anybody interested in doing a headgasket?

[crums440]

my s60r has what i beleive to be a bad head gasket, so if anybody has the correct tools and wants to throw me an offer on price, let me know...
it seems as though my coolant leak has progressed and is now dissapearing much worse than i had thought.
any questions feel free to ask.

[Jigs]

What symptoms lead you to think that you have a bad HG? Is your coolant just disappearing? Coolant in the oil or vise versa?

[JTapper]

6spd or auto? If auto, check your trans fluid ASAP. Coolant can end there if the radiator has failed.

[Audiphile]

Based on his info it looks like he has a 6mt. WHat makes you sure its a HG?

[crums440]

goes through roughly 3/4 gallon a week, and it isnt leaking anywhere i can see, it isnt leaking under the carper(heatercore), its hard to start, takes a while(low compression) i did new spark plugs ut that didnt do much difference, it smells like maple syrup when i start it in my garage. also when i try to accelerate past 5k it will stutter and back fire alot. so all those symptoms add up to be either a bad hg, or a cracked cylinder sleeve.

also, no coolant in the oil though and no white smoke, but bubbles come from the reservoir when i turn it over with the cap off. all symptoms of a bad headgasket.

[JTapper]

I'd just take it to Glasgow Auto in St. Paul. They're a great bunch of Volvo folks, with reasonable rates. Timing on these requires special cam tools (I've done without but it's a pain in the ass) that I highly doubt anyone in the community here has.

If you did have a shadetree guy do it, make sure you use all OEM gaskets, and be careful not to mark up the valve cover. There is no gasket. They are machined to make a seal without one.

[crums440]

yeah i figured id throw it out there, im going to swedish auto in hopkins to see justin from borton volvo to see what he thinks, im asking around for some different prices and etc, and some info on what kind of gaskets etc i will be using. ill be sure to find out soon.

[JTapper]

Be sure to call Glasgow also, you won't be disappointed.

They ONLY work on Volvo, and they have free loaners IIRC. There are a few people here who have chased problems at other shops for months, only for Glasgow to fix it right in a day.

[veedubmechanic]

S60R is turbo right?

[OptimusGlen]

Timing on these requires special cam tools (I've done without but it's a pain in the ass) that I highly doubt anyone in the community here has.

I have a home-built cam tool for the T-5. It's buried in the garage somewhere though...

[crums440]

tested coolant today for gases, and it was at 1200 ppm.. haha so very much shot. so im getting it done soon. any suggestions on a headgasket or should i just continue my plan for going oem?

[JTapper]

OEM.

OEM.

OEM.

Yes, Jason. S60R is a turbo.

[crums440]

oem is what i had intentions on, haha and i think i might do arp head studs just to do them and be safe anyway.

[JTapper]

oem is what i had intentions on, haha and i think i might do arp head studs just to do them and be safe anyway.

Kinda of a waste of money, IMO, but whatever floats your boat. Unless you're planning on a big turbo swap, which requires thousands more in supporting mods, custom tune, etc., new stock bolts will work just fine.

FCP Groton sells all the OEM gaskets at a better price than Borton if you're going to DIY.

[veedubmechanic]

Turbos are coolant cooled on volvos t6 iirc. I remember doing a tranny on one (well xc90) and there were coolant lines going to the turbo. it was a while ago though.

If the head gasket is indeed bad, the spark plugs and cylinder tops in the bad cylinder should be super clean and shiney.
If the water jacket in the turbo failed it will go through coolant just as fast.