XC90 oil leak at the front

[jjojjas]

Evening all.
Just washed the car, 2003 XC90 2.5 diesel, and noticed the false alloy "belly pan" type thing you can see at the front under the bodywork has oil on it. Its dark now, but with a torch I can see it looks like its coming from the very front of the cooler / radiator.
Is there an oil cooler there? is it the round one (like a tube with a coil around it), or the flat traditional radiator type one.
Is it engine oil or steering pump oil?

Any advice welcome, I can't see much so i guess I'll need to dismantle quite a lot to get to it.......

Jas

[tem]

Originally Posted by jjojjas

Evening all.
Just washed the car, 2003 XC90 2.5 diesel, and noticed the false alloy "belly pan" type thing you can see at the front under the bodywork has oil on it. Its dark now, but with a torch I can see it looks like its coming from the very front of the cooler / radiator.
Is there an oil cooler there? is it the round one (like a tube with a coil around it), or the flat traditional radiator type one.
Is it engine oil or steering pump oil?

Any advice welcome, I can't see much so i guess I'll need to dismantle quite a lot to get to it.......

Jas

At the very bottom is the oil cooler for the Power Steering.
I had a leak from here and the first I knew about it, was when the pump started to make a noise.
Check the header tank oil level.

Leak possibly caused by stone chip. Cooler is too exposed to the elements.

To replace the cooler is a messy job.
The cooler has to be released from support brackets and if you do not want to loose the oil out of the system, the rubber hose to each end of the cooler needs to be clamped, before cutting off the securing clamps. (The clamps are crimped on) To gain access, pull each end (in turn) of the cooler, through the opening in the lower bodywork.

On replacement of the new cooler, you will need a crimping tool, or just use Jubilee clips, to secure the hoses to the cooler.
I watched mine being replaced and it is a fiddly, messy job.


tem.

[jjojjas]

cheers mate.
I looked this morning and its not clear weather its from the round tube one (presume the power steering from what you say) or the flat one behind it (presumably oil, as theres is a larger one behind that....water I guess).

I'll have to degreas it, jet wash it off then start it up and get under to look for the leak.......heres hoping its the power steering one.

Jas

[keeders]

.....cos I've just noticed that I have what seems to be the same problem. I have a late 04, XC90 2.4 and there are definite traces of oil coming down the front face of the rearmost radiator / heat exchanger which I am guessing is an oil cooler.

I first noticed that the rubber P seal was hanging down (from under the front of the belly pan / fairing and on investigation, it seems the oil had caused it to come away from the underside of the radiator. Looking around for the source of the oil and it seems to be coming from (as best I can tell) midway up the heat exchanger.

Slightly worried as I guess that might be expensive to repair.

Any comments or thoughts gratefully received.
Jeremy

[200bhp]

Mine had a 'slight leak' which rapidly turned into a large one.

Crankshaft seal had gone, cost £300 - £800 depending where you go.

[gasman]

it may be the intercooler

[keeders]

.....for those replies gents. Much appreciated.

On reflection I would suspect the intercooler (the rearmost radiator in non-technical terminology if I understand correctly). Any thoughts on potential costs - can an intercooler be repaired or is it a replace only job ?

Thanks for your replies again,

Keeders

[4wheeldriver]

As a thought, In certain lorries we had problem with intercoolers/radiators getting punctured with stones. Easy and cheap solution was to put a piece of net down the inside of the grill and it kept the bulk of stones out. Im assuming, Tem, that the steering part you referred to is that small cooler part below the bumper?? I would reckon it would be easy to fit black mesh over there to give a bit of protection! We used super glue to attach. Provided you use a dark mesh it wouldnt show up too badly and may save a bit of expense.

[tem]

Originally Posted by 4wheeldriver

As a thought, In certain lorries we had problem with intercoolers/radiators getting punctured with stones. Easy and cheap solution was to put a piece of net down the inside of the grill and it kept the bulk of stones out. Im assuming, Tem, that the steering part you referred to is that small cooler part below the bumper?? I would reckon it would be easy to fit black mesh over there to give a bit of protection! We used super glue to attach. Provided you use a dark mesh it wouldnt show up too badly and may save a bit of expense.

Yes.
That is the oil cooler for the Power Steering.
A mesh type grill would give it some protection.

I got mine replaced in Perth and they stated that it was the first XC90, they had come across with a leak.
Not that common, by all accounts.

tem.

[4wheeldriver]

Originally Posted by tem

At the very bottom is the oil cooler for the Power Steering.
Leak possibly caused by stone chip. Cooler is too exposed to the elements.

tem.

Was just a thought after this comment Tem. Didnt know how widespread the problem could be but I knew we had a couple of intercoolers on heavies got with the same thing so came up with this simple fix. Intercoolers werent cheap on them and the mesh was couple of quid. Prevention is better than cure as they say!! lolol

Cheers

4WD