98 v70 GLT Rear Main Seal - Noob in over head!

Post by **Botbasher** » 30 Jul 2016, 12:03

OK.. the title doesn't explain it all. I have been working on cars for almost 30 years, but I just bought my 1st Volvo, a 98 v70 GLT with 201k on the clock. From what I have read and can see, I am thinking the previous owner did his PCV a little late and the RMS is toast. Take a look and tell me what you think?

I have the skills to complete the task, but am lacking the specific knowledge to help it go smoothly. This is going to be the kiddos learner vehicle, so he's got a tight budget and can't really afford to do things several times or things that don't really need to be done if they don't have to..

I have read the knowledgeable posts I could find about this, but the confusing part starts when I try and figure out exactly what parts I'll need. I know the RMS (Volvo Part 31339213, right?), but what else is a bit of a mystery. There is something about output shaft seals, torque converter seals and a couple of others. Volvo is the same 4 wheels as all the other mfg, but they call things a little different that my VAG guys do (owned VW all my life).

If you were pulling the trans (going to drop it out the bottom), what would you replace? The best write up I can find on this is on an 850. I don't know if that's close enough, parts wise, to trust. Is there a v70 version of that I haven't found yet?

Thanks for taking a second to help a new guy get his son's 1st car roadworthy!!!

K "in deep" S

Post by **tryingbe** » 30 Jul 2016, 12:46

That's not the rear main seal leaking. Rear main seal leak would be only between the engine and transmission, not that high up.

First thing I'd do is take it to pressure wash to wash off all the oil then determine what's leaking. Could be the cam seals, PCV system up top, camshaft cover, etc.

Post by **JRL** » 30 Jul 2016, 13:01

I was going to say the same thing, clean it all off first. It could be: (take your pick here)...
Turbo dump tube (easy)
Cam seals (not so easy but better than removing a transmission)
It also could also be a botched or incomplete/incompetent breather job and it needs to be done again.

Fist clean it all off, then drive it at higher speeds for 50-100 miles and check for leaks.

Meanwhile, I would also remove the spark plug cover to see if it's dry in there, if not it's breather time again.
Also replace the oil fill cap gasket

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 30 Jul 2016, 13:19

If you're actually losing 1/8 of a cup in 20 miles, I'd say do 20 miles, not 50-100. That'll make it spread out too much again. The key is, like tryingbe and JRL said, to clean it thoroughly (a bit of a pain in itself) and then pay close attention.

Getting the easy stuff also narrows things down, like JRL said - check under spark plug cover and get a new gasket for the filler cap.

- S

Post by **sleddriver** » 30 Jul 2016, 13:39

Leaking rear cam shaft seals will make a mess on the engine's rear-end. It'll roll down onto everything below it and behind it. A guy with your experience will find replacement simple and straight forward. Only use factory or equiv. seals. It'll take far longer to clean up the mess.

Did this on the sled, no more mess.

Post by **Botbasher** » 30 Jul 2016, 16:28

Great minds think alike!!!!

While waiting for answers, I stepped back and thought about it. Easy stuff 1st....

I put it up on stands and power squirted as much as I could (only have a long wand)... wiped it all down... looked... poked... cleaned... then let it idle.

NADA. Not a thing. No leak... no smoke... nada! OK, let's ramp it up a bit, so I took off the wheels (the kiddo needed to sweat a little too!!) and I stuck it in gear, since that was about the only time it did anything. 30 seconds later... POOF. SMOKE!!! But is was still impossible to see where it was coming from even after removing the shield.

OK... so we went for a short drive. Yep... smoke and drips... AWESOME!! But still no defined trail to follow. OK, now I'm getting pissed! So... when all else fails, check off the basics.

Pull all the accessories and tubes and popped the Rotor. Yeah... I know he said he just did it, but it's the only thing making sense right about now!

Maybe it's just me, but I swear there is something wrong with this picture. Yeah... I pushed it back into place by hand!!!

Guess it wasn't replaced when he did the service, huh?

Well... lets go for broke.. if one was bad, what are the odds of the other being bad? Pretty F*&%#&@#$% good!!! It's hard to see in the pic, but it was barely in there. I touched it and it fell out.

So now I am a little relieved.... I think I found the oil leak. Hopefully the RMS is OK, but only time will tell.

I am a little pissed.... as this, and the PCV Service already being done was one of the selling points to me buying this. Now I can't trust anything he had his Volvo Mech buddy (scary, huh?) do to the car and I have to start over. I think he and I are going to have a little chat as soon as I cool off a little bit!!

So my final question.... Does anyone have the part numbers for the Cam Shaft Seals?

Cheers!

K "happier" S

Post by **tryingbe** » 30 Jul 2016, 17:10

Use only Volvo or Corteco seal!

http://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/9443 ... V2814.aspx

I can't tell from the picture, does that seal look new or old? Does the PCV system look new or old? If the seal looks new, I'd clean it up, push it back in, and do a glove test on the PCV system and see if there are any other things you need to order.

PS, your top engine mount is torn.

http://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/9434 ... V2814.aspx

PPS, if you do need to buy PCV parts, I suggest upgrade.
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/vie ... 04#p408034

Post by **Botbasher** » 30 Jul 2016, 17:49

Really guys... I was serious about the part numbers. Volvo is totally screwing with my head.

I'm looking at their online parts breakdowns and I found the Head. So look up the seals.... it has 2 different parts for the same #30 callout! WTF!?!?

Here is what Volvo lists...

Can someone please tell me which one of these is correct so I can get them on order?

Thanks!

K "confused" S

Post by **Botbasher** » 30 Jul 2016, 18:03

tryingbe wrote:Use only Volvo or Corteco seal!

http://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/9443 ... V2814.aspx

I can't tell from the picture, does that seal look new or old? Does the PCV system look new or old? If the seal looks new, I'd clean it up, push it back in, and do a glove test on the PCV system and see if there are any other things you need to order.

PS, your top engine mount is torn.

http://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/9434 ... V2814.aspx

PPS, if you do need to buy PCV parts, I suggest upgrade.
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/vie ... 04#p408034

Thank Tryingbe.... I'll get them on order ASAP as that looks to be about a 4th of what the stealership is going to charge me!

One of them (dizzy) looks old and slid in by hand, so it's definitely shrunk or or the wrong size. The other (sensor) looks new, it was not possible to hand press it in and felt more pliable. The pisser is that both were supposed to be done when he did the cam and rotor. Someone lied... either his Mech buddy or him!

Yeah... The top mount is trashed. Bottom one is going too! It's on the list, but that's not near the top. That's something the kiddo can do. I'm also using this to teach him a little bit about cars and maintenance planning. He inherited his dads looks, but no where near enough of his mechanical skills!

I did the glove test and it looked good, but obviously that was with the seals hanging out. I'll have to get it all back together and then start running down the checklist for maintenance issues. I'm still a bit pissed at the PO, but it's not the worst thing that could have happened!

Thanks for the confirmation on the seals! I appreciate it and promise that I won't claim noob status for long. I hate being on this end of the mechanical/knowledge scale. Not normal for me!!

Thanks,

KS