Prior post - Major oil leak passenger side - loaded up with oil, and am pretty sure I found it. Cam seal appears to be partially blown out. Oil was streaming from underneath it. And also the seal is pushed out on one side. See picture. Assuming pressure build up from 190k mile clogged crank vent system - flame trap. How hard is this to replace? Anyone with experience. And should I do both? Plan on replacing entire PCV system in the process.

DIYable? Yes. Skill level? 4. Replace both? Depends.

The PCV system is completely separate, do this as two different jobs. First is cam seal. Your car probably has a VVT on the exhaust cam, that raises the difficulty exponentionally and also requires a cam locking tool on the rear end of the engine.

I would do just the easy one, along with a new Tbelt, tensioner and pulleys, Sbelt as it is oiled as well.

Line up the 3 timing marks. Clean the cam gear. Paint the 3 bolts that hold down the cam gear - the gear has oblong holes and needs to be put back exactly as before- the paint is to mark the bolt head positions.

Cam seals for the front are cheap. Tapping them in with a large socket, just be careful that you don't tap them in too far.

Take the belt off after the 3 bolts have been loosened, but not loose! 1/4 turn is just fine. Remove the Tbelt. R&R the seal. Put the gear back in its original location. Torque to spec.

Finish the Tbelt job.

Then think about the PCV...
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Thank you both - I was going to purchase the cam lock tool and do both fronts seals - but like the tap back in option. Also concerned that not doing PCV is just going to cause it to pop out again.

Am thinking of biting bullet and doing seals, timing belt, s-belt and PVC and water pump.

Only mystery now is that piece of gasket found - see earlier post. Looks like water pump. Yet no loss of coolant.

Also noticed little hole viewable on the water pump. Was wondering if that had a plug in it that blew out or if it supposed to have the open hole in it.

thoughts?

Nice pic of water pump: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-engine-water-pump-5-cylinder-engines-2

Sure does look like your gasket. Not sure of the hole you are speaking of.

You WILL need a new timing belt and S belt. They are covered in oil which is a bad thing. A new Tbelt requires a new tensioner and probably a new roller.

Tapping in the cam seal might work...??? Depends on how bad the back side of the seal looks, which you can't see of course.

If you replace just the one seal, a cam locking tool is not needed. It will not rotate much as the valve springs are very hard to depress. You will notice that when the belt is off, the gear will only move a little - like 2-4 teeth.
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Klaus, Just a quick thank you for your help and confidence boost.

Two days of work - Loong weekend. A lot on the car.
- PCV overhaul - lower port to block - 90percent Clogged
- PTC-cleaned
- Rear Cam Seals - Intake side was missing - odd and there was a lot of oil)
- Front intake cam seal (Leaking one), VVT side didn't look like it was leaking and couldn't figure out how to take it off
- Water pump
- Timing belt, tensioner and pull
- Serpentine Belt
- Oil change

My wife thanks you as well.
Best, James

Next weekend, replace the rear cam seal for the intake. It is not missing, that is a cover plate where the distributer used to be. The cover plate gets mangled when you force it off, so you will need a new one to make it look nice.

Good job! You were busy! Time for a case of beer for you and a bottle of wine for the MRS.

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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Sorry - didn't explain right in my thx. I ended up replacing the rear intake. Had the Volvo kit from FCP that included all four seals - and the caps.

The only one I didn't replace was the front exhaust seal. That had the VVT hub on it, and I didn't have instructions on how to remove. Fingers crossed that between the PCV overhaul and no signs of big leak on that one, I'm ok for a while.
Have to move on to Struts (done many times on my cars) next weekend.
Trying to extend the life beyond the current 190k.
Any other recommends, by all means share.

Passed up the case for J-Walker scotch at the finish line last night.

Best.
James

I've not had this issue on my 850, but have had the clogged PCV. I'll throw out 2 suggestions, one of which I know works.

Leave he dipstick up a bit to vent the system, it works and bought me some time till I fixed the system.

Second, can you carefully tap the seal back in using a socket or small piece of hardwood, you many need to rotate engine by hand a bit to get all around it.

This could buy you some time with the dip stick pulled up a bit. I'll bet the seal with go right back in pretty easy, had it happen on an old VW once. Mike

Interesting solutions - for a temporary fix.
May give one/both a try.
And on the PCV system was wondering how hard that is. Going to check on diy.
thx for all your help.
jk