I have changed the oil in my 850T 6 times. On two occasions, I have found oil all across the back edge of the oil pan, and on all of the oil pan bolt heads about 3" above that back edge. On this occasion, the second, the cross member of the support frame that is about 10" back from this edge also had oil drops all the way across it. The engine oil level was *not* substantially down in 3k of driving.

On other cars, I rarely changed the crush washer and it was never an issue. On the 850, I am wondering if it is crucial. I changed the washer the change before last. The plug did not appear today to be as tight as I tightened it last change. This was also the case the first time I found oil everywhere. Not withstanding my other posts regarding where I buy my oil filters and what oil I use, I would like to hear if others have noted drain plugs that didn't stay tight, new crush washer or not. Also, what torque (approx) do you use?Feel free to box me around the ears if I have been committing a cardinal sin with the washer. Thank you, Don

if you do have leaks again, here is a way to find the source i learned while i was a bike mech. clean the area with a degreaser and let dry. spray suspected area with a white powder anti-persperant to cover surfaces. start and run for a short peroid and check, if no leaks drive a bit and recheck. fresh oil leaks are very easy to spot in the white powder. fix oil leak source and wash off area

Yesterday ok, today maybe not. I do a lot of highway driving, and after a 60 mile trip the oil is there again. Of course all I've done so far is tighten the used washer some more. I may give your system a try to verify where it is coming from. Thanks.

Thanks Marty and MIJ. I have come to the conclusion that Klaus was on the money when he suggested I get a pack of crush washers. I don't believe I have ever had a car with an aluminum crush washer, unless the old beetle had one (long time ago). Marty's comments were interesting, because I have had several cars with copper washers, which I mostly did not replace. I never had a problem. But I have already had two instances on the 850T of the plug loosening up a bit after reusing an aluminum crush washer. Now that I cleaned the pan and retightened the plug, the pan is staying dry (this happened once before). I wonder if the temperature is higher than my other cars due to the turbo, causing the plug to loosen up when reusing the washer. In any event, I think I'll follow Klaus' suggestion and be prepared for my oil changes. Thanks to all you folks for helping me - I have enough issues without creating more.

Good suggestion on the alum. crush washers. Make sure it is aligned when you put it on too...I ran into an aftermarked washer that was slightly larger than the plug and didn't get it on straight...my oil pan hole leaked too until I took the misaligned washer off and replaced it with a new one.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

Hi Donuts...

There seems to be a bit of controversy about oil drain plug gaskets, and the torque for the plug. I really don't see any difference between copper and aluminum washers, and have never had a problem with either one. As far as the torque spec goes, there also seems to be some disagreement as to what is best over the long run. Frankly, I don't torque my drain plug... I tighten it until I feel the washer crushing, then just give it a bit extra.

But are you sure that the drain plug is the source of your oil leak? It sounds to me more like a turbo oil return line o-ring leaking. Have you taken a look where the line goes into the back of the engine to see if that is really the problem? It's quite common, and is a pretty easy three bolt fix, using $6.00 worth of parts (gasket and replacement o-ring).

Wish I could offer more information.

Regards

Marty
'96 855T

Hi Marty,

Lying on my back with head under the engine, I did look up above the seam of the oil pan, at the back of the engine (I am calling the portion most rearward the back), and was interested to see the "back" side of the engine dry (while the entire portion below the seam was wet). During this examination, I noticed what I am fairly sure is the turbo oil line, a metal tube about 3/4" in diameter coming at an angle from the left and slightly forward, going into the block at a downward angle (towards my face). Recalling that the turbo line can leak oil, I put my fingers up there and they came back dry. The seal was replaced at 91K miles. I dried everything off and will check it again soon.

Don

I had an oil leak recently with a crush washer that I did not put on right...it was "off center" and this caused the leak although it was torqued to spec. (25ftlbs), so I torqued it some more and drove it some more but still the leak (couldn't see that the crush washer was off center at the time due to the bolt blocking my view. Finally, last Sat. I drained the oil (only had replaced oil a week earlier) and changed the crush washer and refilled the sump with the oil I had drained (hate to waste good, expensive synthetic oil) and now I have no more leak. On this last torquing, I didn't measure how tight I went with the plug. Instead, I just made sure the washer was on there straight (holding it up with my fingers as I turned the bolt), tightened until the washer was curshed and then gave it a wee bit more.

Really, on these 850's avoid the copper washer. They are too strong and having to crush it go get a good seal will mess your threads up after awhile. The oil pan and its threads are aluminum so it doesn't take much to mess them up. Torquing an already crushed alum. washer is not good either in my opinion. If it seals good again after it's been crushed once, you are lucky. Buy a handful of alum. crush washers, either from the dealer or from www.fcpgroton.com. They're cheap and will keep you from this head ache if nothing else. Buy some Mann filters from them while you're at it too. They are much better for your car than what you've been buying at Wally or K-world.

Last of all, I hope I responded to your actual problem and it's not an oil pan gasket, even though the gasket sounds like it could be the culprit due to the oil on the oil pan threads.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.