2006 XC90 2.5t Oil Leak Advice Needed

CoastalXC90 · Post by **CoastalXC90** » 26 Jan 2024, 06:34

Need advice on oil leak. You can see in the picture that the arrow is pointing to the exact spot the oil is leaking. It's on the bottom of the engine next to the serpentine belt. Does anyone know what this leak is and am I able to drive the car cross country? It leaks very slowly I just have to top it off every month maybe a half quart.

Post by **cn90** » 26 Jan 2024, 07:05

The top culprit is leaking cam seals.

I wrote a detail DIY on cam seals for my 2007 S60 in this forum.
Brand matters, I use only Corteco or Volvo seals.
I also replaced the Exhaust VVT hub at 110K miles.

Post by **erikv11** » 26 Jan 2024, 07:19

With such a slow leak:

- Difficult to be sure of the cause. Cam seals is a good possibility but so is several points in the PCV system, the VVT solenoids, etc. Next step is to trace it up the engine and find the highest point that leaks. Best to clean the engine first and see where the fresh oil shows up initially.

- Yes it is fine to drive it cross country like this if you keep the oil level topped up. Check it every time you add gas, figure out how many miles until you need to add a half quart, that's more useful than knowing how much time it takes with regular usage. You could drive it a very long time like this if necessary and if you keep the oil level up.

Post by **cn90** » 26 Jan 2024, 09:20

A minor leak a drop here and there is not an issue.
You can safely drive long distance.

It is extremely rare to see the cam seal coming out completely. In that case, you will lose a lot of oil.
But I'd not worry about it, just bring extra oil, 2-3 qts in the trunk for long trips.

Post by **ggleavitt** » 26 Jan 2024, 14:24

I've experienced a leaking cam seal from a worn exhaust VVT hub with too much runout. If a seal, the easiest way to see the leak is to pull the front timing cover. Two clips on top, 10mm bolt in the middle. In the meantime, if it's manageable you should be able to drive "as is" and top off the oil as others have noted.

Post by **Krons** » 27 Jan 2024, 05:48

ggleavitt wrote: 26 Jan 2024, 14:24 I've experienced a leaking cam seal from a worn exhaust VVT hub with too much runout. If a seal, the easiest way to see the leak is to pull the front timing cover. Two clips on top, 10mm bolt in the middle. In the meantime, if it's manageable you should be able to drive "as is" and top off the oil as others have noted.

/\ this /\
Pull that top timing cover on the passenger side and see if you find oil residue. If the timing belt is close to due—have the car seals/water pump/tensioner all done at once.

Agree it should be fine to run like that for a while, rare to see a catastrophic failure. Biggest risk would be a belt failure but if tended to relatively soon you should be fine.