1947-1965 / Sedan / Sweden
Oil weeps from gaskets and seals, common areas include valve cover, front/rear crankshaft seals, oil pan.
Old gaskets. Decades of heat cycling.
Replace gaskets and seals. Not expensive parts-wise, but some (like the rear main seal) are labour-intensive.
Owned a Volvo PV444 / PV544? Share your experience with this issue. What worked, what didn't, costs, tips. Help the community.
Submit an updateHard knocking from the cylinder head when worn. Low gearing means the engine works hard.
The B18 should have a slight irregular "dip" in revs at idle. If it purrs like a sewing machine, it's worn.
Black exhaust = rich mixture or clogged air filter. Blue = burning oil (worn rings/valve seals). White = coolant in combustion chamber.
The top of the front wings (fenders) rust badly, especially above the headlights and around the indicator lights. The headlight bowls themselves corrode from the inside.
The sills rot, badly. All three sections, outer sill, inner sill, and the welded-in reinforcement, corrode together.
The front chassis legs (beams) and subframe corrode, particularly where the subframe bolts to the chassis. In extreme cases, engine mounts fail and the engine literally drops.