New to Volvos & Forum-possible clogged oil trap

yankeechess · Post by **yankeechess** » 17 Jan 2010, 14:03

Hi all, I am new to the forum & just purchased my first Volvo (1998 Volvo V70 2.4L Turbo 173,000 miles) I picked it up cheap because it was leaking oil & coolant. A Friend & I thought it was coming from the Turbo lines. We were part right. The coolant leak was coming from one of the turbo hoses near the back bottom of turbo. It was very tough to get to, but got it done. The oil was coming from the Camshaft Sensor. This was much easier and after done no leaks anywhere. I drove the car home 10 mile away & everything seemed to be o.k. I drove the car a few hours later and it started smoking really bad from the exhaust and some smoke the engine compartment near this line on top going to the turbo. I have read several places that the oil traps on these get clogged and have to be cleaned. Does anyone have a thread or directions on doing this. I read on another thread to check the PCV system. I took the oil cap off when it was running and it was spitting some oil out of it a little. There was a lot of pressure when I took the cap off. The smoking did not really get better. I am also getting smoke coming out of the oil dip stick tube with oil residue at the bottom of the tube. One thread also said a leaking camshaft sensor gasket can be cause from a clogged system. Are these signs evidence of a clogged PCV system or could the turbo be bad. again the car drives great and plenty of power. I addition I gave it an oil change with Valvoline Synthetic oil.

Any help or advice with this would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you

Post by **jblackburn** » 17 Jan 2010, 15:34

First of all, welcome to MVS!

Are these signs evidence of a clogged PCV system

Yes. It blew out the cam seal, which is good news instead of the rear main seal. The smoking out the exhaust is not necessarily the clogged PCV, but better to take care of the PCV system first, which sounds VERY BAD if you're getting smoke already at the back of the engine, and deal with the other later. Make sure you clean the PTC nipple (on the plastic breather hose that goes into the turbo) as well, or your efforts of changing the oil trap will be to no avail.

What color is the smoke out the exhaust?

yankeechess · Post by **yankeechess** » 17 Jan 2010, 18:43

The smoke is pretty much white and pretty thick and cloudy. Also do you have directions or link that shows how to clean the PCV system for this car and something that show what nipple on the turbo your referring to. I greatly appreciate all your time and help. I have worked on cars for a while but know very little about volvos and the PCV systems

Post by **jblackburn** » 17 Jan 2010, 18:54

This is the tutorial I followed:
http://www.lakesidedp.com/uploadpics/pcv/index.html

The PTC is shown there at the bottom. It took me a while to figure out how to get it out.

White smoke isn't good (once the car is warmed up). Has it been losing coolant? You can either buy a compression test kit at an auto store (just google 'leak down test' for instructions) or have one done, but it's something I'd look into. A turbo would blow lots of blue smoke if it was bad.

yankeechess · Post by **yankeechess** » 17 Jan 2010, 19:44

I have not let the car run for more than 20 minutes tops as I was scared to let it run and do further damage to anything. The smoke coming out doesI have not lost any coolant since replacing the hose and the oil is very clean. I gave the car an oil change and watched the oil coming out very closely to see if it had any coolant in it. The oil was very clean. I also checked the oil today and see no signs of coolant. I will check out the link and see if check the oil trap to see if there is a clog anywhere.

I will keep you posted with what I find and again thank you for everything

Post by **wheelsup** » 17 Jan 2010, 20:15

yankeechess wrote:I have not let the car run for more than 20 minutes tops as I was scared to let it run and do further damage to anything. The smoke coming out doesI have not lost any coolant since replacing the hose and the oil is very clean. I gave the car an oil change and watched the oil coming out very closely to see if it had any coolant in it. The oil was very clean. I also checked the oil today and see no signs of coolant. I will check out the link and see if check the oil trap to see if there is a clog anywhere.

I will keep you posted with what I find and again thank you for everything

In the cold I get a lot of white smoke (condensation I think?) at first as well. You'll get even more up in NY.

yankeechess · Post by **yankeechess** » 17 Jan 2010, 21:22

sorry to be a bother again, but do you by chance have a pic of the nipple your referring to off the breather hose. Aslo after reading the link you posted on the breather box. From what I see its inside the manifold. Is this acurate

Post by **jblackburn** » 17 Jan 2010, 22:51

I'll try to take a picture of it tomorrow. Yeah, the oil separator is under the intake manifold. It's a big pain, but at least you can change spark plugs on these without taking off the intake (V6 Ford Escape's - stupidest thing I've ever heard of).

This is a diagram for you. Follow the accordian hose coming out of the back of the breather box to the rear of the engine at the turbo. Off that, just before it goes into the turbo, are 2 hoses (tiny vacuum hose and a bigger one) and a sensor. Those need to be cleaned out - I used a big paperclip and a small flathead screwdriver, and the PTC itself taken out and cleaned thoroughly in something strong.

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 Jan 2010, 09:22

That help? I have no idea how mine is covered in gunk again...

yankeechess · Post by **yankeechess** » 18 Jan 2010, 10:48

Thanks again for the pictures. I am out there know working on it. Volvo really made sure to make things as hard as possible to get to. The clamp thats at the bottom of the large hose off of the breather box is a real pain to get to. I also don't have the biggest selection of tools here at home which also makes things a little tough. Once this clamp is off, it looks like everything is pretty easy. I will clean everything and directed & put back together. I am sure it will still need the oil trap behind the manifold cleaned, but as you mentioned, its good to have this done anyways. With my luck, I know there is no way this would be all that would be needed.

I can't say how much I appreciate all your help and time.