2003 S40 oil leak

kmesse · Post by **kmesse** » 16 Jun 2018, 19:22

2003 S40.

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Can someone tell me about this? I took the cover off to change coolant sensor and found oil pooled by spark plugs. No idea where it's coming from or where to start looking.

Kevin

Post by **alschnertz** » 16 Jun 2018, 19:29

Clogged PCV is possible.
Search "glove test" to help with your diagnosis.

jefe · Post by **jefe** » 16 Jun 2018, 21:31

Yea, could be clogged PCV definitely.

I also had this issue with oil pooling up. My PCV was clogged, but the cam seals were leaking along with the exhaust cam sprocket for the timing belt. All that of course lives under the plastic covers for the spark plugs and timing belt and means over time, the oil splattering everywhere on the inside of those covers has to go somewhere. For me, it was on top like yours as well as down the side of the engine and underneath.

Was not a fun clean up job.

kmesse · Post by **kmesse** » 18 Jun 2018, 04:35

Thanks all.

Kaman36 · Post by **Kaman36** » 30 Jun 2018, 15:45

Did you find the oil leak, cause I've got the same problem. Mine seems to be coming from the return on the oil separator but not so sure, I even replaced the vvt solenoid because it was definitely leaking there, but I've still got a leak.

kmesse · Post by **kmesse** » 02 Jul 2018, 06:29

Took it in, he did the pcv thing which was all cruddy.
Remove intake manifold & replace flame trap, hoses & clamps. Replace 2 vacuum elbows.

kmesse · Post by **kmesse** » 09 Aug 2018, 09:41

Well I still get the oil pool in spite of the pcv flame trap replace and all that. Same thing. Digging in and pulling plugs to see what else I can find. More help appreciated. Engine also blowing blue smoke.
Plugs don't have any oil on them. Pooling seems to be towards the passenger side.

kmesse · Post by **kmesse** » 09 Aug 2018, 10:18

jefe wrote: ↑16 Jun 2018, 21:31 Yea, could be clogged PCV definitely.

I also had this issue with oil pooling up. My PCV was clogged, but the cam seals were leaking along with the exhaust cam sprocket for the timing belt. All that of course lives under the plastic covers for the spark plugs and timing belt and means over time, the oil splattering everywhere on the inside of those covers has to go somewhere. For me, it was on top like yours as well as down the side of the engine and underneath.

Was not a fun clean up job.

Jefe I think it's as in your case - looks like around the exhaust cam sprocket. How tough a job is it to replace those seals?

jefe · Post by **jefe** » 09 Aug 2018, 10:48

If you were just doing the seals, it's probably a 4 or 5 on a scale out of 10.

Not that it's tough, just time consuming. In order to change the seals, you have to lock the cams down which requires a special tool. In order to do that, I removed quite a bit of things from the driver side of the engine to access the rear more easily in order to lock the cams down.

I can't remember if I had to raise the engine up slightly on the passenger side in order for the correct tools to fit in the space needed to remove the intake and exhaust cams. If I did, that requires removing the passenger side motor mount.

I would suggest changing the front and rear seals all at once and if your exhaust cam has any oil on it, then it's probably leaking as well. I put my engine back together before realizing my exhaust cam sprocket was leaking too and had to do it all over again.

FYI, for my V40, there is no rear seal for the intake, only the black metal/rubber plug.

kmesse · Post by **kmesse** » 09 Aug 2018, 10:52

sounds like it's beyond my patience and skill level.

It does sound like what it's doing though, would make sense that it would blow smoke.