Is this the end?

[casiokid]

my 2004 XC90 has suddenly developed a massive oil leak. It's the crankshaft seal and requires removal of sub frame and gear box to fix. Cost...at least 2 day's labour costing with accessories around £1000, this on a car worth about twice that. Common sense says get rid of it. Before I go to "webuyanycar.com" any other alternatives or options. Grateful for any sensible suggestions

[john langrick]

So where are you going to buy a similar car for £1000?

You will be lucky to get much for the car in its current state.

If it were me and in a similar position, and if I liked the car, get it sorted.

Could be crankshaft seal or core plug, get them sorted at the same time..


I am in a similar position. In my case cracked head.....

John l

[Tannaton]

Find a garage who knows what they’re doing - it’s easier and quicker to lift the engine out to change the crank seal - about 7-8 hours and no need to disturb the AWD system or suspension.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by casiokid

my 2004 XC90 has suddenly developed a massive oil leak. It's the crankshaft seal and requires removal of sub frame and gear box to fix. Cost...at least 2 day's labour costing with accessories around £1000, this on a car worth about twice that. Common sense says get rid of it. Before I go to "webuyanycar.com" any other alternatives or options. Grateful for any sensible suggestions

they are conning you with 2 days labour , the subframe does not have to come out and the volvo time is 7 hours + half an hour to replace the leaking core plug or crank seal , if the crank seal is dry i would be very inclined to leave it well alone .

[CondorXC90]

I feel your pain. We had a similar situation recently with out BMW X5 4.8is. Total engine rebuild needed on an otherwise totally sound car in which everything worked - quotes were 3.5-5K for a car worth about £4k.....I sold it for £1400 and put it towards this Volvo I have just bought. A 4.8 enthusiast is rebuilding the engine and keeping it so at least saved from the breakers......

Sensible? I don't know......but if it is "only" £1000 a the car is otherwise great, I would pay the £1000 as £1000 won't buy something like this, not without problems. £3.5-£5k was a slightly different ballgame.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Clan

they are conning you with 2 days labour , the subframe does not have to come out and the volvo time is 7 hours + half an hour to replace the leaking core plug or crank seal , if the crank seal is dry i would be very inclined to leave it well alone .

What is the official Volvo method - is it drop the box or lift the engine?

[Dastardly Diesel]

Look at it this way;

If you spent £1000 on another car you'd not get much for your money, probably a knacker with 15 years and 100,000+ miles of someone else's stored up problems.

If you bought a new car the £1000 is maybe 3 payments out of 48 or 60 for something modestly priced.

Therefore neither scenario is attractive.

Provided the rest of the car is otherwise sound with no major issues then repairing it is far better value than any replacement car scenario. Like Condor says above, get to 4 or 5 grand and the logic starts to move in favour of replacement, but a grand doesn't get you near that. Hell, the recent service and cambelt on my XC came to £720.