well today I walked out and noticed a puddle under the daughters 93 240, I opened the hood and noticed it wet by the pipe running off the water pump....thought damn, theres a hole in the pipe....well after I cranked it up water started pouring out between head and block around front of head, it was milky white I'm guessing bubbles, yes a steady stream and the gauge started climbing up...well I'm guessing blown head gasket, hopefully the engine isn't hurt, still runs good... I've replaced these before on different cars but not a Volvo...any thing to look out for? Time to buy a case of beer.. Thanks in advance

 

As easy a car as you'll ever do a headgasket on...

 

do a compression test and see how the cylinders are

 

somewhere in here are the torque specs for the head bolts....

 

Try to check if the Volvo distributor cap are in good condition or there might be some missing parts or your cylinders may be worn out due to corrosion.

 

okay, checked compression.. on cylinders #1 thru 3 had 195 psi.. #4 had 200psi....car has new water pump and radator so why the head gasket blew is a ?...what about the flame trap or is that just for crankcase ventalation? Any other clues

 

actually...i was just going to suggest the flame trap...

 

The car must have overheated-you mention DAUGHTER'S CAR, a clue, possibly?

 

LMAO.....I didn't want to go there, but I was sort of thinking the same thing. I mean from the sound of it, that's a pretty drastic converssion over night....from perfectly fine to pudling in the driveway? Maybe she got excited when she found the drop down cable function?

 

okay here's the latest...I pulled the head off yesterday and found the head gasket at the front water port corroded that it split in two hence the leak at that point, that's why it still had good compression...also only about a quart of water in the radiator and block[:@] I checked the head for warpage and all is within spec...here's a picture of the gasket on the block

 

eeesh....good thing you caught it when you did!

 

the car is back together and running fine, I gave it a tune up while I was at it and cleaned out the oil sperator while I was at it..and best of all....no leaks

 

better to use oringal spec gasket if possible.