242 / 244 / 245

1974-1993 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 242 / 244 / 245 problems All workshop issues

Common Engine

Piston ring wear and oil consumption (LH 2.4 engines, 2010-2018 T5/T6)

Symptoms

Engine burns oil between changes, blue smoke on startup or acceleration. Spark plugs may foul. Not specific to the 240, but worth noting for anyone considering newer Volvos.

Cause

Some LH 2.4 and modern T5/T6 engines (pre-2019) had piston ring issues. Rings don't seal properly, allowing oil into the combustion chamber. 240s with the B21/B23 are generally bulletproof, but high-mileage examples may show some consumption.

Fix

On 240s, if consumption is excessive (more than 1L per 1,000 km), check compression and consider a rebuild or engine swap.

Rings can be replaced, but it's a big job.

For newer Volvos, this often requires new pistons and rings under warranty or recall.

On the 240, it's usually just age.

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Other known issues

Minor Engine

Oil leaks from valve cover, front crank seal, and rear main seal

Seepage or drips from the valve cover gasket, front timing cover, or rear of the engine. Oil may pool on top of the gearbox bell housing or drip onto the subframe. You'll smell burning oil if it hits the exhaust.

Critical Engine

Clogged PCV system (flame trap, oil separator box)

Oil leaks from multiple places, rough idle, high oil consumption, smoke from the engine bay. Sometimes the oil filler cap pops off under pressure.

Critical Engine

Timing belt and water pump failure

Belt snaps, engine stops immediately. If it's an interference engine (all B21/B23 are), valves hit pistons. Game over. Water pump failure causes overheating, coolant loss.

Critical Engine

Fuel injector clogging and leaking (K-Jetronic, LH 2.2/2.4)

Rough idle, hesitation, hard starting, fuel smell. One or more cylinders run lean or rich. LH 2.4 injectors (yellow-top) can leak when hot.

Critical Engine

Fuel pump and relay failure

Car cranks but won't start, or cuts out randomly. Sometimes you'll hear the pump prime when you turn the ignition on; other times, silence.

Common Cooling System

Leaking radiator, hoses, and heater core

Coolant drips or puddles under the car, sweet smell, overheating, steam from under the bonnet. Heater core leaks soak the passenger footwell.

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