15 replies to this topic

[adimichele]

I just bought my first family car, 94 Volvo 850 Turbo. I wanted something safe and reliable for my wife to drive my 6 month old son around in, but I also wanted something I would enjoy driving. No mini-vans for us.

The car has 121,000 miles on it and at first glance, seemed to be in good condition. New tires, new breaks all the way around was a plus.

I put the car up on a lift last night and was very dissappointed. By the time the car was in the air there were 3 drops of oil on the ground, one of which was the size of a dollar bill folded in half length wise.

After I through my hissy fit, I inspected the leak and found it was coming from high on the engine where the tranny and engine meet. I was pretty PO'd and I stopped looking at it. I need to get under there, clean up the mess, and find exactly where the leak is coming from. I'll be doing that tomorrow.

I've done searches on the web and found that this is a common leak. It could be either the cam seals or the rear main seal.

My question is how do I know if it is the Rear Main Seal or the Cam Seals that are leaking?

I've worked on Honda's for roughly 5 years and have done some intense motor swaps, but I'm not a master mechanic. I've never worked on a Volvo and am waiting for my Chilton manual to arrive but am anxious to fix this car and figured I would turn to the boards for some help.

Edited by adimichele, 07 May 2005 - 12:00 AM.

[Bay13]

well the turbo return line is a common leak, and the thing I'd fix first, then clean everything off and see if that takes care of things.

http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/turborepairline.php

For Volvo OEM parts http://www.FCPgroton.com has about the best prices around, certianly beats the dealers.

To answer your bold question. replace the turbo return line seals and clean things up and then wait to see if you got the leak.

[pete0r]

you can also get the parts for the turbo return line fix pretty cheap at the dealership (under 10 bucks for the 2 gaskets)

i'm planning on fixing my leak (as it's gotten worse recently) tomorrow as well.

[adimichele]

I've already purchased the Turbo Return Line gasket/seal kit from IPD. Looking at it on the lift, the leak is coming from the left of the turbo, between the motor and trans. The Turbo return line itself, and where it goes into the block, didn't look that bad. I will be replacing the gaskets, but I do not think that is the source of my problem.

I only put my question in bold in case someone was annoyed I wrote so much...I wanted the question to jump out in case someone was just skimming posts.

Edited by adimichele, 07 May 2005 - 01:32 AM.

[Stamperman]

If you can do engine swap on Honda then you can do a RMS on a 850 no problem. The volvo is easier to work on, just the parts are a lot heavier. I worked on a bunch of VW stuff before and find the 850 much more friendly, even with the turbo.

[Bay13]

I only put my question in bold in case someone was annoyed I wrote so much...I wanted the question to jump out in case someone was just skimming posts.

No problem good idea in fact, gets the correct attention.

[Mesoam]

No mini-vans for us.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO, some one else thinks like me...I despise mini vans

I would bet on the turbo return....As much as people say it is "common" for the RMS to go I don't remember the last person that complained of it leaking excessively

[Stamperman]

[font=Arial][size=1][size=1]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO, some one else thinks like me...I despise mini vans

I would bet on the turbo return....As much as people say it is "common" for the RMS to go I don't remember the last person that complained of it leaking excessively

Mine did. I bought the car used and found it was leaking oil from the RMS. An initial treatment of oil stop leak (mineral oil) helped keep the volume down, but not for long. I was using about 1/4 to 1/2 a quart on the 22 mile drive I have each way to & from work. It was spewing so much that the entire underside of the car was covered, you could smell it on the exhaust and I had to degrease my rear wagon glass/door every two days. The extreme case to be sure, plus I don't know how long the PO drove it with the bad seal.

Edited by Stamperman, 08 May 2005 - 03:59 PM.

[adimichele]

pete0r, did you replace your seal this weekend?

I had the plans to, and I was going to degrease the engine to pinpoint the leak. I didn't get to my plans thanks to mother's day and a suprise visit from mine. I hate it when plans get foiled.

I'm getting a video camera delivered tomorrow. I'll see if I can get some video under the car.

[pete0r]

pete0r, did you replace your seal this weekend?

I had the plans to, and I was going to degrease the engine to pinpoint the leak.  I didn't get to my plans thanks to mother's day and a suprise visit from mine.  I hate it when plans get foiled.

I'm getting a video camera delivered tomorrow.  I'll see if I can get some video under the car.

one of the bolts that you need to remove was rounded on my car. tomorrow i'm taking a dremel to the sucker to get it off.

here's the bolt:



and here's the leak:

Edited by pete0r, 10 May 2005 - 02:31 AM.

[Bay13]

Looks like a science project on your return line.

Out some liquid wrench on the rusted bolt/nut and you should be able to break it loose no problem.

[Mesoam]

w t f is that stuff? Some one try to stop an oil return leak w/ peanut butter?

edit: wow sometimes i can't spell at all

Edited by Mesoam, 10 May 2005 - 03:46 AM.

[kenhoeve]

turbo return line is leaking, somebody get me some caulk! that is f'd.

bummer about the RMS adi, first thing that will come out of an 850 owners mouth to check when buying is that.

[xtonyx]

pete0r..


w the tf?

Edited by xtonyx, 10 May 2005 - 04:21 PM.

[JHEIII874T5M]

hah I tried putting silicone sealant and goop around mine too. It worked perfectly well for a good 5000 miles. Put some more on, good for another 5000 miles. . However, replacing it is pretty easy, just make sure you don't pinch the new o ring putting the tube back in

Edited by JHEIII850Turbo, 10 May 2005 - 04:24 PM.

[merlin390]

if you replace the RMS make sure you replace the front pump seal on the tranny as well as the axle shaft seals. REALLY cheap insurance!

degrease everything you can get oil dye from auto parts stores and a black light to "highlight" it all you will need is 1 or 2 oz.

What does the fluid smell like? (trying to rule out tranny fluid)