'96 855 Oil Leak Behind Timing Cover

BigRed · Post by **BigRed** » 01 Jun 2011, 19:37

'96 855 that has been leaving ever growing spots in driveway for some time. I cleaned it up enough underneath to see where oil is coming from, and I could see some starting at the bottom of the timing belt cover.

Attached are some pics after removing the timing belt cover. I hope someone can identify the cause.

Thanks!

Post by **JRL** » 01 Jun 2011, 20:12

Front cam seals

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jun 2011, 00:31

Front cam seals is a good call but first check under the spark plug cover for oil. If the PCV hose (or the oil cap itself) is leaking oil under there, it often drains out the front side of the engine and down behind the cam pulleys.

If you have a leak up there fix it (change the cap gasket, do a PCV job) and see if that takes care of it. If it doesn't ... front cam seals.

BigRed · Post by **BigRed** » 02 Jun 2011, 07:06

I have a PCV kit from FCP sitting in the garage that I ordered when I did my brothers '95 854 Turbo before winter.

I will check under the cover first, but it is WAY over due for a timing job so I will be ordering those parts and doing the cam seal then either way.

Thanks!

se13allmylife · Post by **se13allmylife** » 02 Jun 2011, 07:24

When the cam seals went on my previous 855 the result looked very similar to your pics . Unfortunately for me some doughnut from the cars past had removed the seals before and apparently prised them out with a flat blade screwdriver : the damage was not pretty and the seal was never perfect . The leak was at the bottom of the seal and it was as though the effect of the cam spinning flung the oil straight down leaving no staining or drips on the front of the head .

BigRed · Post by **BigRed** » 03 Jun 2011, 12:40

I'm going to order a timing belt job components from either FCP or IPD. It looks as though all the parts in the IPD kit are OE, whereas the FCP kit are not. They have one kit which is except for the belt, which is some "racing" belt that ends up costing more than the OE components individually.

So can anyone comment on these two options:

IPD Timing Belt Kit - $230.00
IPD Water Pump Kit - $86.90
IPD Front Cam Seal - $20.60
IPD Rear Cam Seal - $8.26

$345.76

Vs.

FCP OE Timing Belt - $29.99
FCP OE Tensioner Pulley - $59.95
FCP OE Damper - $89.50
FCP OE Idler - $69.62
FCP OE Water Pump - $74.81
FCP OE Water Pump Bolt - $5.88
FCP Front Cam Seal - $9.98
FCP Rear Cam Seal - $6.98

$346.71 ($312.04 after 10% off)

Assuming I got everything I needed and did the math right, FCP wins on price. And they seem to send bigger coupons than 10% after you order!

Aside from the timing belt job and cam seals, what else should I think about doing well I'm in there? I do have blue smoke, so valve stem seals are a possibility. I'm planning on flushing the coolant and replacing hoses and thermostat too.

bobsnow100 · Post by **bobsnow100** » 03 Jun 2011, 14:12

I would also change the tensioner itself. I had one fall apart and it ruined the valves.
You might just want to install a new front crankshaft seal also depending on your mileage. They are inexpensive

BigRed · Post by **BigRed** » 03 Jun 2011, 16:28

bobsnow100 wrote:I would also change the tensioner itself.

That is what I listed as "FCP OE Damper", right? The full description of the item is "1995-1997 Volvo 850 Turbo Timing Belt Tensioner Damper". Maybe I used the less important word when I shortened it.

bobsnow100 wrote:You might just want to install a new front crankshaft seal

Is that a Volvo 850 Turbo Crankshaft Seal 1994-1997 (Elring)? I'll add that to the list.

I'm still searching, but maybe you can speed it up. Are there special tools required?

Post by **precopster** » 03 Jun 2011, 18:19

The crankshaft seal is a big job, unless it's leaking, leave it alone. You'll find it a challenge to pick it out without removing the oil pump, which means impact wrench on 32mm crank nut (because you need to stop the engine turning) and a oil pump seal kit.
For one measly seal it's about an extra two hours and you may strip the heads on the torx bolts for the oil pump beacause they're very tight. Just my .02

Post by **erikv11** » 03 Jun 2011, 18:50

I'd go with fcp. You are looking at exactly the same parts from the two vendors, but fcp is closer to you and cheaper.

EDIT: You need 2 front cam seals and 2 rear cam seals. With those items there is an even greater difference between the cost at fcp and ipd. No brainer

.

And I agree, don't mess with the crank seal until you have to.