XC70: Engine Oil sump leaking

[Dav70xc]

Hello, I have owned my V70XC 2.4T AWD for 17 years, full service history. Just recently I noticed spots of oil on the garage floor. The local garage (in Finland) inspected the car and told me that the engine oil sump gasket is leaking. The garage informed me that to replace the sump gasket they will have to take out the engine, is this correct? If correct then are there other gaskets/ oil seals worth changing at the same time?
Dav70xc

[Model flyer]

Very unlikely to be the sump gasket unless its been disturbed recently. Check the sump bolts and make sure hey are snug but don't over-tighten them If that works then fine . The rear Oil seal is a known leaker on older models . it can go hard and starts to leak when engine stops . Just a few spots every time it stops and doesn't leak while engine is running . if the gearbox can be removed without removing the engine then it can be done with engine in situ .
I a local indi, now closed down changed the clutch in my Mk1 2 LPT V70 some years ago without removing the engine. You could also try a leak stopper additive to the oil that revives hardened oil seals

[Dav70xc]

Went for a good run today, it would appear to be as you said, drops of oil appear after the engine is stopped and the engine cools down, it's a good time to test at -14degC. Please clarify what is the rear oil seal.
Also searched the local area for an oil seal regenerator fluid, found Liqui Moly Motor Oil Saver, other possibility is from eBay Lucas Engine Oil Stop Leak which requires less mileage to recover.

[harveys]

Would be a good idea to degrease the sump / gearbox area , Then you should get a better idea where it coming from, It could be from the front / rear / sides and getting blown around in the air flow..

[Dav70xc]

Already cleaned underneath and had a good look but couldn't really identify source of the leak. As you said the oil was dispersed everywhere.
If I have to have the motor removed for an 8€ sump gasket then I would like to take the opportunity to change as many gaskets/ Orings as possible to save further work later. What would you recommend?

[wilbydoughboy]

Maybe the oil is leaking from above the sump area and dripping down. Could it be an oil filter gasket or similar?

[Model flyer]

Originally Posted by Dav70xc

Went for a good run today, it would appear to be as you said, drops of oil appear after the engine is stopped and the engine cools down, it's a good time to test at -14degC. Please clarify what is the rear oil seal.
Also searched the local area for an oil seal regenerator fluid, found Liqui Moly Motor Oil Saver, other possibility is from eBay Lucas Engine Oil Stop Leak which requires less mileage to recover.

Rear oil seal is a seal on the crankshaft where it exits the crankcase at the flywheel / gearbox end of engine.
Lucas engine oil stop leak is probably best of the bunch, but if seal is damaged it won't work and only remedy is to replace the seal.
Once you get it fixed make sure you only use good quality engine oil. Cheap inferior oil makes oil seals go hard ,then they leak . Good oil will have the correct chemicals to protect seals.

[Dav70xc]

Finally solved the mystery oil leak, first I changed the 0-ring seals in the oil pump but the leak cont'd, then I changed the O-ring seals on the turbo and the oil leak stopped. The oil has been returning from the turbo into the engine head which then ran down the back of the engine onto the lip of the sump. I have removed all traces of oil from the engine head, replaced the spark plugs with NGK 3500 laser platinums and installed new Bosch coils 0 221 604 008, wow what a difference that made.
The Oil Stop additives worked very well, thus allowing me time to solve the real problem.

[Dav70xc]

Originally Posted by Dav70xc

Hello, I have owned my V70XC 2.4T AWD for 17 years, full service history. Just recently I noticed spots of oil on the garage floor. The local garage (in Finland) inspected the car and told me that the engine oil sump gasket is leaking. The garage informed me that to replace the sump gasket they will have to take out the engine, is this correct? If correct then are there other gaskets/ oil seals worth changing at the same time?
Dav70xc

During the virus there was plenty of time to solve the problem. Whilst replacing the coils on all 5 cylinders I found the top box was full of oil, the oil was coming from a small black rubber pipe, tracing the pipe backwards I found it was connected to the turbo, the leakage was a damaged O-ring on turbo and oil was returning to the headbox overflowing down the back of the engine onto the sump casing.
I always suspected that the original garage who quoted 2000€ to remove the engine had not done a detailed inspection of the car. My suspicion was fired by the analysis made by the forum specialists who quoted that oil leaks are not common in the sump.