1996 850R Oil leak rear of engine passenger side PICTURES

[cn90]

The TB job and Front cam Seals should fix your oil leak problem.

Blue smoke is likely from valve seal. There is a way to do it w/o removing the cylinder head. Tons of info in forum.

[dmack87]

Yep I saw a procedure for doing the seals without removing the head. Any logic to going whole hog and doing the head gasket or any other interior maintenance on a 170,xxx car that is 20 years old?

I got some more info. Here is a video of the engine smoke coming up from the back of the engine on the passenger side. This is after about 8 minutes idling after a 30 mile drive:



Here is the tailpipe smoke after 8 minutes idling on a rev up. Compared to some other videos I have seen this doesn't look that horrible, but definitely present:


(videography credit to my 7 year old son)

And here is a tour of the passenger front wheel well showing leaking green glop which I assume is a mixture of oil and antifreeze. Oil from cam seals (?) and antifreeze from water pump (?):


(in the video I think I said cam seals which would be on the other end of the engine right? Am I the only one that frequently feels like an idiot talking about this stuff?)

I recognize that I have multiple issues but am just trying to pin them all down. My thought is to do the front suspension https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=70179 and brakes first, followed by the timing belt / water pump / cam seals and then reevaluate.

Next I guess would be the valve seals unless further inspection reveals another source. I assume (ass|u|me) that the blue exhaust smoke could not be caused by a leak on the outside of the engine, so then that leak is either an internal (cam seals?) and an external (turbo oil lines?) leak, or leaking cam seals seeping out of the exhaust manifold mating surface with the engine.

I apologize for not having a very specific question. Just bouncing things off of you guys to see if I am headed down the correct road here. Continued thanks!

[cn90]

At 170K, the priority is TB, Front Cam seals, Aisin WP. See the DIY I posted.
Again, the 2 turbo coolant hoses are up on the list.

Anything else can wait (suspension etc.).

[dmack87]

OK just spent another hour with an inspection mirror trying to find the leak location (without success). I can say I have found no oil leaking anywhere around the turbo or on the rear (that is the driver side correct?) camshaft seals. I also removed the timing belt cover again, and while there is oil in there, I can't see where it is coming from. I am assuming that the seals behind the camshaft pulleys might be leaking so I am planning on getting the stuff for the timing belt and the camshaft pulley seals and going about it that way. If that doesn't solve the issue completely, and I doubt it will, I will then look at other things.

[dmack87]

Was the oil passage into the pan cleared when you finally did the breather?

No, unfortunately I did not. It appears at this point that the only way to do that is to drop the pan, or wait until the PCV needs replacement again. Looks like mixed reports of blockage there, but if the front cam seals don't nip this, then I suppose dropping the pan wouldn't be too difficult to check this if there is a possible blockage. I am assuming (ass|u|me) that the blue smoke is valve seals though, as I can't figure how an external leak could get into the exhaust, plus the idle test.

[scot850]

dmack, did you clean the PTC nipple in the intake pipe from the air-intake to the turbo? Also, when you replaced the PCV system what did you replace? Did you just replace the oil separator box, or did you replace all the pipe wok, including the pipes around to the intake pipe and PTS nipple?

Neil.

[dmack87]

Neil, I used the FCP PCV kit http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-p ... bo-850t200 As far as the PTC valve, I did not clean it. I watched the FCP video but did not see mention of that. Where is it located?

[scot850]

The PTC nipple is on the intake to turbo plastic hose, about half-way down before it turns at 90 degrees into the turbo. The larger PCV hose that runs along the side of the engine block connects to it.

Check this thread for more info and how to clean:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... p?p=226269

Neil.

[TerryFc70]

Hello dmack!,

I have read your post with interest, as I have a similar issue on my 2000 c70 (new engine). The engine has been totally dry for 140,000 miles, until this week.

Can you tell me how you got on with it?

As a former mechanic, the first thing I went for was the cam seals, then the crank seal, but how ever these were all ok, then the cam carrier was checked no problems there, and to be honest, both me and another Volvo specialist drew a blank, even when we inspected a separate head off another car.

I too considered the valve stem oil seals or the guides or both, but there is no smoke from the exhaust.
As the car is going in to rechecked, I will be looking st the studs to see if they do run allong the oil galleries.

Look forward to hearing from you.

[beigg]

Hello dmack!,

I have read your post with interest, as I have a similar issue on my 2000 c70 (new engine). The engine has been totally dry for 140,000 miles, until this week.

Can you tell me how you got on with it?

As a former mechanic, the first thing I went for was the cam seals, then the crank seal, but how ever these were all ok, then the cam carrier was checked no problems there, and to be honest, both me and another Volvo specialist drew a blank, even when we inspected a separate head off another car.

I too considered the valve stem oil seals or the guides or both, but there is no smoke from the exhaust.
As the car is going in to rechecked, I will be looking st the studs to see if they do run allong the oil galleries.

Look forward to hearing from you.

The oil cap gasket can be a leaking point. Also, the PCV black tube found under the beauty cover going to the top of the camshafts cover is another potential leaking zone.