It's not very often I'd admit this, or infact it actually occurs in the first place... but Rupert is talking sense

V6 Man wrote:It might be the waterpump to head seal that's gone, not the headgasket. The pump has a rubber O ring that is on top of the pump and under the overhang of the head. If the ring has perished, been squashed or fitted incorrectly it'll leak coolant down the foremost cyl side of the block.

Ah! that sounds exactly like my leak! Perhaps I should check that first, unfortunetly I had send it to a garage and they fitted a new water pump so could have fitted it in correctly

If the garage have never done a redblock waterpump before there's every chance that they've cocked up the job.

You have to drop the O ring into its groove and then slide the waterpump horizontally over the studs sticking out of the block. The mounting holes in the pump are elongated which then allows you to lever the pump upwards compressing the O ring and allowing it to seal. Then, and only then do you tighten the mounting bolts thus giving a tight seal all round. Basically, one hand holds the screwdriver/prybar/block of wood that's levering the pump upwards whilst the other hand tightens the bolts. If they've just slid the pump on and tightened it then the seal will leak depending on temp/expansion/condition of seal etc.

^^^
Word. I just encountered the same issue when I fitted a new pump to my 940. I didn't get it to seal the first time, had to smear a bit of washing up liquid on the rubber seal to get it to slide in, such was the tightness of the fit. Was a genuine volvo pump too, £55!

If its incorrectly fitted how likly is that the seal is damaged?

Not very likely, they're made of thick soft rubber. Mine had pinched a little but not split, was fine the second time I fitted it. It's a bit of a PITA to do TBH, 'tis a strange arrangement and not what I'd expect from volvo.

cheers guys, thanks for the advice, ill report back tonight

I got started on it today, had a close look and it was clear that it wasn't the water pump so off came the head. Funnily it had gone in the same place as pettew's had. Cleaned and inspected it all up, both block and head are fine but some corrosion on one water jacket. Next Job is to do the valve stem seals, then I can start putting it back together so progress has been good Ill post some photos later













I took the valves out and cleaned them, change valve stem seals and the cam shaft seals.



I lapped all the valves



This is where it had begin to blow through and is alittle corroded and cleaned it up.

I got it all back together it runs really nice, much nicer than before although it seems a little underpowered, is there any kind of bedding phase or it could just be my imagination

Hi mate.
I hope you got the head skimmed for extra quickness.
Cheers Mark.

Good job that man!! Did the same as me, since it's off, replace everything.

MCHUDD I did joke that if I clean the hand up enough I could increase the compression ratio It wasnt skimmed because it hadnt been damaged, luckly!

Jon, ye it took me 3 days but was worth it as it was my first time. It was a good experience but alittle embarrassing when the other mechanics said it should only take a day have you finished yours?



Sounds sweet!

Nice one mate! Be a nice feeling when you turn the key and it actually works after doing all that!

Mine's probably gone the same :/

Blimey, everyones HG is going. Sounds good though!

I've done mine yeah, few weeks back. Took me awhile to get all the parts, (yay money) and replaced the stat, water pump etc too. Managed to do it in a couple of days, just took my time. The HG wasn't something I was going to rush!! Runs real nice now, better than before. Needed the head skimming though, was warped by 3 thousandths or so of a mm, according to the engineers, so needed doing.

Nimminz, sorry to hear that, it just worn out?

I think its just leaking water into the cylinder, shite starting and loads of steam out the exhaust until it warms up, varies between grey and grey/blue smoke now so thinking some oil is getting through somewhere but no gunk in expansion tank or oil cap. Just hit 70K with no cambelt change too. If it goes, it goes. I'll find something better lol

Glad you got your's done though