I recently did the pvc repair on a 94 850 non turbo. I did find several blockages, mainly at the engine & near the flame trap. However now instead of a few drips of oil I'm beginning to look like the BP oil spill. Any idea why an oil leak would get worse after this repair? Help!!

Of the two hoses coming out of the top of the oil separator box, the one closest to the engine block goes to the valve cover. Check the routing while the engine is cold and off.

Klaus
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Why are Volvos so endearing? Its just a car.

The hose routing is correct (best I can tell w/o removing the intake manifold again). I haven't had a chance to jack the car up & look closer for the oil leak. In general there is more oil on the drivers side of the engine. I've got a bad feeling it may be the rear main seal?

Using a paper towel, check under the rear cam seal for leaking.

Then check the vacuum tree for leaks. Did you replace the small vacuum line from the PCV to the tree? It might be clogged.

Klaus
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Why are Volvos so endearing? Its just a car.

Well I got a chance to peer about under the car today & things don't look good! Oil mainly on the drivers side from the engine to the rear of the car. I did recheck the vacuum tee & I had replaced the small hose that you mentioned Klaus.
Has anyone else had their oil leaks get worse after doing the pvc repair?

Have you checked below the oil separator box? Wonder if you missed a connection there where the oil should drain back into the block. Also check for puffing out of the oil filler tube (dipstick out) with the engine running to see if there is a pressure build-up from some plumbing error. If you do have pressure, you've got a problem with the installation. If no pressure, suspect a missing clamp on the oil return.

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'96 850 and '83 244 DL both at about 200K; gone but not forgotten '81 245 and '64 Amazon

Oddly enough the area around the separator box is one of the few areas not covered in oil. I also think the pvc repair worked as planned. I had a slight puffing at the dipstick before that is not there now. The theory I'm starting to develop: before the repair the engine pressure was forcing the seals out & causing them to leak. Now that the repair is done & seems to be working the force on the seals has been reversed. Don't know if there is logic to this argument or not. Currently all the seals are leaking to some degree with the main leak coming from the rear main seal. Thanks for everyones help,I need it! Jim.

Hmmm, one last thought: if your theory is correct (and it sounds plausible to me), and you haven't been running synthetic oil, it could be that the seals are now trying to seal against accumulated grunge on the shafts, and an AutoRx treatment might cure the problem (if you can stand to drive it like this for another 1,000 miles). On the other hand, if you have been using synthetic oil, it probably wouldn't do any good.

I hope this is not like my Toyota truck. I had to replace the front main seal that was leaking badly. Instructions were guite explicit about not seating the new seal in all the way lest the new seal ride in the groove in the shaft worn by the old seal!
--Bud

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'96 850 and '83 244 DL both at about 200K; gone but not forgotten '81 245 and '64 Amazon

I never went the synthetic oil route, maybe I should have! While I was under there surveying the damage I went ahead & changed the oil (what was left of it). I used a Castrol high mileage oil & dumped in one of the miracle engine stop leak products. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but not getting my hopes up. Haven't driven the car enough yet to see any results, I'll keep you posted, Jim.