[DMCForum] Re: Continuing misadventures of a Volvo/B280F PRV (Potential Mechanic)

["cartermartin" <cartermartin@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bill,

Thanks a bunch for the tip. If i don't tackle this myself I'll lookup 
norman for sure. 

I'm suspecting my 25+ year old Craftsman compression guage might 
be 'a little' off ;-{). But I'm feel it's likely more important that 
the pressures be reasonably close. The B280f is rated at 169# so 180 
would not be a good thing.

If you guys are going to be at lanier that's a hop skip and a jump 
from me. I'll definately drop in and say hi. I'll bring the camera 
gear.

Look at: 

http://cartermartin.com/Photography/2004-05-01WalterMitty/index.htm
http://cartermartin.com/Photography/2004%20Sebring/index.htm

Carter

--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "content22207" <brobertson@xxxx> 
wrote:
> Just north of Columbia SC (US 1 off I-20):
> Norman Preser
> 754 Kirkland Circle
> Elgin, SC 29045
> (803) 438-6626
> 
> Has extensive experience with PRV's. He's German, so fasten your
> seatbelt for the accent.
> 
> BTW: What octane fuel do you use with those cylinder pressures? I 
have
> an 11:1 Ford 460 that is also 180-185 PSI. Finally got it to run on 
93
> without octane boost by burning the coolest plugs available and
> retarding ignition by ear (I think the harmonic balancer timing 
scale
> is off). 
> 
> BBTW: Since you live in the area, do you have any plans to visit us 
at
> SEDOC in the fall (Lake Lanier)? Is like a small DCS.
> 
> Bill Robertson
> #5939
> 
> >--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cartermartin" <cartermartin@xxxx>
> wrote:
> > Sorry in advance for the long post.
> > 
> > Ok so I think I have gotten to the bottom of my Volvo 
760GLE/B280F-
> > PRV problems or at least nearly to the bottom of it. 
> > 
> > I have essentially rebuilt my  cooling system. Along the way I 
did 
> > every possible test I could think of for a blown head gasket or 
> > cracked head. These include:
> > 
> > - Compression test. I got 180-185# on all 6 cyl. The numbers 
might be 
> > suspect but felt the fact they are so close together was more 
> > important.
> > - Cooling system pressure test. After all the cooling system work 
was 
> > done. I pressure tested it at 22# (factory spec for this model) 
for 
> > 15-20 minutes. I had very little, if any, leakage.
> > - Tested the cooling system pressure under normal running 
conditions. 
> > Pressure was built gradually up to 15-20# or so.
> > - A block leak test. The gizmo that detects exhaust gasses in the 
> > coolant by drawing air thru the coolant.
> > 
> > Anyway after all of this I still have coolant loss and evidence 
of 
> > high pressure in the system. In this case coolant blown out of 
the 
> > expansion bottle.
> > 
> > The only other clue was the chocolate milkshake on the filler 
cap. 
> > When I changed the oil I found no evidence of coolant.  And after 
2 
> > negative 'block leak' tests (i.e. no combustion gasses) I finally 
got 
> > a positive after a highway run (where btw it urped out a pint or 
so 
> > of antifreeze).
> > 
> > It appears that under light load, idling or driving around the 
> > neighborhood, there is not a problem. This manifests itself at 
> > freeway speed when I hear a buzzing sound from time to time that 
I 
> > believe is either the pressure being vented past the radiator cap 
or 
> > perhaps even gasses blowing past the head gasket. The latter may 
be a 
> > long shot but the sound is coming from the opposite side of the 
> > engine from the coolant bottle.
> > 
> > At this point my suspicion is either:
> > 
> > - small head gasket leak
> > - Cracked head
> > - or maybe a seal for the cylinder liner?
> > 
> > I'm still a neophyte on these engines and since it's an old Volvo 
> > sedan (as opposed to something more exotic) I should probably 
walk 
> > away. But I feel I want to get to the bottom of all of this. It 
is 
> > also difficult because it's running SOOOOO good.
> > 
> > Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions would be appreciated? Any PRV 
> > mechanics in the Atlanta area who can do a head/head gasket, 
please 
> > step forward.
> > 
> > Oh and for what it's worth I did get the Y-Pipe o-rings sealed 
up. 
> > 
> > Carter

---

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