Oil Leak By Timing Belt 98 S70

scigarzz · Post by **scigarzz** » 28 Jul 2010, 07:20

I have a 98 s70 and it seems that oil is leaking from the timing belt area behind the plastic cover, i can't tell exactly because the cover is still over the timing belt. but to clarify , if the pass side wheel is off and you're looking at the crank pulley, its in the lower left corner of the plastic cover thats over the t.b. does anyone know what it might be ?? could it be from the cam seals in the head ?? i'm planning to replace the timing belt soon and i just want to get all the right parts before i begin.
thanks in advance
.

Post by **jblackburn** » 28 Jul 2010, 07:35

You got it, it is indeed the cam seal. You're probably due for a PCV system replacement, which is probably why it's leaking in the first place.

Post by **1997volvo850** » 31 Jul 2010, 00:23

You're sure it's oil?

The water pump is on the left. Mine was leaking and it looked more like oil than coolant to me.
My water pump was so close to going...

The cover is not difficult to remove...

Post by **Jack Rock** » 28 Mar 2011, 15:13

I've got this same situation all of a sudden on my 97 850. Didn't start slow just seems to have burst. The picture shows wet fresh oil on the cover which would be directly left of the crankshaft. I checked it well and it's definetly oil - just did an oil change two weeks ago and this has happened since. If it is the camshaft seal would I be able to feel it under the camshaft pulley on the inside of the back timing cover or would the oil go between the rear cover and the block? The inside of my cover is greasy but no fresh oil.

Post by **cn90** » 28 Mar 2011, 15:15

I have the exact same problem, oil trickles all the way down to the (R) CV boot.

I think the source of oil leak is the cam seals (I did my PCV already!).
So this summer I will do the whole Timing Belt area, everything from a to z (cam, crank seals etc.) and post a DIY later.

Post by **Jack Rock** » 28 Mar 2011, 15:21

Just did all the timing components in December (except the seals). I may have to go back in but I'd better get the PCV done first, although I checked it in the fall and found it to be wide open. I took off the line from the PTC nipple and had positive pressure there. cn90, are you saying the oil trickles down behind the covers? The only fresh oil inside the covers is what is in the picture above.

Post by **cn90** » 28 Mar 2011, 15:32

Jack Rock wrote:...cn90, are you saying the oil trickles down behind the covers?

YES!

sven · Post by **sven** » 28 Mar 2011, 15:46

I too had this same exact leak, but I verified that its not the cam seals. The tensioner was oil soaked beyond belief and was also locked solid (couldnt retract anymore). I was quite surprised that this much oil was inside the tensioner. But I guess it lived a full life...original at 200k.

Post by **jblackburn** » 28 Mar 2011, 16:09

You're lucky the tensioner/belt didn't give in. Those tensioners should be replaced every 140K AT MOST; some recommend replacing them every belt change.

reg gole · Post by **reg gole** » 23 Jan 2014, 14:28

This is confusing me. Maybe 2 years back I did the PCV system. I never did clean out the PTC nipple and the PCV connection under the spark plug cover never really seated properly so oil seeps out. BUT, I did the timing belt, water pump, tensioner everything in other words last summer. I had the cam seals but ran out of time to complete that. Still, I have the exact oil seepage issue too so I wonder if this means the cam seals are compromised due to clogged PTC nipple increasing pressure.