Hi all, I have recently discovered that my distributor (on a 1990 B230FT) has started leaking oil again, and I just rebuilt it about 2 months ago(replacing both the distributor o-rings as well as the shaft seal).

I believe I have heard mention that this is a pseudo-common problem with these distributors, but I am wondering, what could be the primary cause? The engine has less than 2000 miles on it (recently rebuilt), and there should not be anything plugged from old oil (ie. like the flame traps on the NA models).

Now, I am running elevated boost pressures... I ran around 8 psi during engine break in, and no problems, but around 1500 miles on the engine I started gradually turning up the boost, stopping around 12.5 to 13 psi (on colder mornings it runs a bit closer to 13, on warming days it is closer to 12... air density changes I suppose).

Is elevated boost a likely culprit for causing a distributor seal to leak like this? Or is it more likely my home-rebuilt distributor job was a bit less than perfect, and just started leaking for no real extrinsic reason at all?

Thanks!
Gordon
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Two '98-S70s and One '90-745. My First Car: '74 244DL Gone But Remembered!

Which shaft seal did you use? I have repaired a lot of these, and the seal I use has given no trouble. The seal has enough elasticity to absorb considerable shaft movement. What color was the o-ring you used on the distributor base?

Hi John, I used a distributor seal/ring kit that Rick sells at Import Part Specialists (http://www.importpartsspec.com/shop) for just a few dollars (I think it was only $3 or so). It had 2 o-rings (the smaller one for the shaft and the larger one for the housing) as well as the shaft seal (looks like a metal ring with a little coiled spring goinS around the inside). From memory, I believe both of the rings were black. I used a special tool that Dick has for holding the distributor while you knock out the holding pin on the shaft, allowing you to back the shaft out of the mounting plate. We then pried back some of the little metal flanges that hold the metal plate over the seal, and removed the old seal. I then pushed the new seal in (though I seem to remember "pushing" involving the gentle use of a hammer!), and reassembled the whole lot, using some vaseline on the rings. Oh yeah, I have to say, those little fibrous paper washers are a real pain! Broke 2 of them just handling them, and ended up using 2 off of a spare distributor (not yet rebuilt) that was laying around in the workshop.

Things seemed fine for a few weeks, but then I noticed oil on the garage floor, and checked it out again. It is possible I suppose that the leak did indeed start right away, but just took a couple weeks till I noticed.

Do you think the seal, the o-rings, or even those little fibrous paper washers are the most likely suspect? I suppose its also possible (as Chris mentions in one of the other posts in this thread) that this shaft is just worn enough that it is leaking even with a good set of rings and a new seal?

Thanks!
Gordon
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Two '98-S70s and One '90-745. My First Car: '74 244DL Gone But Remembered!

The cause of your oil leak is the black o-ring on the base. I have personal experience with this same o-ring which IPS supplies. On my car I installed a new Bosch distributor base with black IPS o-ring, and the o-ring leaked in less than a year. Volvo upgraded the o-ring material in the 1980s to the green material. The green o-rings are a different material and withstand the heat much better. I like to use the shaft seal which is listed (by me) in the 700/900 FAQ. I have a couple of IPS's shaft seals installed with no leaks, yet.

Do you have a Volvo dealer near you? I need to buy some more of the green o-rings next week, and I can mail you one if you need.

Possible cause is the distributor itself ie: the shaft being worn.