Oil Pump Leak? Topic is solved

XC70Rider · Post by **XC70Rider** » 27 Nov 2018, 19:14

Trying to determine the cause of this oil leak. Being on the bottom front side of engine it's hard to view.

Here is a picture from the bottom right side of engine. In the bottom of the picture is the right drive shaft. The CV boot was covered in oil. The boot isn't cracked so it's just engine oil.

This picture is from the bottom left side of engine facing the radiator.

This picture is from above pointing down towards the crankshaft pulley. The surrounding oil is from a previous PS hose leak. The PS pulley was covered in oil and the return hose looks brand new.

While searching I've found the oil pump gasket usually doesn't start leaking until ~200k miles. My 2007 XC70 only has 126k miles. I presume the cause was the PCV being clogged for a good amount of time before I got her. The PCV was cleaned before I got her but there was crud on each end of the 2 inercooler pipes. Even the pipe connected to the ETM had crud left on it. The mechanic didn't bother to clean the pipes while doing the PCV.

If this is the oil pump leaking then I'll throw in a new gasket while doing the timing belt, water pump and such which I plan on doing within the next month. It appears the oil pump is located behind the crankshaft pulley?

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 27 Nov 2018, 19:52

No seal is perfect, there is going to be some seepage.

I would power wash the engine clean and determine if it is a leak or 126K miles of seepage before I did anything. Some trace dye in the engine oil and a UV light would enable you to trace the oil back to the source.

XC70Rider · Post by **XC70Rider** » 27 Nov 2018, 20:04

It must be a slow leak because I never lost oil between the 3 oil changes I've done. Being so dirty it's been collecting for quite some time.

I did scrub off as much as I could from below. To clean it fully and determine the cause I'll need to remove the right wheel, the splash shield, and the bottom timing belt cover.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 27 Nov 2018, 20:13

First thing to do with any seal leak is make sure the system does not have positive pressure. Positive pressure will cause leaks, but removing the pressure will stop the leak in most cases. So start by cleaning up your PCV system and making sure it is functioning properly. Then clean everything up and watch and wait.

As to your questions on the oil pump seal. One can get by usually with just changing the seal, but until you have the harmonic balancer off and can get a good luck it is hard to tell if the seal and/or gasket is leaking. Yes it is located behind pulley which is behind harmonic balancer.

If you are adventurous I would tell you to drop the oil pan, make sure all the PCV crud is cleaned up and replace you oil-pan orings while in there. Parts are under $20, it is not difficult, but it is not very fun and it is messy.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 27 Nov 2018, 22:41

Car wash with a undercarriage cleaning cycle

XC70Rider · Post by **XC70Rider** » 28 Nov 2018, 07:23

Hi Herman,

As mentioned in my first post the PCV was cleaned before I got her last May. I gave it the glove test before the purchase and it got sucked in strongly. The oil trap, snorkel hose to header, and fat elbow hose to block are all new. I removed the intake pipe and saw the PTC was also cleaned. Also dropped the ETM and that was cleaned as well.

SuperHerman wrote: ↑27 Nov 2018, 20:13 First thing to do with any seal leak is make sure the system does not have positive pressure. Positive pressure will cause leaks, but removing the pressure will stop the leak in most cases. So start by cleaning up your PCV system and making sure it is functioning properly. Then clean everything up and watch and wait.

As to your questions on the oil pump seal. One can get by usually with just changing the seal, but until you have the harmonic balancer off and can get a good luck it is hard to tell if the seal and/or gasket is leaking. Yes it is located behind pulley which is behind harmonic balancer.

If you are adventurous I would tell you to drop the oil pan, make sure all the PCV crud is cleaned up and replace you oil-pan orings while in there. Parts are under $20, it is not difficult, but it is not very fun and it is messy.

You predict that with a cleaned PCV system a seal leak could stop? I haven't noticed any oil loss between the oil changes I've done.

Since I will be removing the crank pulley to do the timing belt I might as throw in a new Oil Pump Seal Kit. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... lvo-274260. They cost only $23 at FCP.

Thank you,

John

XC70Rider · Post by **XC70Rider** » 28 Nov 2018, 07:29

I've read members getting instructions through VIDA. I want to get some tips on installing this seal kit. To get VIDA instructions do I need to have the DICE hooked to the OBDII while the wagon is running? If I leave the key in POS 2 it will drain the battery.

Post by **BlackBart** » 28 Nov 2018, 08:41

Is it possible it’s a cam seal and running down and blowing all over the bottom of the engine?

XC70Rider · Post by **XC70Rider** » 28 Nov 2018, 08:59

BlackBart wrote: ↑28 Nov 2018, 08:41 Is it possible it’s a cam seal and running down and blowing all over the bottom of the engine?

When I removed the top timing cover there was no oil leaking up there. The leak is coming form the bottom front side of engine. I'll need to remove the bottom timing cover to determine the actual leak.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 28 Nov 2018, 16:33

Two topics: 1) Positive pressure and seals. Basically the seals we are discussing (crank and/or cam) are a pliable material that encircle the crank and/or cam. Most seals have a circular spring that keeps the force on the contact region of the crank and/or cam. Some newer seals have a different pliable material that is springless. The amount of force the pliable material exerts has to be just right, too much and it will wear rapidly and/or wear the crank and/or cam, but too little and it will allow oil or another fluid to pass by causing a leak. Seals will leak if they are not "square' when installed, the pliable material is no longer pliable (age and heat), the seal is the wrong size and/or type (cannot properly encircle), the seal is worn (use, age and/or heat), the seal is damaged (something hit it breaching the seal), the seal wore a groove into the cam and/or crank or the positive pressure from the inside of the seal (whether coolant, oil or air pressure) pushes the seal so it cannot properly encircle the cam and/or camshaft (and of course all of the above or a combination).

Seal life depends on application, quality, environment - but generally seals have a life usage estimate. Oil pump seals usually last a long time as do cam shaft seals. I have read people getting over 200k on them. But I have seen people get leaky seals at 100k. Never know. But before replacing a seal the PCV system should be eliminated as a cause because if the replacement seal doesn't leak another seal will start - the positive pressure is pushing the seal outwards. Remove the pressure and the seal can do its job.

As to your second question. You do not need to have a Dice reader to pull up instructions in VIDA. So if you do some searching you can download VIDA get it up and running. From there just manually type in your VIN or vehicle specs and pull up what you need. If you want to communicate with the vehicle you will need the DICE unit.