Tech, need your expert advice. I have a '99 C70 Coupe with 128K miles. The other day the car started to shake and sputter on the road. After pulling over, there was a bunch of oil underneath the hood. It looks like the oil came through the oil cap. I don't know how that could be. It was driven back to a local mechanic. A compression test was done. Numbers 1-4 registered 150 psi. Number 5 was at 25 psi. It car runs ok but it has a miss in it (#5). The mechanic thinks the ring may be cracked.
1. What do you think?
2. If it is the ring, can the piston come out with the engine still in the car?
3. Can someone like me do this job? (I have pulled and rebuit engines before)
4. Are there any special tools that is required for this type of job?
5. Finally, if I go to someone, how much will this cost?
I am really bummed out because this car has been running great. Any advice would be much appreciate. Let me know if you need anymore information.

 

I will almost bet it is a burnt valve.
I have not seen rings go bad on these engines.

You might be able to tackle the job but it will be a pain and yes you will need some special tools.

If that is it the job will be close to 2K.

 

Tech, thanks for your help. I found a volvo mechanic in town and he suggested that it may be a burnt valve as well. Thanks for your insight. I will let you know what I find out.

 

Tech, it turns out it is a burnt valve. Should only the valve be repaired or should the whole head be done? I am sure it will cost more $$$ to do the whole head. I still don't know what caused the valve to fail. Do you think it is just one of those things or would there be more to it?

 

If you can spare the $$$ I would do them all I have seen many times where they only did one and 6 months later back for another one.

What type of gas are you running in the car?

 

We are running regular gas with the car....No particular brand.

 

From now on sorry to say but run premium.

Since gas prices went so high we have seen alot of people running regular and seems like that is what is causing the burnt valves.

 

wow..is that right? The job is going to cost me $2500!!!!! ouch. Does the mid grade help or just put the premium in?

The mechanic says there is no apparent reason why the valve burnt. He didn't see anything that caused it. It is just one of those things....perhaps you are right and the culprit could have been the gas grade!

 

It is pretty expensive. Did he give you an estimate?

I would run preminum when ever you can.

 

I didn't get an estimate on it, however,theyput in a new timing belt/kit as well as a new water pump. I was very satisfied with the work and the knowledge of the shop. I think if you factor in those two items then the whole job is probably about right. I think the labor itself was around $1200.

 

Well thats really not all that bad. Glad all is going good.

 

Tech, funny you should say that. The #4 coil just went on the car. These ankle biting situations are getting a bit annoying. The volvo dealership (not the place where the valves were done) wanted something in the neighborhood of $300 to replace one and another $300 or so to replace all 5. Geez...over $600 for the coils. I thought that was unreasonable. What do you thing?

Also, how difficult would it be to R&R them? It looks like a couple of covers to remove and that should be it.

 

They are pretty easy to replace. You should find them online and replace them your self.

 

OK...I did order them on online. What needs to be removed in order to get at them?

 

You need to remove the top plastic cover.
On some of them you need to remove the 2 T-25 screws holding the intercooler pipe to the top of the motor.
Then the cover will come off and you can remove the coils from there.

 

OK, thanks. I appreciate your help.......again!!!!!!!!!

 

No problem anytime.