Hi

I'm in need of some perspective on what to do with my 96 850. It has 215K, runs well, sounds good and is in nice condition. I drive it 150 mile rnd trip to work every day and all is well but it's burning 1 qrt every 750 miles. I changed the timing belt and water pump 81K again so its time for another round of that and I'd like to address the oil issue at the same time.

The car needs

1)brake job all around.. a rear caliper is bad so I figure while I'm at it I might as well do them all.

2)PCV system... crank case pressure is elevated.

3)exhaust system... I've welded it once but that was 4 years ago.

4)timing belt water pump, valve Job? plugs, cap, rotor.


Should I

1) pull the head, do a valve job, PCV system and exhaust?

2)If I'm going as far as 1) include pulling the engine and include rings, main and rod bearings, seals etc.

3)buy a used engine that I really know nothing about? There is one available near me with, they say 49k on it.

4) buy a newer V70 with about 120K on it?


We have a 98 V70, CAN everywhere, switches not working, trim falling apart, etc. and I'm thinking the 850 is a better car.

Thanks

Bob

96 850 wagon 215K
98 V70 170K
01 V70 90K

 

I don't know. Depends on how much money you want to spend. If you pull the engine with 215k miles on it, you'll have to get it rehoned and what not, with probably oversized rings, and the rest of the stuff you said. How do you know you need a valve job? Valves are about 15-20 bucks a piece. If you do valves, might as well do lifters. Doing an engine swap would probably be the cheapest route.

 

IMO it will cost you a ton of cash to get the engine rebuilt, I vote for replacement motor.

 

It's burning oil for some reason, valve stem seals, or seats, rings or jugs. The top end is the more likely place for a problem (from my perspective with diesel engine experience). But depending on what Volvo mechanic's with more experience with the bottom end of this engine have to say I'll decide to go for the top end or top and bottom.

A ton of cash as I see it broken down

1)Valve job about $450 rebuilt head from Clearwater head http://cylinder-heads.com/ I don't have a local machine shop I'd trust witht the volvo head.

2)rings $100 FCP Groton oversize or not

3) GASKET SET $120 FCP Groton

4)rod and main bearings $ 50 FCP groton

5)seals no more than $50

6) timing belt kit $ 350 FCP groton

7)lifters, If needed? .....In put requested

8) Blood sweet and tears $0......... I'm a masochist.

9)exhaust about $600

Total $1720 for a nearly new engine that can take me anothe 200K

It doesn't seem like a ton of money to keep my good friend running.

 

On a car with that mileage, I'd go with a used motor. They can be had with around 100K miles for about $400- $500. A rebuild is a bit pricey for one of these cars, especially with that mileage. However... make sure that it's actually burning that oil. Leaking is a bit more common, esp. from seals and the oil cap.

 

If I were you, I would do a leak down test so you can see if you have some upper end problems. Don't assume.

Or about 500 bucks for a used motor with 100k miles on it. You can put in new seals, but your pistons and rods will still have 200k miles on them. Do you think your going to drive this for 200k miles?

 

Motor, or replace the car with a turbo one. Also, I'm not a big fan of replacing the water pump every tb change. I do it every other. With all the other tid bit things I would probably give the car to someone that needs it. They can drive it till it drops. The list of problems may not bother them.

 

See, I am from a different school of thought! Everyone says get a replacement motor and eventhough the place you buy it will give you some sort of warranty (60-90 day) you still don't know what kind of abuse that motor went thru prior to getting to you AND you don't know if that motor might do the same 6 months down the road, VS your motor that you know what has been thru. If it was mine I would do all the work you stated above and have a brand new motor when it's all said and done that will take you another 200k

 

True, but if you can find a motor that's still in the car, then you can find some things out about the motor. Like the motor I bought was still in the car. I got a good look at the interior which was spotless, it really tells you how someone treated their car, and in the long run, treated their motor.

 

I think I'm from this same "different" school of thought.

Thanks to all for the input..... I'll keep you posted when I do the rebuild.