OK need help. I am losing antifreeze. In ten mile i am probably losing a quart. My oil is fine, dosen't look milky, My overflow is not filling up. The leak is coming down the exhaust side of the engine more towards the back of the motor. So I am wondering should I think head gasket or the metal line that runs from the water pump underneath the exhaust manifold. The car shows no other signs of a blown head gasket but you never know. The car has not been overheating as of yet but I keep a close eye on the thermostat and keep antifreeze filled up.

 

You need to pressure test the cooling system to determine if it is leaking from the head gaskets or the line that you mentioned. It could be the head gasket on the outer part and that is the reason why your oil still looks good.

 

well I can run a pressure test but that always dosent determine that its a headgasket for sure but I may give it a wirl, I still want to track down a new metal line as the one on my car looks to be in rough shape and could use changing either way. I know most people will argue me on the pressure test but I had a honda civic that was pressure tested and the guy assured me it was fine (when I kept telling him it was a head gasket) so when I got home it poured antifreeze out of the exhaust manifold. But it had symptoms of a blown head gasket it didnt have milky oil but it was spitting and sputtering when driving and it kept filling the overflow tank up, and it was overheating often. the volvo isnt having none of these but losing a little coolant.

 

I'd say a HG. Pretty common for these motors (B230F) to just start losing coolant from around that area without any overheating preceding it and without any other symptoms around 200k. Possible for the pipe to have sprung a leak just there (anything is possible), but doubtful...

 

Well I hope its not a HG as that will be costly but I wont no for sure till I get that line off of there, either way this sucks.

 

I don't recall but is there a freeze out plug there. Also there is the engine petcock valve just below the exhaust header. Maybe that is the problem.

 

I do believe there is a freeze plug there, what is a petcock valve and what does it do?

 

The petcock is a valve in the block water jacket that you open to drain the water out of the block. It is located on the passenger side of the block below the exhaust header.

 

If it is the HG, you will see seepage along the seam where the head meets the block. As big a leak as you describe, it should be easy to find. I use a little telescoping mirror.

 

thanks alot for the info, 2moro I am going to pull the exhaust manifold and try to see what I am dealing with for sure. I have already ordered the appropriate gaskets that I would need if it requires a HG job but hope that it won't be that serious. Will keep the thread updated to as what is going on.

 

ineed, my 200K mile '92 745T had exactly those symptoms when I bought it, it would loose about a pint of coolant in a couple weeks of driving, and it was seeping out of the head gasket below exhaust ports 3&4. The gasket finally blew entirely, loosing compression in #3 and #4 (yet no coolant in the oil or visa versa). I took it to my mechanic to fix, final bill was $1200 for the gaskets, having the head shaved, plus water pump, thermostat, camshaft seals, and timing belt (he replaces all that on principle when he does a head gasket). all like new now, running great.

I knew going into this car that it was going to need this.

 

wow I only paid 750 for the car lol

 

If you DIY, and don't do the head, you can get away with a $100 cost... not bad.

 

yeah I may have to