OIL! Help please....

yragyrag90 · Feb 11th, 2011, 13:36

Ok, dropped my girlfriend in to work today. As I was getting out, she mentioned that the bonnet was 'smoking'. 'Ah, that's just steam from the damp' I said. And off we went.
When I returned to the car though, there was a fair amount of floating oil (angel's blood, rainbow puddles) under where the car had been parked.
At home I could actually re-trace my route by following the drops of oil on the road. So it's seems a fairly significant leak.

Checking the engine, there is, and always has been, a fair amount of oil towards the rear underside. Nothing is oily up on top.
Looking underneath, just a quick look as it was really wet today, and the oil seems to be dropping from the bottom of... Er, is it called the 'bell housing'? But I don't think that's where it's coming from.
There is oil smoking from the rear underside of the engine.
If this is the engine, the smoke is here*.
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__front___

I'll upload some pictures in a bit. My mechanical knowledge is nil.

As always, thanks.

yragyrag90 · Feb 11th, 2011, 14:03

Ok... A couple of pictures to try to show what's going on.

I've just popped out to have another look, it seems to only be leaking under pressure, when the engine is running and hot.

If more or better photos would help let me know. It was wet and they were taken in a bit of a rush.

wooble · Feb 11th, 2011, 14:20

From the photos you've posted, it looks like you're leaking oil from the rocker cover gasket. A very quick and simple job to replace, just undo the 10 10mm nuts holding the rocker cover down, lift the cover off, remove/clean up the remnants of the old gasket, and refit new, adding some hylomar or silicone 'instant gasket' at the corners of the cam bearings to prevent seepage. It's a 10-minute job, my mum could do it. The gasket costs a few £ from partsforvolvos and probably about a fiver from volvo.

It's not an URGENT replacement, i.e. the engine won't blow up if it's leaking oil here, but keep a close eye on the oil level to make sure you don't run low. It's probably not leaking as much as it appears, a little bit of oil goes a LONG way when it comes to making a mess. When my oil cap popped off about 6 months ago, I lost about a quarter litre of oil (our cars hold 4 litres), but it was enough to coat most of the engine bay, underside of the car, and the tailgate in oil, and leave oil drips everywhere for days.

yragyrag90 · Feb 11th, 2011, 14:23

You beauty. Just the news I was hoping for...
I'll give that a look, I may need your mum's help though. Ha, I truly am useless... But as has been said before, one step at a time.

Will check this out over the weekend. Hopefully it'll be a cheap quick fix.

stevo48 · Feb 11th, 2011, 14:24

There is oil on the exhaust manifold which would explain the smoke, is oil getting past the filler cap rubber seal?
The seal is known to get hard with age and then it allows oil to get past when the engine is running.
just realised , 200 series, could well be rocker cover gasket.

honestjoe · Feb 11th, 2011, 18:19

Hi..be sure to also check your engine is not also pressurizing..check the crank ventilation system..my old 360 blew out the cam shaft seal..I thought the motor was on fire!!..hj.

yragyrag90 · Feb 11th, 2011, 18:34

Crank ventilation system? What am I looking for in that?

Ragamuffin · Feb 11th, 2011, 18:38

A blockage of black crud!

Feb 11th, 2011, 13:36	#1
yragyrag90 Senior Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2019 20:45 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Newcastle	OIL! Help please.... Ok, dropped my girlfriend in to work today. As I was getting out, she mentioned that the bonnet was 'smoking'. 'Ah, that's just steam from the damp' I said. And off we went. When I returned to the car though, there was a fair amount of floating oil (angel's blood, rainbow puddles) under where the car had been parked. At home I could actually re-trace my route by following the drops of oil on the road. So it's seems a fairly significant leak. Checking the engine, there is, and always has been, a fair amount of oil towards the rear underside. Nothing is oily up on top. Looking underneath, just a quick look as it was really wet today, and the oil seems to be dropping from the bottom of... Er, is it called the 'bell housing'? But I don't think that's where it's coming from. There is oil smoking from the rear underside of the engine. If this is the engine, the smoke is here. . -[][]- -[][]- . -[][]- . -[][]- __front___ I'll upload some pictures in a bit. My mechanical knowledge is nil. As always, thanks.

Feb 11th, 2011, 14:20	#3
wooble Stay gold baby! Last Online: Jul 24th, 2022 16:15 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bristol	From the photos you've posted, it looks like you're leaking oil from the rocker cover gasket. A very quick and simple job to replace, just undo the 10 10mm nuts holding the rocker cover down, lift the cover off, remove/clean up the remnants of the old gasket, and refit new, adding some hylomar or silicone 'instant gasket' at the corners of the cam bearings to prevent seepage. It's a 10-minute job, my mum could do it. The gasket costs a few £ from partsforvolvos and probably about a fiver from volvo. It's not an URGENT replacement, i.e. the engine won't blow up if it's leaking oil here, but keep a close eye on the oil level to make sure you don't run low. It's probably not leaking as much as it appears, a little bit of oil goes a LONG way when it comes to making a mess. When my oil cap popped off about 6 months ago, I lost about a quarter litre of oil (our cars hold 4 litres), but it was enough to coat most of the engine bay, underside of the car, and the tailgate in oil, and leave oil drips everywhere for days. Last edited by wooble; Feb 11th, 2011 at 14:25.

Feb 11th, 2011, 14:24	#5
stevo48 Premier Member Last Online: Jul 9th, 2020 20:08 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Halifax West yorkshire	There is oil on the exhaust manifold which would explain the smoke, is oil getting past the filler cap rubber seal? The seal is known to get hard with age and then it allows oil to get past when the engine is running. just realised , 200 series, could well be rocker cover gasket. Last edited by stevo48; Feb 11th, 2011 at 14:26.

Feb 11th, 2011, 18:38	#8
Ragamuffin Master Member Last Online: Mar 3rd, 2011 16:54 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Usually at a petrol station in Worcester.	A blockage of black crud! __________________ Laugh? I nearly bought one!

Feb 11th, 2011, 14:23	#4
yragyrag90 Senior Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2019 20:45 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Newcastle	You beauty. Just the news I was hoping for... I'll give that a look, I may need your mum's help though. Ha, I truly am useless... But as has been said before, one step at a time. Will check this out over the weekend. Hopefully it'll be a cheap quick fix.

Feb 11th, 2011, 18:19	#6
honestjoe MY 240 DRIVES ME! Last Online: Yesterday 05:55 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ashford kent View Photos By: honestjoe	Hi..be sure to also check your engine is not also pressurizing..check the crank ventilation system..my old 360 blew out the cam shaft seal..I thought the motor was on fire!!..hj.

Feb 11th, 2011, 18:34	#7
yragyrag90 Senior Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2019 20:45 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Newcastle	Crank ventilation system? What am I looking for in that?

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