Engine: B5244: Head gasket oil leak

[polainm]

Hi. Been in/out VOC for a few years, using parents' Volvos in the past. Recently bought a 2005 V70 140 petrol, and could see oil leak from front of engine. I thought 'OK, probably cam seal/crank seal, might be oil filler cap seal too, maybe PCV bits or sump gasket - how bad could it be?' So I bought it. Now in bits at trusted indy and they found only dry seals (I'd also done the glove test for PCV pressure - all OK).

They have traced it to the front left corner of the block (left of cam, head to block gasket) and oil is leaking from here! I have never heard of this happening to this block. A specialist engine rebuilders I will be using has said that they have come across this problem on a couple of B5XXX blocks but it is rare.

We all believe the water pump *might* have failed, and the block overheated. The water pump is recent, along with cam kit. So the gasket might have failed as this time and the previous owner has just run it as Amoco Cadiz, jet washing it prior to MoT

So now muggings has to sling 'value' of V70 cost at labour to get head skimmed etc. I can do suspension rebuilds DIY/reflowing solder/SAS replacement but head removal of this engine is beyond my skills.

My question is (got here eventually) is how many of you out there have had this failure, and what did you do? Scrap/open wallet surgery/sold it to another mug...?

Yours, in pain, Matt.

[BarryCambs]

Hello from Cambridge!

Mine had a weep in this area, but then the head gasket blew anyway. I changed the gasket myself, but if it happens again, I'll scrap it without hesitation - it's not a quick job! That was 10 years ago and it's still going. Maybe easier on a non turbo though.

[polainm]

Thanks Barry. I find the whole sunk costs issue tricky. I'm OK with certain costs on an old car of low value, because the repair costs will still be the same as if new. The real issue I have is providence. As soon as I scrap the car, then go out and buy another at the same price as the repairs + a bit (assuming writing off the purchase price of the scrapped car), I am back to the beginning again in terms of 'luck' with major faults - I have no idea just how well the replacement car has been looked after. Fixing big faults *can* mean ensured trouble-free use. I've found that even a fully stamped up service book merely shows a garage 'did some work on it'. Brake check done in a service book I have, must have meant the brakes were 'barely OK, but useable' looking at the condition they are in. Such a money/time pit...

[BarryCambs]

It's tricky. I've had another 10 years out of it, but its had all new suspension etc, etc in that time. Luckily, my labour is free, otherwise, I think it would be long gone. But as you say, you could spend considerably more money and still end up with something you still need to spend money on.

That said, a lot of other cars are a lot cheaper to keep on the road. I got the volvo as we needed an occasional 6 seater (it has rear boot seats), but not a day goes by I don't miss the Golf it replaced.

[stuart bowes]

I second that I miss my hatchback days

throwing money in to a 2nd hand car tends to snowball a bit doesn't it, because the more you spend the more it becomes worth spending on.. triggers broom and all that

I'm a slightly overkill 8 grand in for mine, but there's progressively less and less to replace/repair (and 1 grand of that is stereo which is transferable at least) the way I look at it, if it lasts me 5 years (3 more to go) which it should do very easily at this low mileage, the annual cost is probably about half what I'd spend on a decent hire purchase

And you never know I might even be able to sell it for a grand if I keep it in decent condition

[100K+]

Had an lack of compression issue a year or so with a V70. Investigation revealed a 10hour labour cost to replace the cylinder head gasket. Like OP this was a job beyond my abilities. Sold car on to lad who was considering replacing engine.
If you can't repair car yourself I'd consider vehicle scrap.
Cheers Bob.

[polainm]

This is my dilemma - labour costs. I can do most work, but not head gasket. Simpler engines like Ford Zetec, yes, but not this Volvo 5 cylinder block. The arse is, I've already invested time and money in other repairs, so scrapping it would be a huge loss of all those parts. It's a costly error/bad luck. I've had mostly good luck, so I guess the bullet finally rotated into the firing chamber on this one.

I once bought a 1989 Mercedes 190 2.5D (great car, regretting selling) and the engine was horrendous. I believed it could be the engine itself, so bought it, knocking the sale price from £2k to £1k, given the engine 'problem'. I thought it was an engine mount. It was in fact two engine mounting, costing £27 each....

You win some, you lose some, and in the end, the race is with yourself.

Thanks for all the comments though!

[polainm]

@100k+ ...and this V70 will be spending most of its time up in Toon town centre!

[100K+]

I know what its like to invest in a vehicle then have to get rid...my V70 had a less than 6 month old new turbo and drives haft- both genuine Volvo before the compression issue.
You get to a line in the sand and cant go any further..
Cheers Bob

[polainm]

I bit the bullet and got it fixed. Total cost of repairs now exceeds the value. BUT I've decided to pay for the providence, because when looking at replacements, I would merely be back to gambling on condition. Putting it right oneself means you know it, and that has a price.