Hi All!
I am looking for your experience!
1999 V70 XC
Canada car with 352,219 kms/219,480 miles.

I keep finding oil on bottom edge of hood (right where you grab it to open it) plus on the rad support and on down thru the lower spoiler grill.
Is this trans fluid leaking from the radiator/cooler just under the fresh air intake?
I see nothong obvious (have not yet started to take anything apart yet).
Where is the most likely source of this fluid????

As you can see the auto trans was replaced with a used unit at 276,104 kms.

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Evidently you have already determined that it is transmission fluid leaking, so I would suggest that you check the most conspicuous places for the leak, i.e., the oil cooler lines to and from the radiator, and check the fluid level to determine how much loss. Transmission failure on these vehicles most often is the result of service neglect than any other reason. Road salts from inclimate weather driving if not washed off can lead to premature failure of the oil cooling lines. I suggest that you start the car, raise the hood and take a look in the most conspicuous places. Hopefully it will be something that will not require the draining and refilling of the transmission.

 

Also check that the transmission fluid dipstick is pushed in correctly and is sealing.
If not it could be crankcase pressure forcing fluid out, upwards and forward on to the hood underside area where it then runs down to the positions your pics show it collecting.

 

I'd check the engine side of the radiator for one of the engine or trans cooling lines leaking down the radiator.

 

Nope! None of the above!

Oil is running down onto lowest (when closed) part of the hood from the insulation matt on the underside of the hood plus from in the hood support bracing!
Oil had accumulated from fairly severe PCV system failure. There was lots of oil blowing out from dipstick for a time which seems to have collected in various areas under the hood.

I checked all other areas especially the auto trans lines into the cooler portion of the radiator but no leaks there. I kind of suspected the oil was coming from the underside of the hood and this was confirmed when I replaced my damaged/rusted hood with one from the wreckers. No more oil drips (from the hood, anyway...), mint condition and matching colour code, too! CDN$84.00!