2000 V70R Front Main crankshaft seal failed (Again)!

Post by **scot850** » 05 Mar 2014, 17:28

Subject to being verified by the dealer (who replaced it) it looks like the front main crankshaft oil seal is leaking again. On the assumption it is, any suggestions why it may have started to leak again (assuming correct installation)?

Just spent approx. $4500 on replacing all main oil seals in engine, angle gear and transmission including the front and rear main crank seals. Less than 200km later it is leaking again.

I'm taking it back to the dealer to investigate, but looking for theories or suggestions on what else could cause a re-fail.

Thanks,

Neil.

Bluevanacd2005 · Post by **Bluevanacd2005** » 05 Mar 2014, 18:30

Check the pcv system... It could be pressurizing the crankcase and forcing oil through even the new seals.

Spenser

Post by **erikv11** » 05 Mar 2014, 20:14

Front crank seal, on the timing belt side? It is very rare for that to fail once, much less twice. Are you/they sure the problem isn't the front cam seals, leaking oil downward?

Definitely check and repair the PCV, before diving into the seals.

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 Mar 2014, 22:09

^^^the cam seals are quite common; oil will leak down the timing belt cover and appear in the area of the crankshaft pulley. I, too, would suspect severe PCV system issues for all seals leaking - something a shop should have checked in the first place.

Post by **scot850** » 05 Mar 2014, 22:40

All good suggestions. PCV system completely replaced 2000km ago. Not just bits but all the pipes, cleaned the ptc nipple out checked all connections were clean and clear.

All cam seals were replaced at the same time as the front/rear seals. I'll check again the crank pressure to make sure it is still good.

Yes crank seal on timing belt side. Not 100% as didn't have time to pull the cover off to check the cam seals are not leaking down. I'll leave that for the dealer to figure out.

Otherwise, car is pulling hard and strong.

Has anyone had a problem wit the oil pump drive behind the crank pulley wearing and not sealing on the oil seal?

Thanks for the replies guys!

Neil.

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 Mar 2014, 22:56

Hmm. Could be the cam seals just weren't set completely flush. The rear one is pretty difficult to get in.

Post by **jimmy57** » 06 Mar 2014, 07:07

The front seal is the one easiest to get wrong. The seal has to go past an edge that isn't beveled to ease seal passing by.

Post by **scot850** » 06 Mar 2014, 12:38

Thanks jimmy. I'll update this thread once a fault/solution is identified.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 11 Mar 2014, 20:40

I promised to get back to close this! It was the front main seal again. Didn't get to speak to the mechanic, but I did speak to another experienced mechanic there and he says sometimes you have to position the seal on a different part of the crank face due to wear. So far, so good.

Neil.

Post by **jblackburn** » 11 Mar 2014, 20:44

Same thing happened to mine. It was also an Elring seal put in by a shop that "only uses Volvo parts".

So far, so good.