Hey,
I'm new here to the Volvo forum. I have an ongoing issue with an oil leak on a 2005 Volvo V70 that my mechanic is unable to locate. So about 2 weeks ago I noticed a pool of oil on the ground under the drivers side, had a look under the engine and opened the bonnet and could see the lower part of the engine on the drivers side (UK side hand drive) was covered in oil. The dipstick still had a normal level of oil so only seems to be leaking a few drops usually when parked up.

I took it to the mechanic, he firstly checked the timing belt to see if one of the seals had leaked onto the timing belt. Belt was dry no oil. He then cleaned down the engine on the drivers side where the oil was showing, had the car up on the ramp. Started the engine and let it tick over. No oil leak, nothing showing while engine was running. So he kept the car overnight thinking the leak would have appeared by the morning. Checked again next morning, no oil leak showing, nothing on the engine.

So he then changed the oil and filter. Started the car engine again and let tick over, no oil leak.

I thought that was it and it was just something to with with being overdue a service or oil change. Drove away. Checked under the engine myself the next 3 days nothing showing all good. Then today after parking the car up for a few hours after driving it I noticed oil leak was back in the same spot, drivers side, lower part of the engine. by front wheel.

What can this be any ideas? My mechanic assured me he checked everything he thought possible and everything seemed fine but there's definitely a leak somewhere.
Any help or advice would be appreciated thanks

 

the idea of cleaning the engine is to allow the tech to better see the source of the leak since the oil will flow or get blown around and mask the source.

Now that you have some drips, I'd go back to the tech to have him give it another look, as it seems like its a slow leak.

 

The oil leak could be a camshaft oil seal that has popped out. I bought a V70 T5 that had a major leak, and that was it. Sneaky!

 

If it turns out to be a cam seal, check if its walked itself out and push back in place. Then its time to check the PCV for positive crank case pressure which can push oil out of the cam seals.

 

Yes. You want some slight vacuum at the oil cap. Just unscrew it and see if it feels magnetized. Any lack thereof could mean a clogged PCV system and then seal blowouts and leaks.