Test drive question

[GDPR]

Hi everybody, new member here - I have read some posts that relate to this subject but would like anybody with experience to advise me.

I am in the process of purchasing a 2010 V70 2.4d - 80k miles, one owner, service history checks out ok. Well cared for car.

On a test drive yesterday, roughly one hour, I drove around 25 miles on rural A and B roads - not going above around 60 mph obviously. The car pulls well, the auto box shifts as expected. My only concern - and this may be because I'm not used to Volvos generally - is that the engine seemed very hot when I returned to the dealership.

The car was running for probably 10 minutes before I took it out, and probably 5 minutes after I returned and parked up. The ambient temp yesterday was around 16c so not hot by any means.

When I lifted the bonnet i felt what I considered real heat - and when the engine was turned off I removed the oil filler cap and a wisp of [smoke?] issued forth for a second.

I started the car up again and the fans came on for about 5 seconds then switched off.

I'm used to diesels running cool, having driven BMW and more recently Jag 2 litre units. No temp warnings came on at any time, and nothing else untoward occurred.

Is this something I should be concerned about, or is it simply the way this engine runs? It is due a service so maybe this will assist.

Many thanks for your help.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by paulo1967

Hi everybody, new member here - I have read some posts that relate to this subject but would like anybody with experience to advise me.

I am in the process of purchasing a 2010 V70 2.4d - 80k miles, one owner, service history checks out ok. Well cared for car.

On a test drive yesterday, roughly one hour, I drove around 25 miles on rural A and B roads - not going above around 60 mph obviously. The car pulls well, the auto box shifts as expected. My only concern - and this may be because I'm not used to Volvos generally - is that the engine seemed very hot when I returned to the dealership.

The car was running for probably 10 minutes before I took it out, and probably 5 minutes after I returned and parked up. The ambient temp yesterday was around 16c so not hot by any means.

When I lifted the bonnet i felt what I considered real heat - and when the engine was turned off I removed the oil filler cap and a wisp of [smoke?] issued forth for a second.

I started the car up again and the fans came on for about 5 seconds then switched off.

I'm used to diesels running cool, having driven BMW and more recently Jag 2 litre units. No temp warnings came on at any time, and nothing else untoward occurred.

Is this something I should be concerned about, or is it simply the way this engine runs? It is due a service so maybe this will assist.

Many thanks for your help.

There is a LOT of hot exhaust manifold and turbocharger and catalytic converter and particle filter down behind the engine , possibly 2 turbochargers , heat rises ... If it has just done a regeneration that hot air rising will be at 600C ... Diesels should run at the same temperature as petrol engines for best economy . A few wisps of crankcase gasses is normal , but it should not be under pressure when you take the cap off , a bit of vacuum is preferable ..

[GDPR]

Many thanks. And yes there appeared to be no pressure when the cap was taken off.

[AlexV70Drive1]

They all get pretty hot under the bonnet even my 1.6d feels very hot under the bonnet but it’s not an issue if the car is running fine and has enough coolant/oil in it. A lot of it is due to the turbo as that thing zings hot as well as the cat. Take it for a longer test or leave it idling for 20/30 mins to be sure it’s not going to overheat but I’m pretty sure it is normal and just fine. If they won’t allow you leave it idle then maybe they are trying to hide something. Also see if it’s had its timing belt and water pump changed as that will be due if not already done and could be the water pump starting to fail, probably not an issue but it’s always good to know if it’s been done or not. From what you’ve said it does sound ok but it’s always good to check before you do a deal just for peace of mind. I nearly bought a vectra for my dad a few years back after a good test drive it was fine but we left it idling while I filled out the V5 and the water pipe starting ****ing coolant out all over the floor... not what you want to see when you’re about to buy a car so it was left there no deal done that day!

I do think yours will be fine it’s not a vectra after all
Enjoy your new Volvo they are brilliant cars

[GDPR]

Thanks for the responses. I now have the car and took it out today. What I have noticed is that all seems well - however the aircon, when switched on, causes the engine cooling fan to run at full speed. I originally thought it was the aircon compressor making the noise but I am sure it's the main engine cooling fan. Pretty much immediately I switch the aircon to 'off', the fan will stop. Switch it back on and the engine cooling fan will be on intermittently but regularly.

Now it was a warm day today - 23 degrees, so this may be perfectly normal. The temp was set to 21 degrees in the car and the cold air is clearly working fine.

The drive was about 25 miles, a-road at 50 mph and dual carriageway at 70-80 mph.

I guess I need to experience it in all conditions to understand if this is the way it behaves.

Do any other v70 d5 owners have an opinion on the above? The only issue I can tink of would be thermostat-related in some way.

I should add that in every other way this is a really great car - solid and comfortable.

Thanks for your help.,

[Clan]

Originally Posted by paulo1967

Thanks for the responses. I now have the car and took it out today. What I have noticed is that all seems well - however the aircon, when switched on, causes the engine cooling fan to run at full speed. I originally thought it was the aircon compressor making the noise but I am sure it's the main engine cooling fan. Pretty much immediately I switch the aircon to 'off', the fan will stop. Switch it back on and the engine cooling fan will be on intermittently but regularly.

Now it was a warm day today - 23 degrees, so this may be perfectly normal. The temp was set to 21 degrees in the car and the cold air is clearly working fine.

The drive was about 25 miles, a-road at 50 mph and dual carriageway at 70-80 mph.

I guess I need to experience it in all conditions to understand if this is the way it behaves.

Do any other v70 d5 owners have an opinion on the above? The only issue I can tink of would be thermostat-related in some way.

I should add that in every other way this is a really great car - solid and comfortable.

Thanks for your help.,

The cooling fan will always run whilst the AC is operating , usually at low speed though depending on the outside temperature and engine and ambient temp etc . if the engine gets hot on a hot day it may well run fast but it should slow down shortly after. The fan has infinitely variable speeds so no fixed steps .

[Borealis]

Originally Posted by Clan

The cooling fan will always run whilst the AC is operating , usually at low speed though depending on the outside temperature and engine and ambient temp etc . if the engine gets hot on a hot day it may well run fast but it should slow down shortly after. The fan has infinitely variable speeds so no fixed steps .

A super video illustrating what Clan just said (although title of clip a bit misleading, I think it should rather be "Volvo cooling fan noise...": https://youtu.be/qqOK4F6w1g8

[GDPR]

Thanks again everyone. This seems to suggest that things are normal and this is just a lack of experience on my part.

[apersson850]

The cooling fan will not always run just because the AC is on. But it's much more likely that it will run, as more cooling is needed.

[Thassos]

You could always plug in an inexpensive elm327 (sub £10) blutooth obd 2 dongle, plug is to the right of the steering wheel under dash.. and run the torque app on your phone or similar, you can then see the coolant temp (should max out at 89c when warmed up) i think from memory, and other stuff like boost and intake temp etc, probably too much info but just a thought.. just bear in mind that the dash gauge doesnt really work like a linear gauge its more like a "temp is in range if vertical" indicator, so the obd figures will flutuate while the gauge on the dash stays vertical.. hope thats making some sense