850 oil leak and something else?

jinglebuddy · Post by **jinglebuddy** » 25 Mar 2009, 13:00

Hi all,
I seem to lack a brain power to comprehend this thing that's been bugging me, and thought good people out there on this forum may be able to help me.
I have oil leak on 97 850 T5. I can't locate where it's coming from, but it seems to be on the bottom of the engine, close to the trans. So it is possible that the main seal is gone. It doesn't seem to be losing so much oil though, it's a small drip after a highway driving. Sometimes no drips at all after a gentle city driving. I know for the fact that the oil return line on the turbo is leaking (needs the seal). I replaced the PCV a few weeks ago. Before the replacement, there was smoke coming out of the dipstick when the engine was idling, and there was oil leak from intercooler pipe(!), and puffed a smoke from the exhaust. After the PCV replacement, I see no more smoke from the dipstick at idling, no more puff of smoke from exhaust, no more intercooler pipe oil leak, but it's just around the same time I noticed the current oil leak. And I don't know why I did this, while the car was idling (and warmed up) I removed the dipstick, and saw no smoke, and I opened the oil filler cap at the same time, and dipstick started smoking. I put the oil filler cap back on and dipstick stopped smoking. Something is telling me there's something related to all this, but I can't wrap my brain around it. Anybody has any idea? The car runs great, revs clean all the way to red-line without any hesitation. Maybe I can ignore everything, but I'm such an OCD sometimes, and will appreciate your thoughts, opinions, and advices.

drew525 · Post by **drew525** » 25 Mar 2009, 14:43

If you're fairly certain the turbo return line is leaking I would start with that. Its relatively cheap and easy, and they can get much worse than just a few drops.

Craigd2599 · Post by **Craigd2599** » 26 Mar 2009, 07:11

when you took the oil cap off you removed all the vacuum from the pcv system. The smoking dipstick is venting the pressure on the lower end. Once you cap the oil filler the vacuum returns and the smoke is routed to the pcv system

jinglebuddy · Post by **jinglebuddy** » 27 Mar 2009, 14:53

Hi,
Thanks for the replies.
This is how it turned out so far...not very good by the way.
I replaced the seal on the turbo return line, and cleaned everything so I could see where oil is coming from. I guess I have blown the main seal. And now I'm wondering if I screwed up something when I replaced the PCV. I suppose there's no way to test it now, is there? The dipstick does not smoke, but then the pressure is relieved from the main seal anyway. Eh, I really don't know what to do... Feel a bit defeated by this car.

Post by **Pauloil** » 27 Mar 2009, 20:39

put some dye in the oil and get a black light to look at it.
when my rms was leaking, the whole junction bet tranny and the engine lit up.

dono · Post by **dono** » 08 May 2009, 17:23

Smoking dipstick and burning oil on my 1996 850 turbo 2.3L I read many posts here and figured it was the PCV system. I cleaned the output to the air intake with no change. Decided to bring it in for some advise. First guy told my wife 'the leak looks like it is coming form the Turbo - I could put a different oil in and it might help. Pretty much a punt on his part.

I then brought it in to a 'volvo specialist' and he gave it an eye-ball and said probably wear on the engine (rings) and it may go for quite a while longer. He did mention that a PCV system replace might have a 50/50 chance of fixing the problem. Sounded like a much more intelligent reply (at least accounted for the smoke mentioned at both appointments). I like sending my wife cause I kinda get to see whom knows what. Obviously the second reply was more learned. Since the AC is out I am kinda considering finishing the work on my ABS module and rear pads and selling with some straight 30W in the crankcase...

Post by **wheelsup** » 08 May 2009, 17:28

For a thicker oil you could try Rotella 5w40. It's expensive but it's pretty good oil, and heavier. What is the compression? Is it in spec?

A car that burns oil isn't the end of it. My wife's Jetta has been burning a quart every 800 miles and we've had it over 3 years. My 850 leaks oil out of the RMS to the tune of 1/2 quart every 4000-5000 miles. I just put oil in it, and keep a cardboard box under it in the garage.

Jingle it's possible your RMS was quite literally on it's way out when you replaced the PCV system. People who have bad RMS leaks report a 1/2-1 quart per fill up (so ~400 miles). That's pretty bad. I personally would just drive the car. I'm a little (OK, very) OCD about my car too but there are some things that you just can't change, or go back and do over. If it runs well drive it. That's what it's made for. When it goes enjoy the hunt to find another

.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 08 May 2009, 20:11

Check the rear crankshaft seal too...it can leak and it's hardly noticeable from the top but it will leak down almost exactly to where it makes it look like a RMS leak...just look up behond the RMS and see if it's coming from above it- if it is, check under the upper engine torque mount (the round thing w/ a rubber bushing above the engine on the driver's side)...basically you'll see the crankcase sensor (front seal is covered by the rotor and cap) that is a round metallic cover with a wire protruding from it... the seal is under it and it takes no time to change it out.