1996 Volvo 960 Engine Oil Leak Passenger side near bolts

[jasv]

After doing many things to my volvo, I decided to wash the engine. A couple of days later, I thought for sure I had a oil leak. What happened is the water accumulated under the black cover and would seep out while driving making seem like I had oil burning. It actually smelled a little as well. I could see wet coming out of the egr tube and thought I had a serious problem.
After I took the black cover off and dried it with a towel, everything has been fine. That was over 2 months ago and no leak. Yay.

It is possible somebody washed the engine before they sold it to you. The picture looks like it. I think it is worth removing the black cover before you spend $ at a mechanic.

[nutmegrose]

Yes, the engine looked brand new when I bought it a couple of months ago which was surprising. This is my first Volvo and I have always wanted one. The first owner was a doctor who saved every receipt and took it to the mechanic for every little knock and noise and put new tires on it every year. The jerk who had it next wasn't as kind to it. He put a non-factory radio in it that shorts out and now shorts out the dashboard lights. So I've got to have to the radio replaced. I put new tires on it and now new brakes all the way around. I had to put a new mass airflow sensor on it last month and now this leak. I've had to put oil in it maybe every 3 days and maybe an 1/8-1/4 quart. I am hoping my mechanic can take the top cover off it and get a better view today of what is going on.

[Jesse8931]

Volvo uses glue instead of a gasket so its a pain in the rear to remove the top cover and its very easy to dent The top cover.

Does the car have any codes ?

[nutmegrose]

The check engine light has been going off and on intermittently. Mostly when it gets filled with gas. When it first did it, it was obviously the mass airflow sensor and I had it replaced. It just went off again and I took it to be read. Same codes , they think I need a new fuel cap which is possible. It's the original one and 17 years old. Good news on the engine though. My mechanic took the top of it off tonight and there was a ton of oil sitting on it. I am surprised none of it had pooled under the car when I parked it. Anyway, he mopped all of it up with a paper towel then used a special engine cleaner to clean it up. He then inspected it for leaks. We ran it and ran it with RPM's to check for leaks, nothing. It is sound with no leaks. He thinks that the oil change place did majorly overfill it and it seeped into the seams of this cover and was sitting there waiting for release. The way my engine is made, the side where it is sitting is downhill from the opening for the oil and under the cover it is concave and it was huge pool. It hadn't burned any oil really so it just made sense when the mechanic couldn't find any leaks. It was also coincidental that it started right within 2 days of my oil change. I'm just thankful it was nothing serious. I really love this car and would hate for anything bad to happen to it. I can't thank all of you enough for all of your help!!!!