Power steering pump leak - o-ring?

[abscate]

Could it be leaking oil from the cylinder head cover? Oil runs in channels there, it’s rare but you can get a leak from the cam cover top.

If your ps level isn’t dropping, I don’t see how the pump can be leaking. It’s really high pressure so it will blow chow quickly.

[scot850]

It is more likely to be the pcv system at the front that is leaking. The pipe that runs to the top of the head at the front likes to split with age and leak along the top there and around the side.

Neil.

[5rivers]

I think Neil is right, there does seem to be some accumulation of oil below the breather - I will have to investigate further.
I did remove the belt tensioner assembly and the pulley makes a lot of noise. Is there a trick to removing the torx bolt/screw that the pulley is held on by? I made a few attempts, but it just does not want to budge. Have it soaking in PB blaster right now.

[5rivers]

I forgot to ask...is there a preferred method of removing the camshaft seal? without marring the inner surface of the camshaft cover where the seal is located? And without removing the camshaft cover? I'm having a tough time getting it to even move in or out.

[abscate]

You can screw a drywall screw into it and pull it out with pliers. Do it in the upper half which never sees any oil.

If you do scratch the seat a bit, a thin film of permeated will seal it up just fine.

[abscate]

Just revisiting your thread to check in.

On the climate system, with the dial in AUT position, the blower won’t come in until the coolant reaches some warm temperature. Volvo spares you the icy cold air blast when you buy the fancy automatic climate control system.

Sounds like your system is working normally.

Delayed blower with climate knob and blower knob both in AUT position is normal.

[5rivers]

Thanks for your feedback on the heating/cooling system operation, Steve. I have noticed that the engine/motor does have to heat up a bit before the blower motor turns on.
I removed the intake manifold and found NO oil leaking from any of the hoses attached to the PCV breather or around the breather unit.
I did notice some wetness below the thermostat housing and wondered if the gasket has broken down to allow some coolant to leak out and when it hits the hot motor, creates the smoke I noticed coming from the rear of the thermostat/housing area.

Regarding the oil covering the top of the alternator, if it is coming from the cylinder head under the camshaft sprocket, it looks like I would need to remove the inner timing belt cover to examine the area further. Are there any screws/bolts holding this cover onto the motor? Does the water pump need to be removed?
Am about to raise the front end a bit more to remove the tire and open up the wheel well liner. Have been able to do a bit more work on the car now that it isn't below 0 degrees F!!

[abscate]

I think the water pump has to come off to get that cover off but the camshaft cover to cylinder head seam should be visible with thst cover in place. I just resealed (thst means , watched Robert spinner reseal) my T5 cover on a 1999 RN motor with the cover and pump in place. ‘

If it’s the cylinder head gasket that is oozing oil. That’s a bigger job and a lot more has to get stripped off.

Will try to send warm photons from downstate