2002 S60 NA Moonweasel - Oil leak behind passenger wheel + coolant spots in engine bay (w/photos)

moonweasel · Post by **moonweasel** » 12 Mar 2018, 18:45

Hey all,

Was checking in on the front suspension/steering parts on my '02 S60 (base trim) and noticed wet fluid on the inner tie rod end boot and the splash guard behind the passenger wheel.

I’m assuming that’s not a grease-filled boot that’s split, but that it's engine oil dripping from above? But I can't quite figure out where from.

Here are a few pics, hoping someone might be able to help give me some ideas of how to track this down…

Looking behind passenger wheel:

Looking down into engine bay (also what is the black stepped kind of thing?):

(Also, the spots: coolant? or perhaps window washer fluid? It’s possible I could have splashed either onto the fan sometime while refilling, and that's why it's all over the engine compartment… I will clean the spots and see if they come back — if they do come back, where should I start with tracking that down?)

And while we're in the bay, just out of curiosity, what are the two things at the top and underneath the hose? They kind of looks like they are supposed to have something connected into them, but maybe just some kind of special fasteners for the insulation…

Post by **jonesg** » 12 Mar 2018, 19:12

Looks like split boot on the c.v or driveshaft.
There's a streak of oil on the top of sub/frame that lines up with the same streak on the steering arm boot.
Get your hands on that boot and see if you can feel a split.

If its oil, not grease , I'd pull the passenger wheel, fold back the wheel liner and look around the oil pump and look at the timing belt.

moonweasel · Post by **moonweasel** » 12 Mar 2018, 20:29

Reporting back: I didn’t have time to take the wheel off before it got dark, but I reached in to feel around the CV boot and the inner tie rod end boot. I couldn’t feel a crack.

I think it’s oil coming from above though, as there is oil on the TOP side of the lower timing belt guard (the black plastic thing I was asking about in the second photo). I pulled the top timing belt cover, there is a very thin layer of oil on the inside of the intake cam sprocket, but otherwise what I could see from up there looked ok, so I’m now beginning to suspect the front crank seal or oil pump gasket. :/

Post by **abscate** » 12 Mar 2018, 21:13

Those nuts are just securing hardware for the firewall padding

I neve r liked the sharp bend in that ABS sensor wire. The insulation fatigue fails on that. Maybe you can ease the angle a bit on that connector ?

moonweasel · Post by **moonweasel** » 12 Mar 2018, 21:22

@abscate, at the top left of the third photo? I'll see if there’s any slack to relieve it when I’m poking around again tomorrow.

Post by **abscate** » 13 Mar 2018, 03:38

Just a bit. You don't want to pull the abs sensor wire out of the clips below because they will touch spinning parts and break. THere isn't a lot of weight on that bend because of that upper clip but that sharp angle doesn't need much

Check your PCV for pressure before you start any seal work. If root cause for leaks is PCV pressure, then new seals will pop again or worse, pop your engine rear main seal. That's only a $5 dollar part, but $1000 in Labour.

moonweasel · Post by **moonweasel** » 13 Mar 2018, 09:46

Yeah, thanks: I did the rubber glove test a month or two back and had suction, but I’ll definitely check again today.

moonweasel · Post by **moonweasel** » 13 Mar 2018, 13:54

Alright, a few updates in the light of day…

I have strong crankcase suction still, so I feel good about the PCV system.

Quick disclaimer before I go any further: I am way overdue for an oil change — I am doing it this weekend, I promise!

And a question: I found fluids in other, unrelated spots (thin layers mostly) and want to ask questions — should I start another thread, or just post those photos here too?

Ok, so for this leak:

I don't know what color the CV grease normally is, so I don't know whether this is axle grease, or badly blackened/congealed engine oil:

As you can see, there are globs/droplets from the timing belt cover and lower belt guard, down to the CV boot, various lines, and down onto the subframe. I don't know whether to interpret as spray downward from the timing belt cover onto everything else, or upwards from the CV boot, collecting on the timing cover and dripping down onto the lower guard (it's getting onto the top of that lower guard one way or another), or something else entirely:

Looking in from behind the passenger wheel:

From around the firewall, looking towards the front and/or right of the car:

Bottom of the CV boot:

Timing belt cover over CV boot:

Looking out towards passenger wheel:

Help me MVS, you're my only hope!

Post by **abscate** » 13 Mar 2018, 14:40

Just post them in this thread, which has been re-named just for you..

#MVSHEART

PS - the House of Moonweasel is awarded +1000 points for asking about thread placement on a Forum.

moonweasel · Post by **moonweasel** » 13 Mar 2018, 14:59

Alright, my very own thread! Can't wait to spend those internet points!

Ok, so in addition to the awful (and fresh-looking) grease or oil leak above (any thoughts?), the following all have some grime/fluid of their own going on underneath…

Transmission:

Power steering pump:

And oil pan:

The oil pan I don't think is an additional leak, the engine oil cooler and back of the block are totally clean: I think this is coming from the main/first leak in the timing area?

The power steering pump maybe needs a new seal — it's localized to the pump itself, there's no fluid on the drive belt.

The tranny is what I'm worried about the most, but I'm not sure what to make of it, it doesn't seem to be super concentrated in one area — could this be the pan gasket just seeping?