TURBO OIL DRAIN LINE - CAN'T STOP LEAKS

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 21 Apr 2013, 08:20

I have been struggling along with the oil leak at the sump on my oil return line from the Turbo for about a year. Every time I replace the gasket at the sump, I think it's fixed but within a little while it's leaking again. I had the worst saga this weekend. Took a trip by interstate 250 miles away- should have checked my oil level as I was traveling. On my way home yesterday, I pulled off to grab a bite to eat and smelled burning oil... checked under the car and it was terribly wet from oil. Pulled the dip stick and nothing on it- I had lost 4 quarts of oil this trip along!!! I got a ride to go buy some oil... The best I can figure it's the same place again. I have an extra o-ring... I will replace it again today. I'm tempted to cement it in this time. Any suggestions? My PCV system appears clear- I was thinking positive pressure in the engine blew it out like that.

Post by **jreed** » 22 Apr 2013, 04:42

I can report that after I wrote the suggestion back in April 2011 about using regular transparent RTV, I did develop a leak at the o-ring about three months later. When I took it apart I found the RTV was discolored and the adhesion between the metal on the pipe and the RTV had failed.
I installed a new o-ring and gasket, this time using Permatex Oil Resistant black RTV which I applied to the ring and gasket during installation. So far I am still having good leak-free performance with the oil-resistant RTV, but it has only been about one and a half years.

Post by **cn90** » 22 Apr 2013, 08:44

I read the threads by holler1 (see his photos):
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=32671

It looks like holler1 1998 AWD used the "rectangular O-ring" for the tstat housing gasket.
Is this where it is leaking from?