Oil leak behind cap

tom4342 · Post by **tom4342** » 16 Apr 2017, 09:18

I was getting some misfires on 3 cylinder's so first thing I checked was the distributor cap, I found some oil and dirt under the cap so i cleaned it up and reinstalled no more misfire.I am assuming there is a seal behind the cap that is going bad and leaking oil. They much to get in and out?

Post by **erikv11** » 16 Apr 2017, 09:41

That's the rear cam seal and it is super easy to change. Best bet is to buy only Corteco or Volvo brand cam seals, many aftermarket brands fail quickly. There is also one on the exhaust cam, also easy to change maybe do them both.

Front cam seals are much more involved and failure is less common.

Teddy1975 · Post by **Teddy1975** » 16 Apr 2017, 09:45

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50752 <- how-to

Post by **cn90** » 16 Apr 2017, 10:28

Stick to Corteco seal, about $8-$10 at rmeuropean.com.

Post by **scot850** » 16 Apr 2017, 13:55

Often these begin to weep when there is too much crankcase pressure. When was the PCV system last serviced? If you don't know then a simple test is the rubber/latex glove test. Remove the oil filler cap and hold the glove over the oil filler hole. Get someone to start the car and see what the glove does. If it inflates the system is pressurising and that is what helps (old) seals to fail as it forces oil past the hard old rubber seals.

Let us know how you get on.

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 16 Apr 2017, 16:33

+100 to Neil's comment - often PCV blockage is the culprit, check it out.

tom4342 · Post by **tom4342** » 05 Aug 2017, 17:58

I did the rubber glove test and it didn't blow up I had to replace the intake seal 2 years ago as to the PVC being done I can not say if it's ever been done I bought it used in 2011 with 148k on it has 182k now I noticed the timing belt was done at 67k miles(what was marked on the cover) The seal is leaking pretty good now I have been procrastinating on fixing it, however, i think the time has come to much crap behind cap causing misfires. I bought the OEM Volvo seal.

Post by **rspi** » 05 Aug 2017, 21:03

115,000 Miles on a timing belt? I wouldn't bother fixing the seal. lol

The last seal I replaced sent me to the ER. Removal tool slipped and I banged my elbow on the inner fender well. Ouch!!! I thought that swelling would NEVER go down. lol

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 06 Aug 2017, 06:39

I cringed just looking at that picture... Ouch!

tom4342 · Post by **tom4342** » 06 Aug 2017, 07:59

ouch dam dude