So hello all. im new to the forum and the volvo family. I just picked up this 97 960 for cheep because owner said the rms was gone. under further inspection i noticed the oil was coming from the back passenger side of the engine and running down. I dont think its the cam seal as that appears dry. I cant figure this out? Head gasket?

 

First welcome to the forum, and second i would check your oil filler cap for a dried out gasket......and then give the engine bay a good cleaning so you can see where the oil might be coming from after that. Best of luck!

 

It appears to be coming from that small cast box under the exhaust manifold. I'm not sure if that's where the head mates or not

 

it sounds like it could be there rear main seal....the heads dont seem to really go on these cars (fro what i have seen i could be wrong). mine was leaking from the filler cap and the rear main. hope urs is an easy fix. the engine oil fill will drip down the back side of the engine if that gasket is gone.

 

Thanks for the reply. I would think the rear main wouldn't leak that far up the block. It's a steady drip. Does anyone know what that block is for or its just a cast. Not sure if this os fixable without pulling motor

 

I can't figure it out. Car for sale cheap. Caribou Maine

 

If it's a rear main the transmission has to be dropped. I just did mine took a few hours (1 sat). How far up on the block is it leaking? Can't tell too much from the pics

 

Just under the exhaust manifold. Back right corner

 

Could the valve cover gasket be leaking? That would be an easy fix I would think

 

Well still leaking now starting to use anti freeze. Definitely the head gasket

 

sorry to hear that :/ i dont know to many of these cars that blow thru a head

 

These engines do not use PCVs. They use an oil trap device. If it becomes clogged and dirty the crankcase pressure will build and an oil leak appears. The seals are the path of least resistance once the pressure builds. There was a lengthy discussion in the past on this forum. It could answer your dilemma. If you are convinced/fixated on the head gasket this is another path to look into as it is much more common than head gasket.

BTW, my coolant dissapeared from the system and I couldn't figure it out until one day the heater valve junction on the firewall just disintegrated. Very cheap part.

If you do the oil trap changeout (very inexpensive $3-5) throw a can of ATP Reseal treatment in the crankcase. That stuff is PFM magic.