Front Crank Oil Seal Replacement

[MikeySq]

Hey i was wondering what is involved in replacing the front crank oil seal, how long would this job take. I have yet to purchase this car yet but i was looking in to this known fault before i bought the car. Does all timing gear have to come off assuming so a new belt tensioner ans water pump would be a good idea to replace while in to it that much. Is the crank pulley difficult to remove and is the instalation of the seal easy onc all the prep work has been done? thank -Mike

[tech]

It is so so to replace. Never really had to replace one. Usually the oil pump or something else leaks way before the front seal. Are you sure the Cam seal isn't leaking?

You will need a special tool to pull the crank pulley(timing gear one) The outer one is easy to get off.

[MikeySq]

Well I bought the car after, too good of a deal to pass up. I am not sure that that's the problem yet I havn't really looked at it, is there any tell tale signs on what to look for? It may be difficult to see I had it up on a ramp today to get a lil ehhaust leak fixed on a clamp that was leaking in the middle of the exhaust. What I noticed was a crap load of oil spilled around, I'm thinking it's going to need to be pressure washed before anything.

I was told by the owner that the leak was the oil seal and her father didn't fix it yet because a special tool was needed, which makes sense to what you said. Lots of oil down below so the leak may be down lower, I have yet to pull of the timing belt cover so see if there's any oil on the belt or in around there, I have the car less than 24 hours so far and it's my first volvo so it's all virgin territory to me! and i feel helpless with out a service manual yet I gotta get on top of that

any tips on washing that area underneath free of oil, tthink a pressure washer will help, i'll prolly gove it a shot tomorrow morning!

anyone know of any .pdf files with the 1994 850 turbo service manual

Thanks,
-Mike

ps I think i'm going to bea regular around here now.... it's a learning curve gotta love it!!

[tech]

Yes that is a MAJOR LEAK but it could be a combo of things.

Common things on the turbo's.
Front Cam seals
Oil cooler lines
Turbo return line o-ring
Rear Cam seals
Rear main seal.

Try to get some Brake cleaner and clean the best you can.
You might want to buy a Case of it though as much oil as I see.
Once it is all clean take it for a ride. Make sure you BOOST it up some then come back and look it over for the leak.
Running at idle hardly ever will show the leak. You need about a 2 to 3 mile test drive.

[MikeySq]

Welll i stuck the pressure washer to the area today, the wohol engine bay was very dirty(not all from oil leak) but I got my valve cover clean and when I got home there was new oil on the front of the valve cover by the front(intake?) cam. There is oil inside the timing belt area and that is where the new oil was coming from but it's hard to say which seal inside is leaking because if the leak was on bottom it would be brought to the top front by the cam belt as it turns.

I'd like an opinion on this idea.... I'm thinking of removing the timing belt covers and front wheel and inner wheel trim to gain asccess to timinh belty area and once clear spray in a bit of engine cleaner to loosen the grease then spraing it with a pressure washer to try and clean the area. good idea or bad?

thanks
-Mike

[tech]

That will work

[MikeySq]

I'll spray off that area so I'll get a better idea... i looked at the lines on the turbo they seem clear the oil cooler lines were cleaned thenn watched while car was in idle, lots of mess around cerank serpentine pulley though









I picked up a timing overhaul kit on ebay today which is a good deal for a bunch of parts, I have read up on the timing belt change, but as far as the replacement of the seals is concerned I am not sure how that goes, do they just slide on thier respective shafts once the pulley/gears are removed. what would be required to crank, and camshaft gears off? Is there really a need for a special tool?

Also in this kit it includes balance shaft seals, should they be used? how do they go on?

also it lists front and rear cam and crank seals, wouldn't the rear crank seal ned removal of the transmission, it also lists front rear cam shaft seals would that be referring to seals on each side of the motor, so a total of 4 seals?

Hepu German OEM Water Pump $144.89
Thermostat Gasket Included w/ Pump List $2.86
OEM Continental Timing Belt $52.74
Timing Belt Tensioner List $165.07
Timing Belt Idler Pulley List $103.17
Timing Belt Tensioner Pulley List $110.05
Front Crank Seal 6842273 List $15.47
Front Cam Seal 6842272 List $15.99
Front Balance Shaft Seal 6842272 List $15.99
Rear Cam Seal 9443310 List $14.32
Rear Balance Shaft Seal 9443310 List $14.32
Rear Crank Seal 9458178 List $26.6
Serpentine Belt 9186352 List $56.86

I got all those parts fot $400 Canadian shipped, i checked locally at a NAPA store and the Tensioner belt, pulley and pump alone was over $400 plus tax

[tech]

Yes the rear crank seal would require the Transmission to come out.

You will need a Puller to remove the Crank pulley(Inner one)
The Cam pulleys once the screws are loose it will slide off.

Not sure what they are calling a balance shaft.

There is 2 cams and one crank. So not sure unless they call the intake a cam and the exhaust cam the balance shaft.

There is 4 seals for the Cams 2 front and 2 rear.

[docmot]

Too bad MikeySq never followed up on this post. As I look at these pictures, it perfectly matches my situation on a '97 T5 wagon. There is oil running from the distributor base, the CPS and from inside the timing belt housing. Also perfect matches with all other pictures.

I am just getting ready to install the PCV maintenance kit from FCP. This wagon only has 145 K miles on it but by the look of the existing hoses, my strong suspicion is this is the first time PCV system has had any maintenance.

While the car is in the garage, I'll replace all the cam seals then monitor for any continuing oil leak. If it appears the crankshaft requires new seals, I'll worry about it this summer.

[rspi]

I recently replaced the cam seals on our S70 GLT. I noticed the leak and told my daughter about it on a Wednesday, I told her that "it was leaking a little and I think it would be good till spring". Well, I put my foot in it on Friday and blew both seals totally out. Ouch!!! Don't count on leaking seals to make it down the road to far.