On the way to the mall today the Volvo started smoking a lot. I pulled off and parked to find the engine bay soaked in oil. It had lost almost all its oil in under 10km. Looks like its coming from the front of the engine at first glance but could not find the source.Any idea where that much oil could come from? Did not hear anything unusual. Oil filter seemed tight and didn't look damaged (at least from the top).

 

Front crankshaft seal gone?

 

Possible but ive never seen one instantaneously fail. Someone recommended I check the plug at the back of the head and it wasn't fully seated so hopefully that's all it was. There wss oil on the firewall as well as all over the shock tower and accessory drive so maybe it did come from the back.

 

Just re-filled it and went around the block... you may be right about the front main.

 

Sounds like you've blown the camshaft seal out of the back of the valve cover. This is usually caused by a plugged flame trap. IPD sells a retainer that is supposed to prevent catastrophic oil loss. But you still need to keep the flame trap clean..

Rear Cam Seal Retainer

(Watch the little 45 second video in the IPD ad)