Anybody know what this leak is?

Free2drive! · Post by **Free2drive!** » 10 Apr 2011, 12:09

Hi Everyone

I am hoping ot pinpoint this leak and fix it at home. Can anyone let me know where the leak is from?

Thanks
Matt
94 Turbo 855 Auto 152,000 miles

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 Apr 2011, 12:24

Whatever it is, it'll be blowing backward, so look for the top most, frontmost leaky spot.

That looks like it's been going awhile; might want to drive it up on ramps and take a hose to it... your normal garden hose, not a pressure washer! Do it with the engine stone cold to eliminate any metallurgical temperature problems, like cracking the block.

Is it oil or transmission fluid? Rub it on your fingers; the tranny fluid will be reddish.

VolvoTurbo850 · Post by **VolvoTurbo850** » 10 Apr 2011, 12:28

most likely your culprit is:

Turbo lines for the oil
Blow by pressure from under the cover that says 20 valve (remove it to see if there is big accumulations of oil in there from the PVC system.
Seals from the cams (under the ignition cap or the one behind the firewall.
Mail Seal (part between the engine and tranny (orange gasket).

Free2drive! · Post by **Free2drive!** » 10 Apr 2011, 13:55

Hi

There is no oil on the upper sideof the engine/transmission. There is oil at the base of the dipstick and behind the oil sump plug.

How can I be sure if it is the main seal or not?

Matt

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 Apr 2011, 14:05

Process of elimination.

Do an oil change. While it's drained, replace the dipstick o-ring. Be sure to use a new crush washer on the sump plug. If you haven't already, this would be a good time to switch to the magnetic drain plug.

Then wipe the area down real good; carb cleaner and a rag should be clean "enough".

Then see if it comes back.

* When my RMS went in the 1996, it was losing a quart in 10 miles.

VolvoTurbo850 · Post by **VolvoTurbo850** » 10 Apr 2011, 18:41

After a second look at your pics.. check the tranny oil lines going to the radiator located near the car battery. It might be leaking and going to the bottom of the rad cover at the bottom of the car and not showing it is leaking. When your driving the wind will push it backwards of the skid plate.

If they are loose or leaking they could spread fluid in the similar pattern as your pics. Also check the oil coolant lines.

As Kcody explained clean up the area with mild soap and if you can put a piece of cardboard under the car and let it sit overnight to see if it a major leak and get an idea where it is coming from.

crezzy2k1 · Post by **crezzy2k1** » 11 Apr 2011, 03:18

That looks like the oil return line from the turbo. I thought my rear main had gone and all it turned out to be was a gasket and o ring. Best thing to do is clean the area, put car on ramps, get underneath and look up behind the engine you will see the turbo and see a pipe attached to it held by two t25 screws and the other end in the engine block. They leak in that area all the time and they are really easy to fix.
Worst case scernrio is rear main, you will see that when you clean the underside, there is as weep hole between the engine and transmission, if its leaking from there then most likely the rear main.

Free2drive! · Post by **Free2drive!** » 11 Apr 2011, 06:33

Thanks, can you see the weep hole in any of my photo's?

I am hardly losing oil, still shows 3/4 full on the dipstick,
Matt

crezzy2k1 · Post by **crezzy2k1** » 11 Apr 2011, 07:03

It's hard to tell if theres anything coming out the weep hole if it not clear under there. I've circled where the hole is for your info, from what i can see it looks okay but you really do need to clean it to be sure.

crezzy2k1 · Post by **crezzy2k1** » 11 Apr 2011, 07:05

okay thats a rubbish circle but you get the idea!