96 Volvo 850R - oil leak on front side of engine

T64me · Post by **T64me** » 21 Apr 2018, 21:19

I have a 96 850R with around 185,000 miles on it. The PVC was recently replaced. I also replaced the rear cam seals and turbo seals. Now I have a leak at the front of the engine. It looks like it is coming from the oil pressure sending unit. Is that a common failure point?

It is not leaking from the oil cooler (a friend suggested I check this area). It is definitely leaking from the front of the engine and it is leaking a good amount.

Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

Post by **scot850** » 21 Apr 2018, 23:04

What brand of parts did you use for the PCV? I used a kit several years ago supplied by a well known Volvo specialist. The car did about 500km and then started leaking from the front. It was a cheap crap Uro branded hose from the PCV catch tank into the mddle of the front of the block split open. Had to take it all apart again and replace it with a Volvo part.

Neil.

T64me · Post by **T64me** » 21 Apr 2018, 23:20

I used all Volvo PCV parts

T64me · Post by **T64me** » 22 Apr 2018, 08:39

How much oil actually passes through the PCV? What I have is a significant oil leak which is causing a puddle the diameter of a grapefruit when the car is parked. I can't believe that a leak from the new PCV system would cause this much of a leak...

The front side of the engine is as high up as the oil pressure sender.

Post by **scot850** » 22 Apr 2018, 10:09

I have heard of oil pressure senders leaking, but am surprised it would be that amount. I have an illuminated mirror on a stick that I use for this type of issue to try to get a better view of where the leak is coming from. If you can reach the sender can you clean off around it and then see if the oil stain around it re-appears? At the front of the engine there are limited options for oil leaks. PCV leaks can give a fair amount of oil leakage.

1) PCV pipes and catch tank connections (check the pipe to the top of the cylinder head. I had one split on me as well as the other one
I mentioned previously (the one from the side of the catch tank to the middle of the block front (4" J shaped one). Also were all the connections tightened fully or over tightened (can split the end of the pipe)
2) Oil filler cap seal leak (but that usually ends up in the spark plug area)
3) Oil pressure switch

Then there could be a bad seal on an oil filter which I have also had once.

Neil.