850 non turbo running low on power and oil leak

[thor777]

I am adding a new issue to my original request for advice of rough running 2.5L non turbo / automatic / 240K Km - there is an oil leak and there seems to be oil on top of the head cover - I read something before about back pressure due to some blockage along the way - note: I am a par or two below a back yard mechanic, so could you make the answers / advice simple..thanks in advance...

[Ozark Lee]

The PCV "System" is likely what is causing your oil loss. A quick way to check is to take out the dipstick while the car is idling and look for puffs of smoke and vapor. You can also put a small balloon on the dipstick tube and see if it tries to inflate while the car is idling. If you do have the puffs of vapor or the balloon tries to inflate then you have a clogged PCV.

Justin has an excellent writeup on the parts and procedures required to service and repair the PCV.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=28487

It really isn't difficult except for one of the intake manifold bolts. It is, however, time consuming. For novice wrencher on his or her first attempt at this job I would block out an entire weekend to get it done. After you do it once or twice it only takes about 3 or 4 hours including stuff like cleaning the throttle body and the EGR valve and ports if you have EGR.

In the meantime, on a non turbo, there is a flame trap in the system that clogs very easily. It is in the intake snorkel where the PCV system oil trap tube twists in. You can often make improvements by either cleaning the flame trap or doing what most of us do, simply remove it and bin it.

...Lee