2001 V70XC - 200,000 Miles Makeover Topic is solved

Post by **xHeart** » 29 Jan 2020, 09:52

Overall, it is running very well.

It needed a tailgate spoiler for a makeover using mounting kit pn# 30664143, which revives the look a little.

A recent check under the engine found oil wetness on pan surface around the filter housing - some drips on the engine protective cover. Oil and filter change was in December 2019.

A week later, exploring a source of leak, removed the timing belt cover. The belt is dry, but there is a wetness of sorts. I'm suspecting water pump. Here are few pics:

: MVS_V70XC_0743.jpg (137.89 KiB) Viewed 3116 times

: MVS_V70XC_0742.jpg (105.58 KiB) Viewed 3116 times

: MVS_V70XC_0744.jpg (158.63 KiB) Viewed 3116 times

Post by **- Pete -** » 29 Jan 2020, 10:20

Use a mirror to peek behind the single CVVT hub. At 200k it could very well be the source, or one of them. Edit: the oil tends to accumulate on the rear/inner face of the cam sprocket. Crankshaft seal could be going also, would need to take off the harmonic balancer to get a better look.

Post by **oragex** » 29 Jan 2020, 14:24

In the second pic, the leak hole for the pump looks rather dry

Post by **xHeart** » 30 Jan 2020, 08:47

Thanks for eliminating water pump!

While the cover was off, I tried picking up any wetness on rotating parts, pulleys, tensioners, the two belts, cams, and crank, and steering pump pulley by running fingers where reachable -- found it all dry. Area around solenoid on top, near 1st coil, is dry too.

In addition to mirror behind the cam, I'd use chalking method under the oil pan to trace the escaping engine oil -- the rear exhaust seal, PCV, oil pan were serviced early Fall, the oil pan appears sealed viewtopic.php?f=9&t=61449.

It is a single VVT engine.

ALSO, heard a noticeable loud tapping near the passenger's front wheel well after a cold start and idle. The tapping gets faster with RPM, and disappears around 2000 RPM. Intermittently, at stop/idle -- clearly audible when passenger front-window-down, but muted at driver's window-down.

Post by **oragex** » 30 Jan 2020, 09:27

That would be good to listen with the hood open, may even use a hose at the ear approached carefully away from rotating belt/pulleys. I'm thinking maybe the tensioner is not adjusted on cold engine ?

Post by **- Pete -** » 30 Jan 2020, 10:40

The source can be tricky to track down. There’s only so many places it can come from, so that’s good. But once it gets on the belt it flings around a bit. My bet is exhaust VVT hub leak and/or crank seal. Could be a cam seal too I suppose.

You really won’t know for certain without taking a couple things off. If it’s not leaving growing spots on the ground I’d just keep an eye on it. Your timing cover looks far drier than the one I recently did cam/crank seals & VVT hubs on. It’d go through about 1 qt every 1000 miles, but some of that was surely due to turbo seals & going out the exhaust.

Post by **vtl** » 30 Jan 2020, 14:14

My 02 V70 had a resonating vibration sound between 1400-1600 RPMs. Fixed with a new VVT hub.

Post by **xHeart** » 31 Jan 2020, 14:33

Found this viewtopic.php?f=10&t=91654

& Dr. Pete's viewtopic.php?f=9&t=92299

Post by **- Pete -** » 31 Jan 2020, 23:38

Decent start there.

“I’m no Doctor, but I’ll have a look...”

You reallly need to look closely at that exhaust VVT hub, particularly the inner face of the sprocket wheel that bolts to the VVT hub. I’d expect that to be the primary leak at 200k, but I wouldn't rule out the crank seal. Seems like they go about the same time. Pretty sure I mentioned this & part numbers in that thread, but make sure you get the oil pump seal kit through FCP, the crank seal is pretty much free that way.

Be happy you’re single VVT, $300 vs $600 is a good thing.

Post by **xHeart** » 01 Feb 2020, 07:36

There is a footlong wetness along the subframe edge where the front engine mount is bolted. It is where the escaping fluid drops on to the protective cover.

Peeking up from the wheel well, it seems the leak is small and doesn't splatter all over the rotating parts, AND snakes down along the gap between engine block and the timing belt cover assembly.

I wonder, if the droplets on the oil pan along the oil cooler are the same escaping fluid ushered by the front engine mount bracket?

The top is dry as bone. Here are some pix:

: MVS_V70XC_0750.jpg (200 KiB) Viewed 3049 times

: MVS_V70XC_0746.jpg (133.92 KiB) Viewed 3049 times

: MVS_V70XC_0747.jpg (139.51 KiB) Viewed 3049 times

: MVS_V70XC_0749.jpg (222.01 KiB) Viewed 3049 times