Oil in the coolant tank...opps

Pastymunchingxc70 · Jun 23rd, 2024, 20:20

Head gasket ran through my mind at first.but maybe iam lucky...oil cooler had wanted to check the oil.Well that will teach me won't it, when I buy a volvo (3rd) I've had change the oil coolers just incase. Ended up last night with a coolant tank full of nice rich engine oil. Car got me home so now I need to do that on it. NOTE if you buy a car with a cooler change it like I did on the 1st and 2nd v70s that I had.
So now it's a cooler,seals,oil change,coolant change and thermostat. Ohh and a good clean.
On the coolant front once clean, do I have to use green or can I use any other type.

Georgeandkira · Jun 23rd, 2024, 20:52

What causes the oil coolers to fail?
It's an internal failure, yes?

I'd use Volvo blue (G48?) style coolant. It's just a few farthings more and the stuff is know to last a long time. It is available in concentrate.

At some point the Volvo coolant appears to have changed to a pale green color.

Many regard G-05 (yellow) as today's universal coolant. I know people use it in P2 Volvos.

I'm servicing my 17 year old V70 cooling system and have blue standing by. It has had blue in it since birth.

I've never read anything about oil cooler failures.
Do you know an approximate lifespan?

And best of luck cleaning your system.

Pastymunchingxc70 · Jun 23rd, 2024, 21:16

Mines on a 2006 and done 159k. So I guess it's dome well, oil coolers that go bad are not uncommon by reading. Most think it's a head issue and actually it's a cooler issue, I don't get why they even have one fitted, does it actually need one. Is there a way to test it when it's on the car. Knowing my luck i will be in the 1% that has a head gasket gone.Will have to see what my local parts guy says about it all. Be so much easier if it was pink or purple as I have gallons of that in the garage as other car is a touran.
Why do volvo have to always be different

GrahamBrown1 · Jun 23rd, 2024, 21:36

Unfortunately the coolers have known to give bother along with the trans oil cooler also. Had a leaking one on my old S60.

Just be aware that the oil contamination will swell the coolant hoses which makes them go squidgy. Shortly after a leaking EGR coolant hose came to light.

Pastymunchingxc70 · Jun 23rd, 2024, 21:48

What's the best way round my issue.
Clean out expansion tank,drain all coolant,remove thermostat,bypass cooler and flush system. Then refit thermostat.
Or bypass cooler clean it and see if I still get oil in it. If I do... Panic.

GrahamBrown1 · Jun 23rd, 2024, 22:00

I’d get some rad flush or similar, water alone won’t take the oil out the system. Then plenty of drain and fills with the hose pipe. I’d remove the header tank to clean also. Then when you think you have it clean a weak mix of coolant which will ensure any reminants are flushed before the final fill. For the final fill I’d buy the Volvo ready mixed stuff. It’s not expensive and you won’t need to change it again as long as you have no further issue.

I’d be more suspect of the engine oil cooler than a head issue. These don’t really suffer gasket failures unless overheated.

Pastymunchingxc70 · Jun 23rd, 2024, 22:23

Some have said use dishwasher tablets in it to clean the system, don't know weather persil or asda 😂 never seen it overheat once in 3k I've used it. It's been running fine engine wise. Going to do the thermostat housing at same time. It's just all a ball ache to sort and clean. Well least it gets another service too. My bargain xc70 is starting to cost now ohh well. The fun of having a volvo.

mcfe · Jun 24th, 2024, 08:30

Oil in the coolant system is tough to clean. I've had oil spots appear months after various work I did. From the initial head gasket replacement and inevitable oil getting into the coolant passages to a failed engine radiator(with integrated ATF cooler) that mixed ATF with coolant.

I've done many flushes with specialty cleaners, but even then it's difficult.

Simmy · Jun 24th, 2024, 10:42

you can also use lemon juice to clean out a contaminated cooling system you will also need to change the oil and filter just in case any coolant has entered the oil system.

Pastymunchingxc70 · Jun 24th, 2024, 19:45

My plan is... Now is bypass the cooler clean the coolant system then run it with no coolant pipes on the cooler and see if it leaks... Fingers crossed it does. Then drain oil renew cooler, clean again the coolant system then connect cooler and then pray to the swedish gods it works.
Lemons ermmm would cheap ones do or do I have to be posh and get m&s ones😂😂.

Jun 23rd, 2024, 20:52	#2
Georgeandkira Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 13:50 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hackensack	What causes the oil coolers to fail? It's an internal failure, yes? I'd use Volvo blue (G48?) style coolant. It's just a few farthings more and the stuff is know to last a long time. It is available in concentrate. At some point the Volvo coolant appears to have changed to a pale green color. Many regard G-05 (yellow) as today's universal coolant. I know people use it in P2 Volvos. I'm servicing my 17 year old V70 cooling system and have blue standing by. It has had blue in it since birth. I've never read anything about oil cooler failures. Do you know an approximate lifespan? And best of luck cleaning your system. Last edited by Georgeandkira; Jun 23rd, 2024 at 21:02.

Jun 23rd, 2024, 21:36	#4
GrahamBrown1 Register Keeper - S80, P2, and P3 Last Online: Yesterday 22:24 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: North Yorkshire	Unfortunately the coolers have known to give bother along with the trans oil cooler also. Had a leaking one on my old S60. Just be aware that the oil contamination will swell the coolant hoses which makes them go squidgy. Shortly after a leaking EGR coolant hose came to light. __________________ Previous -03 S40, 04 V70 D5, 04 V70 D5 Sport, 05 V50, 07 S60 D5, 09 V70 D5 R design, 12 XC60 DrivE, 15 V60 D3 VEA Current- 05 XC90 D5 Exec, 12 XC70 D4 AWD Se Lux, 14 S80 D3 Se Lux

Jun 23rd, 2024, 22:00	#6
GrahamBrown1 Register Keeper - S80, P2, and P3 Last Online: Yesterday 22:24 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: North Yorkshire	I’d get some rad flush or similar, water alone won’t take the oil out the system. Then plenty of drain and fills with the hose pipe. I’d remove the header tank to clean also. Then when you think you have it clean a weak mix of coolant which will ensure any reminants are flushed before the final fill. For the final fill I’d buy the Volvo ready mixed stuff. It’s not expensive and you won’t need to change it again as long as you have no further issue. I’d be more suspect of the engine oil cooler than a head issue. These don’t really suffer gasket failures unless overheated. __________________ Previous -03 S40, 04 V70 D5, 04 V70 D5 Sport, 05 V50, 07 S60 D5, 09 V70 D5 R design, 12 XC60 DrivE, 15 V60 D3 VEA Current- 05 XC90 D5 Exec, 12 XC70 D4 AWD Se Lux, 14 S80 D3 Se Lux Last edited by GrahamBrown1; Jun 23rd, 2024 at 22:03.

Jun 23rd, 2024, 21:16	#3
Pastymunchingxc70 New Member Last Online: Jun 26th, 2024 23:52 Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: St austell	Mines on a 2006 and done 159k. So I guess it's dome well, oil coolers that go bad are not uncommon by reading. Most think it's a head issue and actually it's a cooler issue, I don't get why they even have one fitted, does it actually need one. Is there a way to test it when it's on the car. Knowing my luck i will be in the 1% that has a head gasket gone.Will have to see what my local parts guy says about it all. Be so much easier if it was pink or purple as I have gallons of that in the garage as other car is a touran. Why do volvo have to always be different

Jun 23rd, 2024, 21:48	#5
Pastymunchingxc70 New Member Last Online: Jun 26th, 2024 23:52 Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: St austell	What's the best way round my issue. Clean out expansion tank,drain all coolant,remove thermostat,bypass cooler and flush system. Then refit thermostat. Or bypass cooler clean it and see if I still get oil in it. If I do... Panic.

Jun 23rd, 2024, 22:23	#7
Pastymunchingxc70 New Member Last Online: Jun 26th, 2024 23:52 Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: St austell	Some have said use dishwasher tablets in it to clean the system, don't know weather persil or asda 😂 never seen it overheat once in 3k I've used it. It's been running fine engine wise. Going to do the thermostat housing at same time. It's just all a ball ache to sort and clean. Well least it gets another service too. My bargain xc70 is starting to cost now ohh well. The fun of having a volvo.

Jun 24th, 2024, 08:30	#8
mcfe Junior Member Last Online: Today 06:47 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: NoTown	Oil in the coolant system is tough to clean. I've had oil spots appear months after various work I did. From the initial head gasket replacement and inevitable oil getting into the coolant passages to a failed engine radiator(with integrated ATF cooler) that mixed ATF with coolant. I've done many flushes with specialty cleaners, but even then it's difficult.

Jun 24th, 2024, 10:42	#9
Simmy Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 23:00 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Manchester	you can also use lemon juice to clean out a contaminated cooling system you will also need to change the oil and filter just in case any coolant has entered the oil system.

Jun 24th, 2024, 19:45	#10
Pastymunchingxc70 New Member Last Online: Jun 26th, 2024 23:52 Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: St austell	My plan is... Now is bypass the cooler clean the coolant system then run it with no coolant pipes on the cooler and see if it leaks... Fingers crossed it does. Then drain oil renew cooler, clean again the coolant system then connect cooler and then pray to the swedish gods it works. Lemons ermmm would cheap ones do or do I have to be posh and get m&s ones😂😂.

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