V40 01' serious oil leak

[Alexjansen]

Helloil !

This time I'll be asking about an oil leak problem. I wrote "serious" because it is actually leaking quite a lot.
Here is what is to know about the car:

- I got it with a failed turbo, and replaced it myself with a new one, which is working perfectly fine (I drove the car 500km back home without the least problem, and full power is restored)

- I haven't serviced the car yet

- There is no particular smoke when driving

- I have trouble measuring oil level, and right after replacing the turbo I put some extra oil in, and did it again a few days ago. The oil gauge is not the plastic-made original one, this one is a metal one and look at the weird result I got when checking oil level:


2 options:
- 1: this oil gauge is a bitch and I need to get an original plastic one
- 2: OMG the engine is nearly dry, I can't believe I can drive the car smooth with such a low level

Knowing this, here is what I could see when quick-checking the engine today.

1: the oil feed pipe seems to be leaking


I noticed that there is some play when moving the pipe sidewards. The bolts seem tight though.

2: here's where most of the fluid is dripping


I suspected the oil was dripping from the return pipe of the turbo, but I don't think so. The oil feed pipe looks like it's leaking though, do you think it can be the guilty one ? can so much oil come from there only ?

Also, regarding the trouble with the oil gauge. Could the engine be simply overfed with oil, causing the turbo to leak ?

thanks a lot !

[V40DSchariot]

I would say you need the original type oil dipstick.
Is this dipstick in the oil fill pipe?
If you overfill with oil the increase in oil pressure would force oil past the piston rings increasing engine wear.
That does'nt sound good with sideways movement of the oil feed pipe to the turbo, are you missing a olive, o-ring or washer or have you inadvertantly fractured the pipe?

[Alexjansen]

I would say you need the original type oil dipstick.
Is this dipstick in the oil fill pipe?

Yes it is the one in place.

That does'nt sound good with sideways movement of the oil feed pipe to the turbo, are you missing a olive, o-ring or washer or have you inadvertantly fractured the pipe?

Well I think nothing is missing, otherwise I should have seen it when I changed the turbo... but I should check it again. When I say it moves sideways, it's only when you wiggle it, otherwise it doesn't move. Is it supposed to be rock still ?

[V40DSchariot]

I would say it has to be solid. When you wiggle it, you might be able to tell if it's solid, (in that it naturally has slight movement) or if it's unnatural movement, (that it should'nt be like that). Any movement that should'nt be there will allow oil to leak when under pressure.
When you changed the turbo, was the oil feed pipe changed or did you use your old one? If a new one was used put the old one at side of the new to see if there's any difference.

[Alexjansen]

I left the old one, it looked OK to me.

I made a short video so you can see how it moves and how it is oily
http://ahp.li/58485f9e5573537d253b.mp4

Does it look normal to you or is there excessive play ?

[V40DSchariot]

No the pipe should'nt move like that.
Either your missing something, it's not tightened adequately or the pipe is fractured.

[Alexjansen]

Thanks, that's what I thought...
At least I've got somewhere to go now, so:

1. check the oil pipe and replace it if needed
2. find a genuine oil dipstick (that is going to be VERY, VERY hard. Even on ebay I couldn't find one)

Any other idea on the problem ?

[Cornishv40]

Originally Posted by Alexjansen

I left the old one, it looked OK to me.

I made a short video so you can see how it moves and how it is oily
http://ahp.li/58485f9e5573537d253b.mp4

Does it look normal to you or is there excessive play ?

excessive play, yes, it looks like it, did you remove the bolt that fixes the pipe bracket to the manifold? also what colour is your dipstick cap.. black or yellow?

[Alexjansen]

Yes I removed the bolt. Does it change something ?
The dipstick cap is black

[Cornishv40]

Originally Posted by Alexjansen

Yes I removed the bolt. Does it change something ?
The dipstick cap is black

Nope, some people leave bolts of when replacing a turbo..

I asked what colour dipstick you had because people have used Renault ones (yellow) and I have tried one being metal, and it was shorter.. if yours a genuine Volvo metal one, great, avoid getting a plastic one, they go brittle and snap off.