'94 850T - Sudden Oil Leak at Front / Forward Side of Block

[BlackBart]

Yep. 138k change shows I put in a quality water pump as well.

[BlackBart]

40k is nothing for timing parts. But 12 years is getting up there on the rubber timing belt. It so cheap to replace the belt only, I'd do it for peace of mind and confidently let the rest go until the next interval is up - probably never, in other words.

That's part of my concern. If I sell this to my son's old boss and friend, who is a really good guy but not a car guy I don't think, he probably won't do any future TB work himself, and with a car that cheap, will it get done by a shop?

Trying to do everything I can within a reasonable budget to make this a solid reliable car for many years, assuming it isn't going to get any immediate attention. I won't let him take it home without promising to head directly to the tire shop for new tires. He also gets a set of steel snow wheels, Volvo P80 tools, extra parts, an A/C compressor, etc.

I've cleaned the front side of the engine (again) and I'll wrap some white rags around the oil hose joint and the dipstick tube base, take it to the hardware store and post office for errands, and see what kind of evidence of leaks I find. Fairly sure it's that upper oil hose. I'll clean out PTC - it's easily visible and I just did all the little vac hoses down there, so fairly clean. If it fails the glove test and dipstick puff test then, I'll have to order a new PCV kit...sigh.

The Idle control valve needs a spray of brake cleaner?

[abscate]

Remember Volvo recommend changing the water pump every second belt change. 10 years is max recommended on a belt irrespective of mileage.

Neil.

Just to add some garlic to the pot...

Early P80 timing belt intervals 50-70k
Water pump every second timing belt change so 140 k on the 1996-1998

Except then comes along the mechanical tensioner in mid 1998, and in 1999 the timing belt,interval goes to 105k

So now water pumps are 210k items, except the part number is identical !

Now you know why we 1999s are so smugly superior

(disclaimer, I replaced my T5 water pump at 250k)

[BlackBart]

Just getting broken in at 250! (??)

When I bought this car with 69k, I didn't trust the broker guy I bought it from. I had a pre-purchase inspection done at a Volvo independent in Denver. He didn't do a compression test and I asked why. He said "It's a VOLVO. It only has 70,000 miles. There's no point."

[ZionXIX]

Just getting broken in at 250! (??)

When I bought this car with 69k, I didn't trust the broker guy I bought it from. I had a pre-purchase inspection done at a Volvo independent in Denver. He didn't do a compression test and I asked why. He said "It's a VOLVO. It only has 70,000 miles. There's no point."

I experienced something similar at my indie volvo mechanic. I wanted him to do a compression check on a 2.5L xc90 with 160k on the clock. He said there is rarely ever a compression problem on the 5 cylinder engines.

[BlackBart]

Hmm... After a 2 or 3 mile errand run at slow speeds.....

The rag at the dipstick tube base:

The rag at the oil cooler line union:

[erikv11]

Remember Volvo recommend changing the water pump every second belt change. 10 years is max recommended on a belt irrespective of mileage.

Neil.

Just to add some garlic to the pot...

Early P80 timing belt intervals 50-70k
Water pump every second timing belt change so 140 k on the 1996-1998

Except then comes along the mechanical tensioner in mid 1998, and in 1999 the timing belt,interval goes to 105k

So now water pumps are 210k items, except the part number is identical !

Now you know why we 1999s are so smugly superior

(disclaimer, I replaced my T5 water pump at 250k)

I go 200k on all P80 water pumps.

[ZionXIX]

Have you considered adding a little dye to the oil and letting it idle at night with a UV light and watch where the oil is coming from?

[BlackBart]

Have you considered adding a little dye to the oil and letting it idle at night with a UV light and watch where the oil is coming from?

I've never done that - where do you even find each of those?


Related question - Is there a thermostat in that oil cooler line? Are those lines not under pressure until high engine temps?

[ZionXIX]

Most autoparts stores should have them. Here a link example. https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/int ... /7010040-P

I was not impressed with the UV lights at the part store. I actually found one at harbor freight for $9 that worked very well.

Park the car, add the dye according to the instructions then run the engine. If you had that much leaking after 2-3 miles I would think just idling in the driveway at night would be enough to find that leak. Run that light back and forth until you see bright fluorescent colors leaking.