Hi folks,

I haven't posted here before, but I'm not currently a Volvo owner! All this
is set to change. I'm looking at getting a second-hand Volvo estate, V40 or
V70 something like that.

I live on an island and am not spoiled for choice in terms of dealerships or
even private sale.

However, I've found one around the right price - a 1998 V40 1.9TD for around
?3500 GBP (around 6,251 USD)

Car looked in good order except for oil in the expansion bottle. I was
immediately suspicious of this and they said they'd have their garage look
at it and get back to me (a friend had suggested it may be a faulty oil
cooler and that whatever it was I should definitely be sure it was OK before
buying).

They got back to me just now and their garage didn't do anything to the car.
They said:
"It's OK, the Oil was just around the top of the expansion bottle (it looked
pretty messy when we saw it)"
"the oil cooler is fine - they'd have known very quickly if anything was
wrong with it"
and
"oil and water run round the engine in a diesel, it's not like a petrol
engine you know"

I smell a rat. Is this a common problem with this power plant (it's the
Renault Laguna diesel engine isn't it?), and not to worry about or could it
be something serious - a cracked head or block for instance?

Please help. If we can find a good Volvo that doesn't give us endless grief,
I promise to not be lurker and visit more often :)

Rachel

ku.oc.tenfeer@lehcar
(reverse to mail)