14 replies to this topic

[Spatula]

Car: 1995 850Turbo (Sedan)
Mileage: ~118k miles

Back Story:
A week or so ago I noticed that after driving around for a bit and then parking there was a strong smell of oil fuming from the engine bay. I didn't think much of it because I had just taken the car to the Volvo Shop and they did an oil change, it also wasn't leaking oil onto the ground. Well, a few days later I was backing out and saw two or three small oil spots on the ground.

Well, flash forward to yesterday, I was going to wash the oil off of the top of the engine and then see if it leaks again/where it originates from. However, before I left I got the idea to take off the "Volvo 20 Valve" plastic cover and see if any oil had leaked under it.

And now the pictures of the oil leakage...

Pictures:

The plastic cover is off, shows where the oil has pooled:


This is where I think the leak is coming from, I think it is either the actual cap (which I am hoping is the case) or something else (which would make me sad):


Another view:


Questions:
What can I do to clean up the pooled oil? Just use a paper towel to soak it up, the put the plastic cover back on and power wash the rest of it off (some oil is on the plastic cover and some oil is on outter part of the engine on the right side -near the air filter)?

Should I be worried that some oil has seeped into the spark plug area/past the rubber hose thingy?

What is causing this leak? Could it just be that the oil cap is old and not sealing correctly and so when the car runs and is under pressure it leaks out?

[viperman135]

There is a little gasket inside the cap that goes bad after a while. Check that and replace it. I think that you can get the whole cap for like $10 at the dealer. If that does not fix the problem then the leak is coming from that rubber hose next to the cap and you will to work on the PVC system

[ericutexas]

Yep, no big deal. A new $0.50 gasket for the oil cap has worked for me, but people report having more luck changing the entire oil filler cap - it's not expensive. With 118K on your car, though, it sounds like you're due for a PCV service. It's a needlessly overengineered and difficult to service component on our Volvos, but you want to get it done because if your PCV system gets gunked up (as they all do with age), this will create excess pressure in the crankcase (instead of vacuum) and will leak to an RMS failure, which is about a $1K job in itself.

Try taking the engine oil dipstick oil with the motor running after a drive - if you see smoke, this means the PCV is in need of service. It's a do-it-yourself job - set aside about 8 hours if it's your first time; the parts will set you back no more than $150 and there's some write-ups on this site about it.

[eldertec]

New Volvo Oil Filler cap...comes with new gasket.
Fixed my leak!

[MadeInJapan]

Yeah, I replaced my entire cap too....what a difference the tightness is compared to the old cap (harder to tighten down). Just replace the entire cap, and like the previous poster said, a new cap comes with a rubber gasket.

[rp850]

The new cap does make a difference. I think it also helps to periodically change the oil cap gasket every once in a while even with the new cap. Cheap enough...

Yeah, I replaced my entire cap too....what a difference the tightness is compared to the old cap (harder to tighten down). Just replace the entire cap, and like the previous poster said, a new cap comes with a rubber gasket.

[TM850R]

oh boy...I need a new oil cap too. Sounds like I need to work on that PCV as well. ugh...8 hours of this cant be fun.


Anyone know how long it would take a volvo mechanic to do this and the price on it? I may not have the time to actually go about this myself. PVC kit on FCPGroton only costs $130 at the most for a turbo car. $114 for 95+ 850 turbo.

[rp850]

I'd say about 3 hours indy labor to replace the PCV. You may want to replace the knock sensors while everything is apart. FCP has a kit for about $80 I think...

oh boy...I need a new oil cap too. Sounds like I need to work on that PCV as well. ugh...8 hours of this cant be fun.
Anyone know how long it would take a volvo mechanic to do this and the price on it? I may not have the time to actually go about this myself. PVC kit on FCPGroton only costs $130 at the most for a turbo car. $114 for 95+ 850 turbo.

[PullMyFinger]

Hrm, thats EXACTLY what my engine looks like right now after my turbo blew its oil seal and crapped its pants all over the place. Not to alarm you or anything, really...you shouldn't be concerned. I mean, its *probably* just your oil fill cap gasket or pcv like mentioned.

Quick question, did you hear any squeeking coming from your turbo immediatly before this "oil accumulation" ? How about massive amounts of oil blow-by into your intake, accompanied by plenty of black smoke out the tail pipe and lots of oil surrounding your BOV (if you have one).

No? ok, you're good then

[Spatula]

Well here is an update. Replaced just the gasket, and thoroughly cleaned the engine. I put the car up on a lift to check and see if anything else may be leaking, however, nothing was standing out; so I just cleaned off everything and moved on.

Drove the car around and gave it a bit of a work out. Checked the bay, no oil leaking down from the cap.

However, oil seems to be seep up from this point circled in red in the following picture:

This picture is the original one, I've since cleaned up everything, but this was the best view I had that I could show what I was talking about.

edit: I wanted to thank everyone for the suggestion about the filler cap and gasket.

Edited by Spatula, 17 March 2006 - 12:56 AM.

[James100]

Well here is an update. Replaced just the gasket, and thoroughly cleaned the engine. I put the car up on a lift to check and see if anything else may be leaking, however, nothing was standing out; so I just cleaned off everything and moved on.

Drove the car around and gave it a bit of a work out. Checked the bay, no oil leaking down from the cap.

However, oil seems to be seep up from this point circled in red in the following picture:

This picture is the original one, I've since cleaned up everything, but this was the best view I had that I could show what I was talking about.

edit: I wanted to thank everyone for the suggestion about the filler cap and gasket.

You need to replace the oil filler cap ....They already told you that....... $12 at dealer....cheaper online......
But anyway its good you have the desire to fix these problems on your own.

Edited by James100, 17 March 2006 - 01:31 AM.

[Spatula]

You need to replace the oil filler cap ....They already told you that....... $12 at dealer....cheaper online......
But anyway its good you have the desire to fix these problems on your own.

Nono, what I was trying to say is that the filler cap seems to be fine now, and that there are no signs of oil coming from it. I.E; dripping/leaking from under the cap and down the sides. It seems to be coming up from the part circled in red, so coming up from the metal part and then pooling -instead of leaking from under the filler cap, flowing down and pooling.

edit: I just went out and checked it, and after a day of driving around town there is NO sign of any leakage. It would appear that things are fixed. Hopefully things will stay this way.

Edited by Spatula, 17 March 2006 - 01:57 AM.

[ericutexas]

It seems to be coming up from the part circled in red, so coming up from the metal part and then pooling -instead of leaking from under the filler cap, flowing down and pooling.

I know that the metal sleeve right under the filler cap looks like a seaparate part, but it's actually cast into the valve cover, so I don't think it's possible for oil to leak from the circled area. What's probably actually happening (was) the oil was seeping from the seal and pooling where you have circled.

[PullMyFinger]

I believe that oil filler neck is pressed in. It is steel and the upper cam cover is aluminum. I suppose it *could* somehow leak but I've never seen or heard of that being a problem.

[MadeInJapan]

I thought mine was leaking there too but after replacing the cap, the leak stopped.