2001 V70XC - Oil in Spark Plug Well

Post by **xHeart** » 03 Sep 2018, 09:38

I was at 40,000+ miles since the last DIY tuneup. No visible driving issues. Happy motoring family.

However, the spark plug well, cylinder 3, 4, 5 were flooded with oil. This flooding was not there during the pervious tuneup some 40,000 mile ago (2014).

It started fine afterward but the garage got filled with white smoke.
IPD ignition coils over Volvo spark plugs.

Looks and feels normal now, but why oil in spark plug well, our 850 do not have this issue.

Enjoy Labor Day! TIA.

Post by **abscate** » 03 Sep 2018, 14:45

Probably a seep from the oil cap that filled it. Smoke is just oil burning off.

Run it another 100k

Post by **xHeart** » 03 Sep 2018, 18:02

Lol! Am I to replace item 41 Sealing Ring PART NUMBER: 1397525. Does the procedure require removing cylinder head?

Post by **abscate** » 03 Sep 2018, 19:10

I’m guessing part 30first. Much easier, too

Post by **BlackBart** » 03 Sep 2018, 22:03

A second for #30, the rubber seal on the oil cap. These get old and hard and the oil will run across the head, get in the wells, run over the back, and drip down onto the exhaust. I once had this issue on my 850 on a long trip - pulled into a gas station with blue smoke pouring out the wheel wells. Brief panic, realized what was happening, Volvo dealer just happened to be a few blocks away, pulled in and bought an $8 seal. Vacation continued.

Post by **xHeart** » 04 Sep 2018, 13:17

The quantity of fluid suggests it is more than item #30, plus there is no trail and PCV pressure is positive.

Reading VIDA instruction, it is a big job with no previous experince. Assuming it is a sealing ring and requires cylinder head removal:

can it wait few month and being driven 6-8 miles each day?

will be an opportunity to replace seal and gaskets everywhere?

Or just move on with 14,000 shy of 200,000 milestone.

Post by **abscate** » 04 Sep 2018, 13:27

Drive it for a few weeks and see how much oil is in the spark plug wells then.

<10 miles per day, definitely safe - watch oil level weekly

Post by **xHeart** » 04 Sep 2018, 13:33

abscate wrote: ↑04 Sep 2018, 13:27 Drive it for a few weeks and see how much oil is in the spark plug wells then.

<10 miles per day, definitely safe - watch oil level weekly

Oil level at dipstick OR spark plug well OR both?

Post by **BlackBart** » 04 Sep 2018, 18:48

He might mean both, but you want to ensure your engine oil level doesn't drop fast.

If it's the 5 spark plug well o-rings, yes, that's a pretty involved job pulling the upper head - I just finished this and it was a lot of steps. We're all hoping you don't mean no one has looked under the hood for 40,000 miles. It seems odd they would start leaking suddenly, which is why I assumed oil cap. That's worth doing right away for a few bucks - just slides on. Eliminate that possibility.

Post by **BlackBart** » 04 Sep 2018, 19:47

Is there oil in the depressions in the top of the valve cover at 2 3 4? That would imply the oil is coming from above, and running down. If those are all dry, it's coming from somewhere else, which could mean the 0-rings.