Volvo 480 Club Europe

My 480 Celebration went for its MOT last night and all was going well until we heard a kind of 'pop' sound and a small spray/splat of oil landed in front of the cars front bumper and I'm told a brief small cloud of steam appeared at the start of this commotion. I didn't witness it all as i was stood outside the garage being 'Covid safe'.

They turned the engine off and had a look and it wasn't from the engine and surprisingly all looked well so they continued with the MOT then after 10 mins it started leaking again and we turned the car off and forgot about the MOT as something was obviously amiss.

I'm told the leak appears to be coming from a 'mount' in the centre (left to right) of the car at the back of the engine above the exhaust I'm presuming close to the bulkhead near the steering.

Any ideas would be appreciated please!

I've read a thread about an oil separator on here but due to Covid and lack of time last night I've only this description to go on at the moment.

Thanking you!

The engine mounts are oil filled so that's probably split.

Aha, thank you. the guy at the garage described it like that but didn't understand what he seeing. More unobtanium parts I guess?...

Genuine ones are, but someone on here recently posted details of an acceptable replacement

Yes I've found the polyurethane filled refurbished ones on the internet. Ta very much!

Always happy to help, you've only to ask on here and some friendly member will be able to help. Perhaps you'd post some photos of your car ?

No, sorry to tell you that if you've found those red ones on eBay from Poland they are only suitable for older 480s with a solid rubber rear engine mount. You can't install an old style rear engine mount on your newer design of subframe. The front two are the same throughout production.

The "acceptable replacement" for your later style oil filled engine mount is what member Jay-Kay-Em fitted to his car, but he hasn't actually driven it yet. It should work but isn't proven yet. Check out his frestoration post for details.

jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:49 pm

The "acceptable replacement" for your later style oil filled engine mount is what member Jay-Kay-Em fitted to his car, but he hasn't actually driven it yet. It should work but isn't proven yet. Check out his frestoration post for details.

I think Rachel used the same mount and is back on the road, so potentially doing Jay Kay's testing on his behalf!

Goes to prove how knackered mine was, and for how long, because there wasn't a trace of oil anywhere - despite being a hydromount and torn in half

Yours will probably last without oil for some time, but its a one-way ticket to total separation.

Yep, Rachel sent me a lovely email saying the modified 407 mount is fitted with no problems to report (as yet). It's a rich/robou mod car, so its worse case scenario testing.

Rachel is doing my durability testing for me and I feel guilty for that, but my diary is just that; a diary of where i'm currently at - no guarantees!

The mount comes with caveats but its dirt cheap. I pray its reliable.







It does need some very slight modification.

The torque moment is actually in the wrong direction compared to the Peugeot 407 - especially in engine over-run. But, the way I see it, If I have to change it every 15,000 miles (DIY for a 4,000 mile per annum car) then so be it. For people paying garage labour rates and 12,000 miles per year - don't shoot the messenger and any other welcome alternatives needed & welcomed!

The bidding war on eBay (if & when) for the real one is going to be mental... form a queue...

When mine is road worthy and proven, i'll make some 'How-To's'...

Best Wishes

JKM

the oil in mine must have escaped considerably prior to my purchase of the car in 2002 (at 60k)........

If one goes again, i'l be trying the 'alternative'

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone, it’s appreciated. Yes I must admit I wasn’t overly keen on the refurbished ones from Poland. The garage suggested seeing if a company that specialises in bushes for vehicles could refurbish it, or another knackered one so it could be swapped over.

If a genuine Volvo one appeared, would there be a danger of the thing deteriorating over the years anyway in storage so may not give the service life you’d expect for the astronomical cost?

volcar16 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:57 pm

If a genuine Volvo one appeared, would there be a danger of the thing deteriorating over the years anyway in storage so may not give the service life you’d expect for the astronomical cost?

Not something you'd have to worry about - But only because the chances of a genuine unused Volvo one appearing are right up there with Unicorn Sh*t, politicians that don't lie or Aliens Landing in Trafalgar Square, on Christmas day, just before the queens speech.

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 28, 2020 8:44 pm

volcar16 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:57 pm

If a genuine Volvo one appeared, would there be a danger of the thing deteriorating over the years anyway in storage so may not give the service life you’d expect for the astronomical cost?

Not something you'd have to worry about - But only because the chances of a genuine unused Volvo one appearing are right up there with Unicorn Sh*t, politicians that don't lie or Aliens Landing in Trafalgar Square, on Christmas day, just before the queens speech.

Made my evening

I work on the assumption everything is out there somewhere! A genuine one will turn up but at £450 in 9 years time ain’t helpful...

Celebration 244/480 back in action thanks to this used/very good condition Mapco engine mount from the Netherlands. I'll write a a bit about my 20 years with this car over the coming weeks...