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

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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1998 V70 AWD->FWD Turbo 200k+

also where my car is always parked in the drivewy , ive never noticed spots of oil or anyhting dripping from the car.

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



Whereas a clean oil return line will look like this:


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

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

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

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

There ya go!

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

There ya go!

Sorry for the repost it was going screwy there!