Just to note: there is no water/coolant in my oil (I don't see any frothing/etc)

 

 

Man,

I'd drain that **** and fill it with what you know and then start a diagnosis as to whether oil is leaking or not. This color change business is ridiculous to figure out what and how.

As for the leak - usually the coolant reservoir develops cracks around where the two hoses connect at the front because they're under a bit of tension all the time. Some crusty crap usually developes as the water evaporates and leaves behind the propylene glycol. Second spot would be the usual T-leaking spot. Final would be to check your reservoir cap for crust stuff around the edges. Depending on whether it's working or not it might be venting early and letting out more water than it should be.

 

I did that already

I did a coolant flush about 5k miles ago just cus my car was newly bought, and ended up seeing that color **** change to clear and flushed it again 500 miles ago. Now it changed again!!!

 

Update: had a shop check for hydrocarbons in the coolant...none! Seems to be no coolant leak either.

Guess that film I saw on the top was that precipitate. Still can't figure out why its changed color!!!

 

Mine is this color and has been ever since it was purchased at 36,000. It is now at 58,500 miles. That's a new URO expansion tank replacement by the way. Original FoMoCo one has developed some fine spiderweb cracks on top.

 

I've purchased coolant directly from Volvo and received blue, then later received green. I'm not sure if this was due to a change with certain blue dyes becoming illegal for use in the USA, or if like other fluids, Volvo has two different colors to make flushing the system easier.

I've also seen that brownish color coolant which I believe is just a different brand, not Volvo coolant. Our Honda and VW used a brownish color coolant.

Coolant becoming dirty makes sense with time, but coolant becoming clear is baffling. Have you dipped your finger in it to feel/smell/taste? (Tasting isn't advised, but I'm sure we've all done it... Or maybe it's just me...)

The first time, what was the car in the body shop for? Possible that they accidentally pulled a line or something and lost some coolant, only to top it off with distilled water instead of a 50/50 mix. Topping off with water is a safer move than potentially mixing two different types of coolants.

When you replaced this coolant, did you simply drain and fill? Or did you flush the system with the heater running and the car on? Because if the shop put water in, a good portion of that could have been stuck in the heater core and diluted the fresh coolant you put in.

Also, how frequently are you checking for the color? Was it blue last week and now it's not? Or was it blue when you swapped it out a few months ago and you just now noticed that it's clear?

If you're leaking coolant, you should see it dripping from somewhere under the car. Climb under the car and follow all the lines to see where it might be going.
If you're leaking coolant and it's not from under the car, it could be the heater core or o-rings leaking coolant behind/under the passenger footwell carpeting.
If you're burning coolant, you'd notice it in the exhaust smoke, especially during a cold start.

The apparent level of the coolant will fluctuate with the temperature of the car. I've seen coolant look close to the min mark when it's hot and pressurized. Slowly releasing pressure from the reservoir released air and allowed the coolant to rise back up to the max mark. When the car is on and the coolant is flowing, it can also be close to the max mark, but once cool, it settled down closer to the min mark.

 

I've purchased coolant directly from Volvo and received blue, then later received green. I'm not sure if this was due to a change with certain blue dyes becoming illegal for use in the USA, or if like other fluids, Volvo has two different colors to make flushing the system easier.

I've also seen that brownish color coolant which I believe is just a different brand, not Volvo coolant. Our Honda and VW used a brownish color coolant.

Coolant becoming dirty makes sense with time, but coolant becoming clear is baffling. Have you dipped your finger in it to feel/smell/taste? (Tasting isn't advised, but I'm sure we've all done it... Or maybe it's just me...)

The first time, what was the car in the body shop for? Possible that they accidentally pulled a line or something and lost some coolant, only to top it off with distilled water instead of a 50/50 mix. Topping off with water is a safer move than potentially mixing two different types of coolants.

When you replaced this coolant, did you simply drain and fill? Or did you flush the system with the heater running and the car on? Because if the shop put water in, a good portion of that could have been stuck in the heater core and diluted the fresh coolant you put in.

Also, how frequently are you checking for the color? Was it blue last week and now it's not? Or was it blue when you swapped it out a few months ago and you just now noticed that it's clear?

If you're leaking coolant, you should see it dripping from somewhere under the car. Climb under the car and follow all the lines to see where it might be going.
If you're leaking coolant and it's not from under the car, it could be the heater core or o-rings leaking coolant behind/under the passenger footwell carpeting.
If you're burning coolant, you'd notice it in the exhaust smoke, especially during a cold start.

The apparent level of the coolant will fluctuate with the temperature of the car. I've seen coolant look close to the min mark when it's hot and pressurized. Slowly releasing pressure from the reservoir released air and allowed the coolant to rise back up to the max mark. When the car is on and the coolant is flowing, it can also be close to the max mark, but once cool, it settled down closer to the min mark.

Ive used pentosin nf (blue color) for both my volvos. Never had an issue like this except with this car!

I've dipped my finger in to feel it, and it doesn't feel slippery. Haven't smelt or tasted it, so I'll do that later.

My car was in the body shop previously for a door ding (someone opened up their door into mine)

I did a full flush of the entire system when changing the coolant. Cranked the vents all up to hot and completed the full procedure

I check it at least once a week but have checked it almost 3x a week since I started noticing more of that "buildup" on the tank walls. It's strange because it turned a sort of...greenish color before turning completely clear! The coolant leftover in my bottles (mixed) is still a very deep blue

 

I should add that it took just over a week for it to change color

 

Checks to see that it's not April 1st

 

Google search shows a lot of people have coolant turn clear... Weird!

One article said:

It was determined that the coolant can turn clear due to the coolant dye composition and inhibitor interaction with bare aluminum, flux, or solder exposed due to a possible component failure. Although a temporary increase in pH may be experienced, which can generate ammonia (the pungent odor), the performance and durability of the coolant, as I am told, are not affected as long as the coolant is properly maintained.

 

Google search shows a lot of people have coolant turn clear... Weird!

One article said:

It was determined that the coolant can turn clear due to the coolant dye composition and inhibitor interaction with bare aluminum, flux, or solder exposed due to a possible component failure. Although a temporary increase in pH may be experienced, which can generate ammonia (the pungent odor), the performance and durability of the coolant, as I am told, are not affected as long as the coolant is properly maintained.

Oh god this is exactly what I needed to read. No joke, I've scoured the web trying to find something on this. So glad there's an answer (or at least potential ones) finally

Could you link that article directly? Also, is there a way to check what component could be failed???

 

You may want to consider coolant analysis. That should indicate where the contamination is coming from. There are several companies out there that offer the service. You could also consult your local commercial truck shop, there is likely a lab close to you.

 

I'll see if Blackstone labs does it. Thanks!

Could you link that article directly? Also, is there a way to check what component could be failed???

I'm not really sure how you could check. But as mentioned, probably a good idea to have a test run on your coolant.

Here's the article: http://fleetowner.com/equipment/def-radiator
Just googling "coolant turning clear" brought up a bunch of results. For people like you, where the coolant has been untouched, most were saying it was either a dye that was getting stripped from the coolant or a changing PH level which triggered a color change.

Cool! Thanks man

 

Last I talked directly with a volvo tech about their proprietary blue coolant, they told me that it was colored blue, and changed colors to brown/red, when the coolant became acidic and needed to be changed. I literally just bought a gallon of coolant from a local volvo dealer last week and it was still blue (though less blue than the older stuff).

 

cool. if true, very useful

 

From real, non-pirate VIDA:

 

Interesting! Well that's a load of stress off my shoulders...for now lol.

Thanks!