbo car? If so the oil dripping from the oil pan could be coming from the oil drain tube o ring - or simply from the drain plug where the drain plug crush washer was reused last time (or many times). Be sure a new crush washer is installed at every oil change - some shops don't do that. Or if it's coming from the front - the dipstick tube o ring could be leaking - but you don't know how much yet. (many old things leak oil slightly!)


You have just purchased a 25 year old car. Stuff is going to go wrong with it - and It's possible you don't have a bunch of extra money available to fix the mentioned items. So-

Drive the car. Get to know how much oil it uses and see if it drives like shocks or control arm bushings are worn (they could easily be worn after 25 years, in fact most if the car is worn)

 

This is just one man's opinion, but I never never never never replace shocks and struts until the DRIVER doesn't like driving with them. The driver is you. No mechanic can diagnose a shock or strut performance by looking at it, ever. Don't listen.
However, if the control arm bushings are bad, you probably are going to hear some clunking and so you ought to be able to confirm that one. A common problem with these cars is the front strut mount has a metal sleeve that holds the strut end, and that sleeve will eventually rip out and you'll get lots of banging. This sleeve is where you can see it.

OIL LEAKS: These cars do leak oil for a variety of reasons, all fixable, and I'm not sure how well this is covered in the 850 owner's thread (which is otherwise required reading for you). So here's a list:
1. The PCV system requires total replacement every once in a while and there's oil traffic through there. Backpressure may make oil blow out the top fill hole and the dipstick. Even when everything is in perfect condition, you'll find that the interior of the intercooler is oily and that oil is going to make a drip once in a while (hopefully a very long while).
2. The cam seals walk totally out of the engine on this car. I've never seen anything like it, but it's very consistent on all the 850's I had and on my S70 T5. Super easy to fix, but you have to know to fix it. When you suddenly have a massive oil leak, it'll always be this.
3. The oil cooler hoses on a Turbo will ooze oil constantly after a certain age. You can buy new ones. You can cut the old hoses off the ends and make new ones.
4. Beyond that, it's the same as any other car and it can leak where any car can leak. This would include the front and rear crankshaft seals, the drain plug, the oring where the dipstick goes in (pretty loose fit), oil filter, oil pressure sensor, and from the seam between the head and the cam cover. Any car can leak in those spots.

 

P.S. that looks pretty dry for a 98 volvo, honestly. And

Like any car they can leak transmission fluid too.