Decided to do the right thing and replace both the cam and crank seal while doing the water pump and timing belt. Needless to say, now I need to determine where the front oil leak is originating from.
After destroying the FCP Groton Crankshaft seal during my first installation attempt, I eventually managed to replace the crankseal with an OEM volvo seal. Hopefully it wasn't inserted too far (approx. the thickness of a halfdollar). The FPC Groton cam seal installed easily, although I had to emery out some light scratches I inflicted while removing the old seal.
Recently {two mounths after the fact} I have began to notice that the car is using a little oil, leaving a greasy film on the back wagon window and a foul smell comimg from oil burning off the catalytic converter. This becomes particularly apparent after high speed and/or extended trips.
The oil is leaking out of the passenger side of the skid pan drainhole as well as blowing out of the back of the skid pan. The oil is NOT dripping directly underneath the timimg covers on to the front of the skid pan so I suspect that the oil is being blown back mostly at highway speed.
It is also possible that I damaged the oil pan gasket when I removed the front 12mm oil pan bolts during the belt and seal replacement.
The car has never used any oil except for the 1.5 qts it has used in the last 2,000 miles.
How do I locate this leak? Can it be done by just removing the top timing belt cover? Are there any other procedures short of stripping the front of the motor down to determine the leaks source?
Everyone have a happy new year...