Volvo Oil leak discovered by Accident

There are always oil leaks on higher mileage cars. How bad they can get depends on how long they're ignored. Take this Volvo for example; it started to loose power, and then the CEL/MIL appeared! CHECK ENGINE (scary, generates apprehension of BIG REPAIR BILLS! eek!)


Engine began to run on possibly three cylinders. Code P0300 for multiple/random misfires appeared. Time to park the car or, jump into that frightening world of diagnostics. You know the one, you fear it because you don't understand what it's REALLY all about. 

There are books that explain theory and practical application of automotive diagnostics, but they seem to be written in a long forgotten language, right? - Not really. Watch and read the diagnostics that follow.

**Drove car into shop (actually pushed is much closer).
**Removed turbo to inter-cooler pipe to access valve cover/ignition area.

 (just the beginning...)

(Cause of code P0300 )

**Found all coil packs and harness in their own "oil bath" under that center plastic cover. 

       **Removed all coil-packs to access spark plugs. 
**All but two of the five cylinder head plug wells were or had been full of oil. 

(the cause isn't always that difficult to locate)

**Only one spark plug is stilled threaded into the cylinder head. 
(thank goodness for those coil packs although they're not intended for that..!) 

**# 4 plug has been blown out and threaded hole in cylinder head is damage too. A portion of that spark plug is also missing and is most likely been through the top of the engine or worse. 

                                (bummer........ gotta make a few phone calls now)
**# 3 plug well is still full of oil so I must correct myself, there are possibly two cylinders without plug hole thread damage.

There are two ways oil can collect in plug hole wells; 
1. Gasket material sealing failure between cylinder head cam cover to the cylinder head. (rare)
2. Oil leaking slowly out of the filler cap and collecting in the lowest point. That's where the plugs are. (common)


Diagnosis: Needed an oil cap because at the mileage this Volvo with TURBO shows they're usually in need of some simple maintenance to open up passage ways & allow this sucker to run! 

BUT, this problem has become one that is more in depth than one would really have expected.

MORAL: Call an independent repair facility such as ours. We will establish routine 5K service/inspections. You get reminders to have a 5K done. Then things like this just won't seem to happen to good people like the ones that own this car.  JP

What is a HEPA FILTER really for?

Isn't it amazing how the replacement of a single filter can have so many good side effects. This is a special filter as its only purpose is to clean incoming cabin air. Removing dust, pollen, and sometimes little critters; I think it has a very special purpose!

Ever had a strange odor appear from out of nowhere after turning on the heat/defrost/AC in your vehicle?

Better yet; have you had the thrill of seeing a mouse looking back at you from under the dash as you were driving down the road? Both the smell and those tiny little eyes are really special experiences, but still scarier than hell when they occur. Wouldn't you agree?

Look at the castle some mice were in the middle of building...

The photo above is from just behind the glovebox.

Fresh air is drawn down into your cars' cabin fan!

New and good for another 15,000 miles!

There is nothing like knowing you are driving around in a rolling "mouse motel".

We check these filters quite often here at Johns Lake Joy ToY.

2012's first Snow in Carnation Washington

Well the weather predictions were correct, just wish someone in the media would explain to the new people here what wet snow is really like...

Not Just Another ToY SNOW....http://youtu.be/Pl5X_l2HsGw was fun putting together. Note that editing is not one of my better talents; playing in the snow mixed with dry humor, these are..

....the National Weather Service has predicted....

SNOW, SNOW, and more SNOW

This forecast (see below) is very reminiscent of the one we were presented, but ignored in the winter of 2003 - 2004. Mid-westerners like Gail and I grew up in cold snowy winters. No big deal right?

Differences in location produced similar Arctic weather patterns, but the mountains, and a close proximity to ocean moisture have changed our perception of what a "snow-advisory" truly is.

Thus we found a need to understand our environment taking over. Now a chain saw, sandbags plus winch and accesories all are standard equipment when fall arrives. It only takes one storm, and you understand what being prepared is really all about. The CERT training we took helped so much.

One of two vehicles was constructed

 to travel off-road, but this one got a

snow plow and a 10,000 pound winch.



Bottom of the driveway, Lake Joy Drive is behind us 
as we approach the 100ft verticle climb it takes
along the sides of my hilly property.

This ToY 4Runn'r worked great for extracting a 2004 Suburban from a culvert.
 It was on it's side                                     

Special Weather Statement

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
1032 PM PST SUN JAN 15 2012

WEST SLOPES CENTRAL CASCADES AND PASSES- 1032 PM PST SUN JAN 15 2012

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME 

LOWLAND LOCATIONS COULD RECEIVE SEVERAL INCHES

 OF NEW SNOW BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

A POTENT PACIFIC STORM WILL IMPACT ALL OF WESTERN WASHINGTON

 LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND 

WEDNESDAY. THIS SYSTEM HAS 

THE POTENTIAL TO 

PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ON BOTH 

THE MOUNTAINS AND LOWLANDS. THIS COULD RESULT 

IN POWER OUTAGES AND HAZARDOUS WINTER

DRIVING CONDITIONS...

ESPECIALLY ON THE LOWLANDS. AT THIS TIME... 

EXACTLY HOW MUCH SNOW 

WILL FALL AND EXACTLY WHEN THE SNOW WILL CHANGE 

OVER TO RAIN ON THE LOWLANDS WERE STILL

UNCERTAIN.

LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON
MONDAY AFTERNOON AND PERSIST INTO TUESDAY...(SHOULD READ THUSDAY)
...A POTENT STORM MAY BRING WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO
WESTERN WASHINGTON TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...(AND IT DID!)

TODAYS PREDICTION

AFTER A BRIEF BREAK...(IT ALMOST FOOLED ME)
LOOK FOR SNOW SHOWERS TO INCREASE MONDAY AFTERNOON OVER THE AREA.
THE SNOW SHOWERS WILL BECOME LOCALLY HEAVY...ESPECIALLY IN THE CASCADES...
MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY AS A WEATHER DISTURBANCE MOVES ACROSS THE REGION.

All of this and much, much more came to our Cascade foothills. The extended forecast began to include Thusrday as well

It’s a Landcruiser kind of day

This Landcruiser, a 1987 FJ60 is getting the best quality lift components available. 4 inch suspension with a lot of articulation travel. Old Man EMU kits rock, no doubt! A shackle reverse kit is being installed as well. And since the SR kit involves removing the stock bumper, time for a one-off fabrication. Pictures and more on the these ToYs a little later.

Lets have a look as we start and finish a 4" suspension lift on this 87 FJ60 •

Need Music? Turn up the radio...

(Produced in 16:9 widescreen)

There may still be hope for YOUR CAR or TRUCK...!!!

Lack of Routine Maintenance :: THIS IS NOT a good thing
 Is public transportation in your future; really might be your way to get around. Yes, you will loose the independence, freedom and privilege that "car-ownership" affords. You will be putting those gas dollars into a Xmas account. For every dime you think you're saving on real maintenance, you're actually spending a dollar in its place.

Save your money and let others drive for you. STOP!!

Are you still reading? There may still be hope for YOUR CAR or TRUCK...!!!
Open the glove box to locate a small booklet. You've seen it. Yes, it's the owners manual!
Read it and look for some of the keywords I used at the beginning of this post.
Call, email, or if you are brave respond (comment) about the content of this post.