2006 XC90 4.4 V8 Mysterious oil leak
2006 XC90 4.4 V8 Mysterious oil leak
This is my wife's car and it parks on a painted garage floor. The car has 115,000 miles on it and up until now has never left any oil on the floor. Then I recently started noticing some oil drips on the floor. I thought it was engine oil but after several weeks now I have noticed that I have been having to add power steering fluid to the reservoir. Recently she has been complaining of noise from the power steering pump when she starts up in the morning. I told her it was normal as my '95 850 has been doing that literally for years until it warms up and then is fine. So I told her to live with it. Now this leak is happening. I have been under the car several times but I simply cannot pinpoint the source of leak, let alone what to do to fix it and/or the pump noise. All the posts on this forum seem to be for the 5 cyl or 6 cyl versions, none for the V8. Any suggestions would be appreciated!! Thanks
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huzzsaba
- Posts: 274
- Joined: 21 October 2008
- Year and Model: 2004 volvo xc90 2.5t
- Location: Oakville, ON, Canada
I have no idea about the V8 motors, but I would start by checking the power steering pump and then working my way down the any hose connected from it the to the steering rack. lastly check the steering rack for any leaks.
2004 Volvo xc90 2.5t
1998 Volvo s70 T5M
1998 Volvo s70 T5M
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jimmy57
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The power steering pump on V8 engines can leak. When it does some may stain the front cover but it usually leaks mostly out of the bell housing. The oil runs in the V of engine and finds the drain for the V that drains through the bell housing.
Hi Jimmy57
From your description I think you may be right. I have some leakage in the front cover area (right side of the car) and also in the rear of the engine. I have been baffled as to how a leak can drip in two places at once but your explanation makes sense. Now I just have to find the freaking powersteering pump. Everything is behind plastic covers in this engine, takes you 30 minutes of dismantling just to get to the part in question. I have tried to identify the p.s. pump but haven't found it for sure yet. I tried tracing the hose from the reservoir but it disappears into the bowels of the engine. Between the noise that is coming from the pump when it is cold and the leak I think that must be it. How big a deal is it to R&R the pump? Something you can fix yourself of does one just buy a rebuilt one?
Thanks!
From your description I think you may be right. I have some leakage in the front cover area (right side of the car) and also in the rear of the engine. I have been baffled as to how a leak can drip in two places at once but your explanation makes sense. Now I just have to find the freaking powersteering pump. Everything is behind plastic covers in this engine, takes you 30 minutes of dismantling just to get to the part in question. I have tried to identify the p.s. pump but haven't found it for sure yet. I tried tracing the hose from the reservoir but it disappears into the bowels of the engine. Between the noise that is coming from the pump when it is cold and the leak I think that must be it. How big a deal is it to R&R the pump? Something you can fix yourself of does one just buy a rebuilt one?
Thanks!
See advice on finding your leak at the end...
The power steering pump on the V8 is driven by the big pulley at the top of the serpentine belt path on the righthand side of the engine (on the left as you face the engine). The power steering pump is hidden under a plastic cover that is held on by two screws. You should take off the front and rear engine covers first -- they are just a press-fit, and so come off easily if you just lift up on them. the back one is a bit tricky to take all the way out, because the fit is tight back there. That should give you good visibility of the side cover over the PS pump. Once the side cover is removed, you'll be able to see the intake hose connection, and the output hard pipe connection. Both of these are held on by one bolt each, and use a slip-fit O-ring to seal. You could be leaking from either of these seals, or from the clamped intake hose, or from the shaft of the pump itself. The shaft leak requires a new pump. The o-ring seals are easy to replace - though I had to improvise the one for the intake hose fitting, because Volvo doesn't sell that one, so I just used an o-ring that was slightly under-diameter but had a big enough cross-section to make the seal. If leaking from the hose, and tightening the clamp doesn't solve it, replace the hose.
To find the leak, add a flourescent dye to the Power Steering Fluid (special dye sold for this purpose at auto parts stores -- I used Certified AutoPro Flourescent Leak Detector Dye that I bought at O'Reilly's www.certifiedacpro.com), and then use a UV LED flashlight (also made for this purpose -- I used the Certified A/C Pro "The Dualler" Leak Detection UV Light). With the engine covers removed, add the dye to the PS Fluid (1/4 ounce, which is 1/4 of the bottle is enough), and then start the car and run the steering wheel right and left a bunch of times to work the system and get the dye mixed, and penetrated to the leak. Then in a dark setting, play the UV light over the power steering pump area, and you'll immediately see where your leak is. I had a huge leak, so mine was not a subtle finding. If you see no glowing fluid leak near the pump and you're sure you've got the dye fully mixed and circulated, drive the car for a while and check again. Play the light over everything near the pump, and then under the car, especially near both ends of the power steering servo, which is hidden up behind the bottom back of the engine.
Good Luck!
The power steering pump on the V8 is driven by the big pulley at the top of the serpentine belt path on the righthand side of the engine (on the left as you face the engine). The power steering pump is hidden under a plastic cover that is held on by two screws. You should take off the front and rear engine covers first -- they are just a press-fit, and so come off easily if you just lift up on them. the back one is a bit tricky to take all the way out, because the fit is tight back there. That should give you good visibility of the side cover over the PS pump. Once the side cover is removed, you'll be able to see the intake hose connection, and the output hard pipe connection. Both of these are held on by one bolt each, and use a slip-fit O-ring to seal. You could be leaking from either of these seals, or from the clamped intake hose, or from the shaft of the pump itself. The shaft leak requires a new pump. The o-ring seals are easy to replace - though I had to improvise the one for the intake hose fitting, because Volvo doesn't sell that one, so I just used an o-ring that was slightly under-diameter but had a big enough cross-section to make the seal. If leaking from the hose, and tightening the clamp doesn't solve it, replace the hose.
To find the leak, add a flourescent dye to the Power Steering Fluid (special dye sold for this purpose at auto parts stores -- I used Certified AutoPro Flourescent Leak Detector Dye that I bought at O'Reilly's www.certifiedacpro.com), and then use a UV LED flashlight (also made for this purpose -- I used the Certified A/C Pro "The Dualler" Leak Detection UV Light). With the engine covers removed, add the dye to the PS Fluid (1/4 ounce, which is 1/4 of the bottle is enough), and then start the car and run the steering wheel right and left a bunch of times to work the system and get the dye mixed, and penetrated to the leak. Then in a dark setting, play the UV light over the power steering pump area, and you'll immediately see where your leak is. I had a huge leak, so mine was not a subtle finding. If you see no glowing fluid leak near the pump and you're sure you've got the dye fully mixed and circulated, drive the car for a while and check again. Play the light over everything near the pump, and then under the car, especially near both ends of the power steering servo, which is hidden up behind the bottom back of the engine.
Good Luck!
Have the same vehicle with the oil leak problem. I just put up a thread to see if I can get some help. Mine is just oil as far as I can tell. I've identified the area but not the most mecanicly inclined person especially on volvos. Did you find out about your oil leak?
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ggleavitt
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V8 leaks "seem" to be linked to a few common causes in my opinion, worn PS pump being one, hardened valve cover gaskets being another.
If you have a leak and you're replacing PS fluid, you pretty much have your answer. As noted above, the fluid has a tendency to run through the engine valley and present as a leak towards the back of the engine, gets sometimes confused with a rear main seal (RMS) leak.
If you have a proper oil leak, maybe start with the rear bank of the valve covers (engine covers off, mirror to see the back side if possible), then work your way to the front of the engine and check if you have any direct leaks coming from the front timing chain cover. If you're fortunate, it's just the valve cover gaskets that are seeping to the point of leaking (they harden up due to heat over time).
I'm no expert, although I did do a reasonable amount of investigating before I bought my V8 Sport. From what I've read (and personally experienced) over the years, common V8 engine replacement items are PS pump, VC gaskets, FPS, and occasionally an alternator. Alternator seemed more common a few years back, don't hear too much about replacements these days although I suspect in a few more years a number of alternators will have regulator brushes worn to the point of replacement so likely we’ll be seeing this pop back up.
**One tip for prolonging the longevity of the alternator is checking that the bottom cap of the 3-way washer valve under the hood (below passenger side washer nozzle) is solid and not broken (if broken, fluid under pressure can spray downward onto the area of the alternator).**
For those of you getting to 120k and beyond, if you have not already replaced your aux belt with idlers and tensioner (some replace just the idler bearings, I replace everything so I know it’s new), now’s the time to be thinking about it. Volvo calls this out at 150k miles but many folks don’t wait that long (concern is that if the bearings on the idlers on the front timing cover get worn to the point of inoperability, they can fail and shear off the mounting stub of the front of the timing cover, necessitating a ton of work).
Couple links (VCG, 3-way washer valve) with photos in the event anyone is interested-
http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... eplacement
http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... ine-broken
Good luck !
If you have a leak and you're replacing PS fluid, you pretty much have your answer. As noted above, the fluid has a tendency to run through the engine valley and present as a leak towards the back of the engine, gets sometimes confused with a rear main seal (RMS) leak.
If you have a proper oil leak, maybe start with the rear bank of the valve covers (engine covers off, mirror to see the back side if possible), then work your way to the front of the engine and check if you have any direct leaks coming from the front timing chain cover. If you're fortunate, it's just the valve cover gaskets that are seeping to the point of leaking (they harden up due to heat over time).
I'm no expert, although I did do a reasonable amount of investigating before I bought my V8 Sport. From what I've read (and personally experienced) over the years, common V8 engine replacement items are PS pump, VC gaskets, FPS, and occasionally an alternator. Alternator seemed more common a few years back, don't hear too much about replacements these days although I suspect in a few more years a number of alternators will have regulator brushes worn to the point of replacement so likely we’ll be seeing this pop back up.
**One tip for prolonging the longevity of the alternator is checking that the bottom cap of the 3-way washer valve under the hood (below passenger side washer nozzle) is solid and not broken (if broken, fluid under pressure can spray downward onto the area of the alternator).**
For those of you getting to 120k and beyond, if you have not already replaced your aux belt with idlers and tensioner (some replace just the idler bearings, I replace everything so I know it’s new), now’s the time to be thinking about it. Volvo calls this out at 150k miles but many folks don’t wait that long (concern is that if the bearings on the idlers on the front timing cover get worn to the point of inoperability, they can fail and shear off the mounting stub of the front of the timing cover, necessitating a ton of work).
Couple links (VCG, 3-way washer valve) with photos in the event anyone is interested-
http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... eplacement
http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... ine-broken
Good luck !
2006 V8 Ocean Race #740/800 200k, 2008 V8 Sport 183k
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