I've had my volvo 240 dl for about two years now. There always been this weird substance on the edge of my engine...on top of the piston cover I believe...it is some kind of gummy like substance. I'm scared to remove it...scared it might be covering a hole or something. Does anyone know? Is there engine damage and this is some kind of cover up? Should I try to remove it?

 

If you are reluctant to remove it leave it be. Otherwise with the oil on the cover, cleaning it off will require a new gasket. If the cover is damaged in the corner, you are looking at a replacement or repair.

 

With that small amount of oil leaking around there(I don't see a change in oil level on the dip stick)... could that eventually do damage to the piston?

Is it hard to replace that cover and gasket?

 

If you are curious, you could take the rocker cover off, thoroughly degrease it and dig that stuff off it.
If you have to re fill a crack or hole, thoroughly degrease the area with paint thinners, abrade the alloy till it is bright with 36 grit sandpaper and have some high temp epoxy already mixed to fill the hole.
Or, you can have the hole welded.

Regards, Andrew.

 

What I like to do is replace the cover with one that isn't damaged and also put a new gasket on. I'm a amateur(I do oil changes and so far I replaced the oxygen sensor, rear coil springs, and flame trap on my car) so I am wondering if this is a job I would be able to do?

 

You can clean that off. That is from the firewall cover - I can see up where your ground strap is connected that the black covering on the firewall has come off and melted on your valve cover.

I have seen the same issue on my '90 240.

No big deal

 

Sweet! That makes my day! Thanks