I looked at a '96 850 Turbo (157000) miles today, and when I pulled the engine oil dipstick to look at the oil....the ONLY thing that came up on the dipstick was a "gunk".....kind of looked like you had taken some butter and mixed a little oil in it. The substance was thick, and no matter how many times you pull the dipstick, same substance keeps showing up. What in the blue blazes is it.....and what could possibly be the problem? Lack of anywhere-near-recent oil change???? Is this a problem that can be rectified by just changing the oil, or what? Thanks!

 

most likely is a blown headgasket. The "gunk" is a mixture of coolant and oil

 

Hmmmm......the car started and ran fine, didn't smoke or anything. Would a blown head gasket let it run OK like that? I had always assumed a blown head gasket would make it knock and smoke, etc. I'm certainly NOT doubting your diagnosis....just trying to learn a little something more here....Thanks!!!

 

There would be a loss in power.

I didn't notice any smoke when I blew my gasket, just a loss of power.


Checking compression is a good way to know for sure.

 

I drove the car, and the power seemed fine. Could it be anything other than the head gasket??????

 

probably yes....

Wait for the experts to comment

When was the last oil change? what grade is being used?

 

Not sure of the date it was changed, or of the weight. What weight do you recommend?

 

You can't remember the last oil change? Was it a really long time ago? That's not good. I have a T5 in my V70 that gets 5W30 oil changes every 3,000 miles to keep the inside of the engine clean.

 

I would use what ever the owers manual says: https://www.customers.volvocars.com/..._901.htm#pg9.2

10W/30.....I would probably run a fully synthetic oil since yours turbo'd and change it every 5000miles...
We use Castrol GTX 10W/30 in my 745 and 244, and I change it every 3000 miles.

All depends on what climate you live in....

Also...you should change the oil every six months if you dont drive the 3000miles during those six months

 

No, I really don't know when it was changed, as I said in my original posting, I "looked" at this car today.........I do NOT own it....yet. Whether I do or not kind of depends on what I find out about this situation.

 

K...I would probably start looking at another car unless you will find out the condition of this one..... It could have some internal engine damage if the oil has never been changed....
If not, get the car stupid cheap ~$500-~1000 and fix it up.

Have an independent inspector check the car out.....just to play it safe

 

OK. Well, the car belongs to a friend, just trying to help out some and maybe buy it if it is worth messing with. I am SURE the oil has been changed, but to give an exact date or exact miles I don't know...will try to find that out. So...assuming the oil HAS been changed regularly, and in a timely mile and time frame, is there ANY thing else this problem could be besides the head gasket? Again...car runs and drives fine...no loss of power.

 

Was it sitting for a while?
Maybe it is condensation and sludge from not having the oil changed.

 

No, it hasn't been sitting at all. I know it is being used as a daily driver right now.

 

But it could also be condensation if it is only used on alot of short trips.

 

If it IS condensation (I know the car is primarily driven in the city), would a fresh oil change take care of this?

 

If you think the problem could possibly/probably be from being driven short trips in town (which is how the car IS driven), if changing the oil, and keeping it changed perhaps more often than 3000 miles is the best medicine for it, would you also recommend going to a synthetic oil, maybe in a 10W30 weight? Thanks for your help!!!!

 

Regular will be fine just take it on a few long trips from time to time.

 

OK! You've been a great help!! Thanks so much!!

 

I don't know about you but there are to many older cars out there to choose from, than to get a car with slug in the engine. That would send me running. Friend or not I don't think it's a good idea to get a car with evidence of not having oil changed for a while. Scary...

when I picked up a car last week, the oil on the dip stick looked clean, brand new. I went directly to a garage and had it changed within 50 miles.