Oil Leak

Checksix · Post by **Checksix** » 23 Mar 2016, 23:40

2001 V70 T5 with 175K miles

As I was looking over the engine bay tonight after noticing I had a failed serpentine belt tensioner (separate post), I noticed I had an oil leak. I pulled the bottom engine cover and found quite a bit of oil everywhere so apparently this had been on going for at about 5K (last oil change). I cleaned everything up but didn't seem to notice any real source. Rear main seal seems fine as did the front cam seals. There seemed an old leak near the front seal (probably from when the power steering reservoir leaked AND SINCE FIXED), but a little new oil as well. The only other place I noticed any oil was on the turbo housing (a single drop). I've noticed a similar drop for about 4 oil changes, but not really a leak you could notice. I have the gasket and O-rain for the turbo return line, but have yet to install (I'll do this tomorrow).

My question is where is the oil coming from? I don't think it is the turbo return line as this looks the same as the last 20K but I guess it could be. I'll be doing a major and replacing the timing belt, tensioner, idler and water pump now since I'll be forced to do the serpentine tensioner instead of on my schedule. My scheduled maintenance would have been 180K so just a little early. I'll replace the front seal at this time even though I didn't notice a lot of oil there.

Anyone with hints on doing the front seal or is it pretty standard?

Checksix

altalake · Post by **altalake** » 24 Mar 2016, 00:16

That single drop of oil on the bottom of the turbo is pretty normal. The other leak seems similar to the one I have which is still unsolved. Here's my latest post on that topic - really hoping it's not something big and expensive for either of us.
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 17#p398517

Checksix · Post by **Checksix** » 24 Mar 2016, 15:10

This morning I went back to the garage to check things after I had cleaned and then running the car shortly. There is no leak by the turbo or the return line, BUT there were several drops on the floor (I had left the bottom engine closure off). These drops were at the front of the engine (N. American passenger side). There was fresh oil near the front seal, so I'm thinking this is it. Probably only drips a few drops on shut down as the PVC prevents this while running. This afternoon I intend to put a vacuum gauge on the dip stick to see if it is working correctly. Anyone know about what reading I should expect? I'll report back later this evening what I found.

Checksix

Checksix · Post by **Checksix** » 24 Mar 2016, 17:25

Well I ran the car at idle until it was fully warmed up and then an additional 10 minutes. I placed a vacuum / pressure gauge on the dip stick tube but could not see vacuum or pressure at idle or 2000 RPM. I could see significant vacuum at the intake manifold but I did not measure this.

Closer observation looking for the leak says most of it seems to come from above and then collects on the mounts for the air conditioner compressor. It did this while at idle. I got about one full drop during my test run. I'm no longer thinking front seal, but something else. I've seen suggestions about the head gasket. This seems odd it would just fail this way as the car has never run other than the temperature right at the normal position. Even hot days in the worst conditions does not make the needle even move a bit.

Is it possible I'm starting to see a failure of the PCV system? How do I test this? I know you start to get pressure at the dip stick tube when it fails, but this hasn't happened yet. I've always run synthetic oil, and looking inside the oil fill hole shows it squeaky clean still.

Checksix · Post by **Checksix** » 24 Mar 2016, 20:36

Quick update: I did the latex glove on the oil filler hole and it is pulling a vacuum at idle and 2K RPM.

Is it possible one of the banjo connectors is plugged even though my system passes the dip stick and oil fill hole tests?

Checksix · Post by **Checksix** » 26 Mar 2016, 16:52

I just finished pulling the intake manifold to do a through search for the leak. I am also replacing the ETM with a Modex design so I was going in there anyhow.

The result: Drum roll please: It was the o-ring to the dip stick tube at the engine block. The oil would mostly run down the oil pan to engine block lip and collect on the AC mount.

I was amazed how clean things really were. The intake valves look new with no hint of any deposits. I've run Chevron gas exclusively except when on a trip and can't get it. The PCV hoses were also very clean with just a small amount of build up. Even the small hole at the banjo bolt was clear and I could easily blow air through it. The throttle plate also looked pretty good with just a light coat of build-up. For this I've run nothing but synthetic oil and mostly Mobile 1. After 175K I'd say that extra cost has been worth it to me.

Post by **abscate** » 28 Mar 2016, 17:38

I did my PCV on my 1999 last summer and it was pretty spotless. The coolant heated PCV hose on the later models (1999-on), Im convinced, stops these things from plugging up if you keep the oil changes at factory intervals.

The oil return block hole on the breather box was less than 10% siudged at 170k miles on original PCV.

Checksix · Post by **Checksix** » 09 Apr 2016, 17:52

I just finished the ETM replacement today. While I had thought I had found the source of the leak being the dip stick tube seal, now I'm convinced I was wrong. During the time I was waiting for parts, I did a pretty through clean up of the existing oil. I went away for a day, and noted the oil reappeared. I figured I missed some, so I cleaned up again. Pretty easy with the manifold off. Anyhow IT KEEPS ON DRIPPING. This has gone on for several days. I clean up and it reappears every day.

I had just done an oil change and the oil is like new oil. However, I don't see that the engine can leak while sitting static for several days. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

The only thing high that that can drip is the power steering. I run CHF 11S which has a slight green tint. My opinion is this is NOT PS fluid as it don't appear green and had a higher viscosity. So where can the oil be coming from? I pulled the top of the timing belt cover and looked it but didn't see a leak. I start the timing belt change in a day or so, so then I'll get a better look then and I'll update.

Checksix

nsjames · Post by **nsjames** » 10 Apr 2016, 09:02

uv dye.

start at the bottom and find the highest point you find dye. There's your leak.