Volvo AWD S70 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 6/2019 S70 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

**Turbo Question** S70 1999

posted by  pickS70 on  Fri Jan 29 14:22 CST 2010
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
last visit: Tue Jun 12 23:38 CST 2012
[RELATED]

I have a '99 S70 AWD which is fitted with the GLT low-pressure turbo.

Ive noticed that between oil changes when i check the dipstick the oil level is low and i need to top off.

Ive had the car checked out by local mechanic, and the report was that the car was "leaking oil through the air duct turbo tube" and they tell me to just replace the turbo altogether. Well im low on cash at the moment and that really isnt an option right now.

Could it be just the turbo drain seals causing the oil level to drop between oil changes??

aside from that the car run perfectly fine, turbo works and boosts like it always does, and there is no blue or black smoke from exhaust under hard acceleration







  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    **Turbo Question** S70 1999

    posted by  pickS70 on  Wed Feb 3 13:29 CST 2010
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Tue Jun 12 23:38 CST 2012
    [RELATED]

    Now im starting to doubt that it is even the turbo at all. My true guess is that the PCV system is probably dirty, and needs to be cleaned. Car has 130,000 miles on it and its time for a cleaning








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    **Turbo Question** S70 1999

    posted by  KlausC on  Fri Jan 29 17:02 CST 2010
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    There is a weep hole in the bottom of the intercooler, by design. As a turbo ages, the seals begin to wear out and some oil vapor passes into the air intake side. This is perfectly normal and does not mean that the turbo is about to die.

    Sure, you could have the seals replaced, but that costs more than an occasional quart of oil. When you start having dollar bill size puddles from the weep hole, it will be time to get the turbo worked on.

    The turbo oil drain leak is very common, but that oil drips down from the outside of the turbo and spatters on the ground directly under the engine. That is an easy fix and fairly cheap. It is DIY, if you have a good torx driver.

    Klaus
    --
    Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      **Turbo Question** S70 1999

      posted by  pickS70 on  Fri Jan 29 17:22 CST 2010
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Tue Jun 12 23:38 CST 2012
      [RELATED]

      so is it the oil drain i need to have replaced or the seals?

      and what would an estimate be to have that (those) fixed?








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

        **Turbo Question** S70 1999

        posted by  KlausC on  Sun Jan 31 17:08 CST 2010
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
        [RELATED]

        The oil drain for the turbo is a metal pipe. It is the $5 seal and O ring that are replaced. Figure for 1/2 hour mechanics time, 1 hour for DIY.

        Because of the different prices around the country for service, it is best to call a good indie that knows 850/70s. Dealers usually charge $100+.

        Klaus
        --
        Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.








        •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

          **Turbo Question** S70 1999

          posted by  pickS70 on  Mon Feb 1 01:21 CST 2010
          Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
          last visit: Tue Jun 12 23:38 CST 2012
          [RELATED]

          thanks Klaus. im thinking thats what has to be replaced. like i said it barely uses oil between oil changes, but just enough to have to top it off








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

        **Turbo Question** S70 1999

        posted by  jablackburn on  Sat Jan 30 19:45 CST 2010
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Thu Jan 20 10:56 CST 2011
        [RELATED]

        Have you checked the PCV system for pressure? Pull out the dipstick with the engine warmed up and idling and see if you notice smoke coming out of it. A clogged PCV system will push oil out the seals of the engine, either at the oil filler cap, cam seals, or (worst of all) the rear main seal. That's what the oil all over the turbo in my picture with the non-leaking return line is from.

        If that's your case, flooring it only makes it push more oil out the seals =) Any time I revved above 3, I smelled burning oil when my RMS was dying.








        •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

          **Turbo Question** S70 1999

          posted by  pickS70 on  Sun Jan 31 13:28 CST 2010
          Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
          last visit: Tue Jun 12 23:38 CST 2012
          [RELATED]

          havent had the PCV pressure checked (i dont think) but i remeber asking someone to check my rear main seal and the mechanic said it was fine.

          im really thinking its the oil return line that went bad.








          •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

            **Turbo Question** S70 1999

            posted by  jadnhm on  Mon Feb 1 01:06 CST 2010
            Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
            last visit: Tue May 22 18:03 CST 2012
            [RELATED]

            It's hard to think how anyone would 'check' your RMS without $1000 worth of labour to split the engine/trans. Maybe they looked at the weep hole and saw no oil?

            I hope you didn't pay for someone to do this. If he told you he checked the RMS I'd say he lied.

            --
            1998 V70 AWD->FWD Turbo 200k+








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

        **Turbo Question** S70 1999

        posted by  jablackburn on  Fri Jan 29 18:18 CST 2010
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Thu Jan 20 10:56 CST 2011
        [RELATED]

        I don't know from your mechanic's response. Crawl up under the car and have a look around for yourself at the very back of the engine. A turbo oil return line that needs replacing will look like the photo below

        Photobucket

        Whereas a clean oil return line will look like this:
        Photobucket

        AH HAH! I finally figured out how to put more than 1 picture on Brickboard!








        •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

          **Turbo Question** S70 1999

          posted by  pickS70 on  Sat Jan 30 02:49 CST 2010
          Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
          last visit: Tue Jun 12 23:38 CST 2012
          [RELATED]

          thank you for the pictures.

          my other question is... whatever is wrong with it, would the way im driving the car affect it. Light driving vs more harder driving








          •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

            **Turbo Question** S70 1999

            posted by  KlausC on  Sat Jan 30 05:17 CST 2010
            Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
            last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
            [RELATED]

            The turbo oil drain seal will leak regardless of driving style and is fairly easy to fix.

            The intercooler weep hole will leak more when the turbo is at full boost, 3/4 or more throttle. Remember, the weep hole drips condensed oil only while the car is being driven, not at idle. I managed to "cure" the drop of oil on the garage floor by drilling a 1 inch hole in the air guide directly below the weep hole, allowing the oil to drip on the highway and not collect on the air guide to drip later.

            If you google volvo turbo repair you will find this fun video:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmZ5fpfDCB4

            Unfortunately, I lost/forgot the link to a great pictorial showing step by step turbo seal repair. I think it was a UK site.

            Klaus
            --
            Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.