MY20 S60 – Burn marks in engine bay ?

S60fan

I've have just noticed that some of the duco inside the engine bay of my S60 looks burnt. There are matching burn stains on the inside of the bonnet and the sill inside the engine bay. There're also stains on the adjacent torque stopper.

I'm going to ask the dealer but, given past troubles, , I'd appreciate any ideas from the Volvo owners community.

egg

Being that light brown it looks like oil vapour. Does it smudge like oil? Only touch a tiny bit as to help backtrack the issue

S60fan

egg
Being that light brown it looks like oil vapour. Does it smudge like oil? Only touch a tiny bit as to help backtrack the issue

Thanks, good thought. No , it seems to be baked on. I wiped with my finger and a tissue but no colour came off. It feels slightly rough to touch.

I haven't looked under the bonnet for a few months. I'm fairly sure there was no stain back then. The car was serviced in September last. I've not noticed anything unusual. No smells, smoke or noises. Car runs as nicely as when new – but smoother.

I've sent an email to the dealer who will hopefully know what to do.

egg

Is that torque bushing busted. Looks like rubber crumbling. Rubber loves sticking. The centre of the mount has been really hot to discolour that way...

S60fan

Yes, that could be it. I've not heard back from the dealer as yet. I have noticed the jagged rubber in there before – I put it down to a bit of leftover from forming the rubber. I'll have a closer look.

Many thanks.

S60fan

The jagged rubber visible in the torque stopper is extremely thin – it might be just left over from the forming process. No reply to my email from the dealer yet.

S60fan

Dealer advised nothing seems amiss and car is safe to drive. They have sent a Tech Request to VCA.

JMHC30

I wonder whether it's just a bit of wax that they spray on vehicle during manufacturing that has heated up and discoloured. It used to happen to the odd new vehicle every now and then when I worked in (non-Volvo) dealerships.

S60fan

Quite possible. It does feel slightly rough. AFAIK, the car has not been waxed or had other surface treatments. But, mechanics might have sprayed a cleaning solution or similar during a service. I'm happy to do nothing else till the dealer advises what VCA say.

pauljloz

Is it just incomplete topcoat paint coverage on the underside of panels?

egg

pauljloz
Is it just incomplete topcoat paint coverage on the underside of panels?

Surely that wouldn't make it through quality assurance if it was....

S60fan

pauljloz
Is it just incomplete topcoat paint coverage on the underside of panels?

Thanks but, I would have noticed before this. I do checks under the bonnet every time I wash the car. Before last Monday, I last washed the car in December.

nerain

I know this is a very old thread; but, I'm curious if you ever figured out what this is? I'm seeing the exact same thing on a 2020 V60 I'm looking it. It's in the same place, too (passenger side of engine compartment and on the underside of the hood.

Thanks!

S60fan

No, sorry. I don't know what caused the marks. But, there must have been a fault somewhere as Volvo Australia paid for an under-bonnet respray which can't have been cheap. The dealer tried every idea to remove the marks. Polishing etc. didn't work. The respray looks good - can't tell where the marks were or that it was resprayed.

nerain

S60fan
No, sorry. I don't know what caused the marks. But, there must have been a fault somewhere as Volvo Australia paid for an under-bonnet respray which can't have been cheap. The dealer tried every idea to remove the marks. Polishing etc. didn't work. The respray looks good - can't tell where the marks were or that it was resprayed.

Thanks for replying. I found a few other posts with similar issues. It appears to have been an issue with the lighter colors (white, birch). Glad to hear it's not a major issue.

S60fan

Yes, should have said, the dealer did not report any problems/issues and I did not notice any unusual noises etc..

APS

This is clearly a design and or manufacturing fault.

The fact that the engine is getting so hot that is causing the paint to burn will likely have long term effects on the longevity of the engine and its components.

I experienced issued within 3 months of purchase and received an initial response that it was off gassing of the glues and rubbers - which I called BS !

Volvo have now updated their initial BS statement with the the damage now deemed as ‘heat damage’, and say ‘likely’ normal, but have NOT determined why the engine is getting so hot ?

The repaint is just ‘polishing a turd’ as the the burning paint and other components exhibiting heat staining like the engine mounts and brackets as seen below;

Please let me know how the repaint is fairing - Volvo have offered the same for me ?

S60fan

APS Sorry for taking so long to reply. Today I checked under the bonnet and found that there is a faint stain in the same area as before. It's not nearly as bad. I had to get into bright light to see it. The car had done around 12,000km when the respray was done in late 2021. It now has around 23,000km – as the mark is so faint, I think the problem is much less an issue than before. Don't know why as dealer did not report doing any work.

APS

S60fan
Thank you for your reply - timing was impeccable as Volvo were hoping to do my respray next month which is not rectifying to root cause problem (and clearly a waste of time). I have also lost over 1 litre of oil at 11,800 km probably due to excessive heat in the engine bay.