I have a 1998 S70 T5 with 251k. Have been maintaining it well since purchase for $2500 about 2 years ago. I'm pretty sure the car had been maintained by a dealer throughout its life (new timing belt at 230k says the sticker). I replaced the PCV system first since it was clogged. Since then I have only had to make various minor repairs. However, it has now developed a real main oil seal leak. My local independent volvo mechanic (who I trust) says that is around a $900 job since the transmission has to come out. I don't have the tools or the inclination to take such a large job on myself.

It drives well, almost everything on it is in good working order, but I don't know its detailed history.

Anyone have any advice as to what best to do with it? Does it have value as a "parts car" to anyone out there, or is it really only worth "scrap"? I live in northeast MA.

I'll be sad to part with it, but can't see me investing this much money in a car with that many miles on it. Am I wrong?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

You are wrong unless you can get a better car for $900. That's like 2 car payments.

You don't need the history if you have had it for 2 years. The history is what you have made of it.

If the PCV system was clogged, it really wasn't maintained well at a dealer, they would/should have taken care of that.

I would fix it unless you have an itch for another car which it doesn't sound like you do "I'd hate to part with it".

With a RMS leak, I'd say it might be worth about $800. Repaired maybe $2,500. I would fix and keep it.

 

Appreciate you sharing your view.

Are there any other important preventative issues to check at the same time if I do go ahead and get the RMS fixed? What else major / inaccessible could start going at 250k that I should have them look at?

Thanks!

 

if you are near Rowley you cansee the hands down BEST Volvo mechanic on the planet,
Tim Watkins at Precision on Rt 1a. I He was my mechanic for years till I moved to Asheville NC.

 

Again, I would fix and keep it. You can have a compression test done and if the compression is good, keep on driving. I have read where some people have put 500k on their s70.

 

BTW the flame trap system failure would have cause the rear main leak.

Flame trap systems ONLY GO BAD when you do not change your oil like you should (too long between changes), and or prolonged periods between being run (talking months or longer here), also driving style....I can go on. It comes down to not being maintained pretty much.

my 2 cents --- fix the leak and keep driving her. $900 is about right Seems maybe a touch high (like $100 to much) but for what is involved in doing the job seems right.

 

I'll mirror what everyone else says. I'd fix the leak. My 850's RMS went south. Cost about $800 a few years ago at an independent.