Engine smoke after sitting for a year

[Zlornick]

Looking at a 94 945 turbo wagon out in the boondocks. Seller claims it has sat for a year, but looks like it's been longer. Car looks to be in great shape despite the vine growing out of one tire, the coating of green mold and the twigs amassed on the windshield. Interior was in good shape. Only has 153k miles on the odometer, which of course may be inaccurate.

Took 15 minutes of jumping to get it to turn over, eventually got it to roughly idle. started to see white smoke from around the oil filter, so I stopped trying and decided to reassess.

Coolant was low, oil was very thick and black. I understand the smoke could be a number of larger problems, but is there a possibility the old thick oil and length of time sitting may be the cause? I was thinking of going out with some fresh oil and coolant and giving it another shot.

[griston64]

Mine had been sitting for 5 years in a dry garage and had sludgy oil and lots of condensation. Oil and filter change and a good run and she was fine

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Zlornick

Looking at a 94 945 turbo wagon out in the boondocks. Seller claims it has sat for a year, but looks like it's been longer. Car looks to be in great shape despite the vine growing out of one tire, the coating of green mold and the twigs amassed on the windshield. Interior was in good shape. Only has 153k miles on the odometer, which of course may be inaccurate.

Took 15 minutes of jumping to get it to turn over, eventually got it to roughly idle. started to see white smoke from around the oil filter, so I stopped trying and decided to reassess.

Coolant was low, oil was very thick and black. I understand the smoke could be a number of larger problems, but is there a possibility the old thick oil and length of time sitting may be the cause? I was thinking of going out with some fresh oil and coolant and giving it another shot.

You could try but don't be surprised to find once it's had an oil and filter change and fresh coolant (ethylene glycol) that the turbo is shot. If it's out in the boonies and hasn't been used for a year, why not? Also which year has it sat for? It may be that it's been there a long time and the original intention was to park it up for say 2012 and it didn't move at all after.
Sounds a bit of a play on words but i've known it happen!

It could also be a fresh battery, oil/filter change and fresh coolant and it runs as well as it ever meant to. A dodgy battery will cause rough running as well so a fresh battery (a known good spare of yours will do for testing - remember to remove it after if you don't buy the car) will remove that from the trouble shooting process.

Good luck with it anyway!

[Dirty Rooster]

Originally Posted by Zlornick

... the coating of green mold and the twigs amassed on the windshield....
... 153k miles on the odometer, which of course may be inaccurate.

I've had two bought in that state,
Still driving the second!
(Other models/brands to not stand up to such neglect half as well as these bricks)

My odometer has shown the same mileage for about three years now
I'll have to get at it this spring...

[AllHailKingVolvo]

You're likely to be in it for more than just fluids and filters if it's been sat for that long.

My 1990 744 had been sat for 6mths when I bought it, and whilst it was driveable (I drove it from Dorset to Carlisle and back the day after buying it!) It needed some love to get it driving 100% right. Coolant/oil/brake fluid/PAS fluid flushes, slide pins in calipers regreasing, new injectors, new fuel/oil/air filters, new discs and pads all round, new cat-back exhaust system...whilst these engines are tough as hell, there will always be surgery required elsewhere if a car has been sitting with nowhere to go for a long time.

As Dave said, the turbo could well be an issue too.

It sounds like a fun project and potentially a GREAT car at the end of it, but go in with your eyes wide open and your wallet in a similar position!

[ksmi]

Morning Z, Might I suggest a jerry can full of fresh petrol/gas, laced with two-stroke oil, I think that would cheer up 'Miss Twiggy' and put her in a more amiable frame of mind. The very best of luck with your find.

Regards,Keith.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by ksmi

Morning Z, Might I suggest a jerry can full of fresh petrol/gas, laced with two-stroke oil, I think that would cheer up 'Miss Twiggy' and put her in a more amiable frame of mind. The very best of luck with your find.

Regards,Keith.

Morning Keith, I was just thinking along the same lines myself with a tin of 'Redex'. We've both obviously been there before; the old remedies - although not to be recommended for computer controlled, cat equipped motors today - are often successful with those of yesteryear!

Regards, John.

[Dirty Rooster]

Originally Posted by ksmi

Morning Z, Might I suggest a jerry can full of fresh petrol/gas, laced with two-stroke oil,...

Can you expand on that?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Dirty Rooster

Can you expand on that?

I would hazard a guess it acts as upper cylinder lube and also provides an oil film on the piston rings to revive compression.

However on a car that will definitely have a cat and no doubt other various emissions control kit we've not even heard of, i'd be dubious about risking it, especially in California.

I'd rather go for adding a litre (quart) of synthetic ATF to the engine oil to work from the inside out.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I would hazard a guess it acts as upper cylinder lube and also provides an oil film on the piston rings to revive compression.

However on a car that will definitely have a cat and no doubt other various emissions control kit we've not even heard of, i'd be dubious about risking it, especially in California.

I'd rather go for adding a litre (quart) of synthetic ATF to the engine oil to work from the inside out.

Quite so, 'Laird Scooby'. Keith is not wrong in suggesting this for older, simpler engines. The process was widely employed in the 60's in a bid to keep engines that were past their best running on a shoestring. It also has a 'purging' effect, a bit like giving your engine a dose of 'Syrup of Figs' or 'Andrew's Liver Salts'! I have used it to good effect on many occasions, often leaving a smoke-screen worthy of James Bond in my wake!

Regards, John.