Volvo 940SE
Will a fluid repair solve the 940’s head gasket problem?
1994 VOLVO 940 SE It may be crunch-time for my Volvo 940. Having spent £830 getting it through its MoT, its future with me hangs in the balance, given that it’s not exactly the prettiest example of its type (although could any 940 ever really be described as pretty?) and there are still further issues. These include a clutch pedal that is biting particularly high and a cylinder head gasket that is weeping externally. The former points to the clutch wearing out, while the latter has been leaky for ages, with no obvious ill effects.
My intention when the MoT was done was to also give the Volvo a long overdue service. The amount of money needed to get it road legal scuppered that plan, but as an MoT pass involved replacing the plugs, leads, fuel and air filter to reduce emissions, along with having new front brakes, it seemed worthwhile having the oil changed, since so many other servicing tasks had been performed. At the same time, I also asked mechanic, Craig Dawson, of Dawson Motors in Peterborough, to recommend a good head gasket repair fluid. He suggested Steel Seal; at £40, rather dearer than the Radweld I’ve previously resorted to, but it makes bold claims about its permanent effectiveness while not clogging the cooling system. Add it to the expansion tank, then run the car for about five miles at around 60mph – easy enough, as the A1 is nearby – before allowing it to fully cool.
If it does, then the Volvo will have won a stay of execution; it’s too useful a dog carrier and heavy load-lugger. But if it still needs a head gasket after that, as well as an impending clutch change, then maybe the time has come to invest in another, less battered example of its breed instead. I’ll run it through winter, to help protect the rest of the fleet, and then review its future. I’ve always felt that the 240 is the definitive Volvo, and going for an older and even blockier Scandinavian is an extremely tempting
proposition.