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I'm getting an oil drip on the oil pan bolt, but it's not coming from the bolt itself (at least I don't think it is). It seems to be coming from the front of the pan.
Here what I have done (recently).
I replaced the 3 engine seals upfront.
I thoroughly cleaned the oil breather box and replaced it's o-ring/seal.
The front of the oil pan does not appear to be where the leak is coming from, and I haven't as of yet had time to look in the engine compartment yet to see if there's an obvious sign (like I need to re-tighten the breather box).
I'm thinking it could be my oil pan gasket, and I know of the website that has a good how-to on replacing it.
I've driven my car for maybe 100 miles since I finally fixed the OD Solenoid, and breather box, so I don't know if that added extra pressure to something and popped out a bigger hole in a gasket or loose bolt. I just noticed the leak today, and it appeared to be more than before.
I noticed it when I returned to my car after shopping. IF the leak is accurate for how long my car is there, it's worse than before. And I'd be losing a fair amount of oil. I'm going to check it in a few moments to see if it's the same pace.
I'm thinking of looking at these places:
Valve Cover, oil sensor plug (which is currently disconnected), breather box and oil pan gasket.
Any suggestions as to where else I can look?
I might just end up getting one of those kits that lights up with black-light, and shows you were the leak is.
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I had a similar leak for 6 years. Replaced the front engine seals several times, replaced the rear main seal, replaced the oil separator, regularly checked and replaced the flame trap and its associated hoses...all to no avail.
Then I found a mechanic who had worked for Volvo for 20 years, retired and gone into business for himself. This guy can probably fix 240s in his sleep. There is a rectangular plate, for lack of the correct term, that seals the front of the engine block. It's hidden behind the pulleys, timing belt, etc. The crankshaft may run out through it to the harmonic balancer, but I'm not sure of this. Anyway, THAT PLATE on the front of the engine block gets loose and causes oil leaks like you are describing. He tightened that plate down, and re-tightened the oil pan bolts, and I have not had oil leaks since. Also: if you replace the oil separator get the one that Volvo sells. All aftermarket oil separators leak.
For the folks in Massachusetts, it's Robert's Volvolab in North Reading.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Jerry
on
Thu Nov 19 10:35 CST 2009 [ RELATED]
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Question to RFORT - can the rear main oil seal be replaced with the engine in the car or does the engine have to be pulled out?
Thanks
Jerry
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Check Art Benstein's webpage for how to do this...
http://cleanflametrap.com/RMS.html
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so wait, now I have to take off all that stuff again (after I did that like 12 times before)?
Is this the plate that sits above the oil pan in the front, and acts as somewhat of a gasket sorta thing with it?
If that's it, I know that's tight.
I really appreciate any help any and all of you provide. I have class tonight, but I'm free tomorrow to do a spot-check. I'll look for a rectangular plate in the front, and hopefully I have easy access too it.
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I would do a few more things before tearing in one more time,
1) Clean the engine, degrease it, wipe it clean. Get all that old oil off the starter, engine mounts, block, and oil pan.
2) Take the car for a short drive and look for a fresh oil stain. That is the place you need to look at next.
If you still have oil and grease all over the place, you are never going to be able to sort out the leak. I know, I tired more that once to find my nagging leak. An oil leak can run and hide it's real location.
My repeat offender was the breather box, but the oil was dripping off the oil pan nut and blowing back on the transmission. It did not look like a breather box issue at all in fact. But after the starter and the engine was clean, you could see that a new oil sheen was on top of it. Taped and packed a paper towel around the breather box and went for a spin. What do you know, there was oil in the towel and not on the starter.
Clean it up and play a little detective to sort all this out. And don't make my mistake and "ASSUME" that just because you changed it that it's not the leak.
May the oily spot on the driveway not be with you.
Regards,
Paul
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Got hidden thing to check, have you checked the cam seal on the very back side of the engine. It can get pushed out by excess block pressure. Yes I have the oil stained T shirt, but that got me to the BB so it's all good.
Reach your hand around the back side of the valve cover and see you find oil back there. That would run down the block and drip off the pan nut. And it can get spectacular if left untreated. Easy to change, but see if pushing it in a bit slows or stops the leak!
Good Luck,
Paul
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I felt around the back of the valve cover and cam area, and it was oily. I don't know if that's because of loose bolts or not.
I'm not exactly sure what you are suggesting is located.
I think the amount of oil I'm dripping is definitely enough that it'll be going back under the knife soon. I'm not sure if it's a head gasket issue, the issue you're talking about, or a valve cover gasket, or just loose bolts.
But it's dripping from the drain plug AND to the right of it, and down towards 5PM (if the drain plug was the middle of the clock).
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The cam seal is, well it seals the rear of the cam. It is just under the rear of the valve cover on the back top side of the engine. It is a round black seal that prevents oil from leaking out the back of the valve cover. It is possible to have to come completely out and cause a massive oil leak. When you feel a about a 25mm wide disk on your finger tips you have found the cam seal. You can get a slow leak from that area also. There is a cam seal holder on the ipd website that will prevent the seal from popping all the way out.
You can take the valve cover off to replace it and it is an easy job.
Took me a while to find and fix all of Inga's leaks. My repeat offender was the breather box. I finally figured out that the Volvo replacement box did not fit the same and fixed it by putting the cleaned old breather box back on.
Good Luck,
Paul
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