questions of Volvo 850

[Charlie (4)]

I bought a used Volvo 850 wagon 5 months ago, year was 96, with only about 58,000 miles on it. The body looks as if it was a new car, and it runs great.

That is my first volvo, and I just have a few questions to ask:
1. Every day when I start that car, it takes longer time to be warmed up, does anyone know why? I have another camry, which takes just about 5 minutes to be warmed up, but for that volvo, it takes may be 20-30 minutes. Anything that I can do about it ?

2. The car is about 60,000 miles, and I am just wondering what kind of service MUST be done. I do not want to spend too much on the Maintenance cost, but if it really needed, I think I should do it.

Thanks for the tips,

CJ

 

[Bev A. Kupf]

I bought a used Volvo 850 wagon 5 months ago, year was 96, with only about 58,000 miles on it. The body looks as if it was a new car, and it runs great.

Congratulations. With routine maintenance, you'll have a car that will last you a long while.

That is my first volvo, and I just have a few questions to ask:
1. Every day when I start that car, it takes longer time to be warmed up, does anyone know why?

What do you mean warmed up? Do you mean for the temp gauge to start moving, or to reach the middle? I little my engine idle for about 2 - 3 minutes, except when it is brutally cold (like 0F outside without the windchill, when I wait another 2 or 3 minutes).

I have another camry, which takes just about
5 minutes to be warmed up, but for that volvo, it takes may be 20-30 minutes. Anything that I can do about it ?

20 - 30 minutes is really long. In my experience the thermostat on 850s and S70s does fail (as on most cars), and might just be staying open on your car longer than it should be. It's a $20 replacement, although you probably want to flush the coolant at the same time.

2. The car is about 60,000 miles, and I am just wondering what kind of service MUST be done. I do not want to spend too much on the Maintenance cost, but if it really needed, I think I should do it.

60,000 - 70,000 miles is a major service point for the 850, and should be documented in the owners manual. I don't have it here, but from memory here are the things I remember replacing:

a) Timing belt and tensioner. Check the water pump at the same time; if it rotates freely and without vibration, Volvo service will probably not replace it, although it probably isn't a bad idea to do it. b) Air filter, fuel filter c) New spark plugs d) New drive belt (whatever its called - the one that goes to the compressor, power-steering and alternator). e) check, re-pack CV boots. f) check brake-lines, replace brake fluid

Other sundry less expensive things. This service will run about $600 at a Volvo dealer.

 

[Me]

I concur with the thermostat response.

Re the maintenance: Another item to consider every 20k to 30k miles is cleaning the throttle body. And, every year or 15k miles, change the cabin air filter ... if it does not have one, get it installed. Will help prevent major $$ or premature AC evaporator replacement. Also would suggest changing the fuel filter at 60k miles even though service manual says it is good for 100k.

See this link for a lot of Volvo service info: http://www.volvospeed.com/volvo_performance.php

 

[Me]

I bought a used Volvo 850 wagon 5 months ago, year was 96, with only about 58,000 miles on it. The body looks as if it was a new car, and it runs great.

That is my first volvo, and I just have a few questions to ask:
1. Every day when I start that car, it takes longer time to be warmed up, does anyone know why? I have another camry, which takes just about 5 minutes to be warmed up, but for that volvo, it takes may be 20-30 minutes. Anything that I can do about it ?

Your thermostat is likely stuck open, get it replaced as you are putting extra wear on the engine and using more fuel. It is a cheap job to do.

 

[Bev A. Kupf]

Your thermostat is likely stuck open, get it replaced as you are putting extra wear on the engine and using more fuel. It is a cheap job to do.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Unlikely on the 850.

 

[Me]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Unlikely on the 850.

What is unlikely???

 

[Bev A. Kupf]

What is unlikely???

Unlikely than an open thermostat will cause a decrease in fuel economy. Again, specifically on the 850.

 

[Stewart Hargrave]

Because there's more to the internet than hits alone, Bev A. Kupf wrote:

Unlikely than an open thermostat will cause a decrease in fuel economy. Again, specifically on the 850.

At first I thought you were just having a sly dig at the 850's normal fuel economy. As it seems not, you'l have to enlighten us as to how the 850, specifically, manages not to be more inefficient when it's not fully warmed up.

On any other car, if the combustion chambers are not kept at around their optimum operating temperature, then the combustion process can suffer. If it is very cold, enrichment may be required. In both cases thermal and chemical inefficiency results. If the oil is at less than its normal running temperature, it will be more viscous, requiring more effort from the engine, again leading to greater mechanical inefficiency and higher fuel demands. Given that the OP reckoned on a 30 minute warmup period, I say this could provide plenty of opportunity for greater fuel consumption.

 

[Rob Guenther]

We had the same problem on the 1993 960 this year, thermostat and replace the coolant that we found was 100% pure coolant, no proper dilusion with water.... idiots at the indy shop strike again, it's all dealer now for our 11 year old Volvo, as they are the only competant ones around.

 

[Bev A. Kupf]

Because there's more to the internet than hits alone, Bev A. Kupf wrote:

At first I thought you were just having a sly dig at the 850's normal fuel economy. As it seems not, you'l have to enlighten us as to how the 850, specifically, manages not to be more inefficient when it's not fully warmed up.

It wasn't a dig - it arises out of practical experience with two Volvos, and an explanation I don't understand.

On any other car, if the combustion chambers are not kept at around their optimum operating temperature, then the combustion process can suffer. If it is very cold, enrichment may be required. In both cases thermal and chemical inefficiency results. If the oil is at less than its normal running temperature, it will be more viscous, requiring more effort from the engine, again leading to greater mechanical inefficiency and higher fuel demands. Given that the OP reckoned on a 30 minute warmup period, I say this could provide plenty of opportunity for greater fuel consumption.

I had an old 240 years ago with a thermostat that stayed open. I was really broke at the time (graduate school), so I just a piece of cardboard, blocked off half the radiator, and fuel economy returned to normal. About 6 months the thermostat failed on my SO's 850 (stays open all the time). No change in fuel economy. We replaced the thermostat, and the fuel economy stayed the same. Some time after that, I had to get a new gas cap for my S70, and I stopped by our Volvo service center and I asked one of the service guys why it didn't seem to matter. I don't recall the specifics of his answer, but he said something to the effect of the electronic ignition of the 850 compensating for the failed thermostat.

 

[Chuck Fiedler]

I bought a used Volvo 850 wagon 5 months ago, year was 96, with only about 58,000 miles on it. The body looks as if it was a new car, and it runs great.

That is my first volvo, and I just have a few questions to ask:
1. Every day when I start that car, it takes longer time to be warmed up, does anyone know why? I have another camry, which takes just about 5 minutes to be warmed up, but for that volvo, it takes may be 20-30 minutes. Anything that I can do about it ?

2. The car is about 60,000 miles, and I am just wondering what kind of service MUST be done. I do not want to spend too much on the Maintenance cost, but if it really needed, I think I should do it.

Thanks for the tips,

CJ

Congratulations on your purchase! The 850 is a great car. As for your questions:

1. Time for a thermostat. Not too expensive and amenable to do-it- yourself if you're so inclined.

2. While it's early according to the service schedule, I would (did on mine) replace the timing belt. The book says they're good for 70K but the result of an aged belt failing is catastrophic. Other than that, not much else to worry about right now.

Chuck Fiedler
Nothing but Volvos since 1974

 

[Jeff Lesperance]

It should warm up faster than that. My 850 warms up in a couple miles, even in 5 degree weather. I think you may have an inline heater valve stuck open or maybe the thermostat needs replacing. Whatever is going wrong, the coolant is circulating before it should.

 

[James Sweet]

It should warm up faster than that. My 850 warms up in a couple miles, even in 5 degree weather. I think you may have an inline heater valve stuck open or maybe the thermostat needs replacing. Whatever is going wrong, the coolant is circulating before it should.

Almost certainly the thermostat has failed, that's a fairly common problem with cars in general.

 

[Henry (archive)]

Congratulations on your purchase! The 850 is a great car.
Yes.

2. While it's early according to the service schedule, NO!

I would (did on
mine) replace the timing belt. The book says they're good for 70K

But..._age_ is also a factor. If this '96 850 has never had a timing belt change, it is well over-due for one--even with 'only' 60,000 miles.

I have a very-low-mileage '95 850T (still only 62,000 km (=37,000 mi) as of today). When I took it in (to the dealer) for its 45,000 km (=27,000 mi) service in August of '01, the mechanic, noting the car's age, advised me that Volvo says every five years for that belt, regardless of distance driven. (And what's more, he said that here, in the frozen north--I live in Finland--the local guys actually recommend every _four_ years, because of the harsh climate.)

but
the result of an aged belt failing is catastrophic.

Indeed.

cheers,

Henry

 

[Charlie (4)]

Thank you, Bev and other folks' help, now I get better understanding of why this happens. It seems to me that part is kind of mul-function, since I am living in san jose, and the morning temp is around 40-50 degree now. I will have it changed.

BTW, based on Bev's message, I have found this on the internet.

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/tstat.php

Enjoy!

cji

 

[Guest]

Unlikely than an open thermostat will cause a decrease in fuel economy. Again, specifically on the 850.

Sorry that is incorrect. ANY car be it carb or efi will have greater fuel consumption if its not able / allowed to warm upto design temperature.

Tim..

 

[John Horner]

That is my first volvo, and I just have a few questions to ask:
1. Every day when I start that car, it takes longer time to be warmed up, does anyone know why? I have another camry, which takes just about 5 minutes to be warmed up, but for that volvo, it takes may be 20-30 minutes. Anything that I can do about it ?

Replace the engine coolant thermostat. Your 850 should warm up very quickly and have god's own heater. The thermostat on my '96 850 failed in an always open condition almost three years ago. Cheap and easy to change. Also a good time to replace hoses and do a thorough coolant flush and fill. Volvo specs non-silicate coolant, so most standard US coolant is a bad idea. I refilled with Dexcool (GM's version of a non-silicate fluid) and distilled water.

2. The car is about 60,000 miles, and I am just wondering what kind of service MUST be done. I do not want to spend too much on the Maintenance cost, but if it really needed, I think I should do it.

You are coming up on a timing belt change. If you are mechanically inclined then you might start learning the do-it-yourself path.

Lots of good 850 how to stuff is posted by the nice folks at www.volvospeed.com.

John

 

[John Horner]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Unlikely on the 850.

BS. 850 engines have a target operating temperature just like any other engine.

 

[Timothy J. Lee]

2. The car is about 60,000 miles, and I am just wondering what kind of service MUST be done.

The owner's manual will tell you the answer to this question.

 

[Karl (archive)]

Replace the engine coolant thermostat. Your 850 should warm up very quickly

and have god's own heater.

just for information, my 850 warm up in 5 min in -15C(-59F) .. wheater we have right now yes, its probably thermostat causing the problems in your case