Hi Guys! I'm new here and have a few questions. Well...ok lots of questions. I've recently purchased a 95 850 turbo for my son. The car was only $200 and was purchased from a family member. The car has some issues and will take some time and money I'm sure to resolve. I feel the overall condition of the car is worth the investment.....I hope. That and it's a first car for my son. Now the car has 130k on it and has a major oil leak coming from the rear drivers side of the engine when running. I've not yet investigated but looking for any possibilitys and input. Also a slight scent of antifreeze inside the car which could be a seperate issue maybe head gasket?? The car had been leaking oil and overheated due to the lack of it. I'm thinking head gasket and maybe warped head?? What are the block and head made of?? Iron, aluminum etc... Also could the oil leak be the rear seal or possibly one of the turbo oil feed or return lines broken? I'm just looking for advice before jumping in and please feel free to question anything. Also if anyone can recomend a good repair manual with good specs that would be great. I'm brand new to Volvo's but have a good mechanical backround. I've built and restored a few cars in my time but mostly american cars. The car is in really good shape other wise. I'm sure the engine will not be perfect but again hopefull it can run good with a little TLC. Thanks for your time. Glenn.

 

The leaking oil may very well be the rear main seal.You will need to check that out good.There is a turbo oil return line that goes from the turbo to the block.It may be leaking from there but doubt it.The entire block and head is aluminum.I would make sure the headgasket is blown before you tear it down.The coolant smell is probably a leaking heater core.Do you smell it mostly when the heat is on?The haynes or chilton manuals are pretty good if you can find one for the 850.

 

Tech thanks for the help. For the antifreeze smell I was thinking heater core also but because the engine was over heated thought I'd mention head gasket. I'm hoping for heater core and yes the smell is only when the car is running. I'll need to have a better look and see where the oil is coming from. If it turns out to be the rear seal does the engine need to be lifted or removed to relace? And also does the rear seal connect with the rear main bearings and crankshaft like the american V8's? Thanks for the manual info. I'll look for one today. G.

 

You can rig up some kind of engine craddle to hold the engine so you don't have to remove it.Once you find a manual if you can it will show one in the manual.The rear main seal is a easy swap once you get to it.It is at the back of the crank shaft like most cars.You can use a screw driver and pop it out just like most cars.To check and see if the headgasket is blown check your local Auto Parts store they have a tool you can buy that you stick into the resivior and put some blue fluid in and start the car.If the fluid turns yellow the headgasket is blown.The liquid reacts with exhaust gasses.Some times you can get away with overheating once or twice with out hurting the headgasket.When you look for the oil leak when you get under the car where the engine and trans meet there is a little hole on the bottom side.If the oil is coming out there that is the rear main leaking.

 

Tech, thank you very much for the help!! G.

 

NO problem if you need anymore help just let me know.

 

I hope I'm in the right place sorry I'm a Subaru guy. I'm here because my friend is too busy with a new house and a new job to fix his oil leak. He is away for 2 weeks at job training and I'm storing his Volvo wagon. I wanted to see what it would take to repair this leak. I will tell you what I know. It's a wagon automatic with a turbo & 5 cylinders. Just over 100,000 miles and it leaks bad and will run itself out of oil if you don't watch it.

I also have the Chilton book and experience pulling WRX motors out
I have looked it over and I see those 2 lines running under the engine that are in the way. They look like power steering lines to me. Can they be moved or does the engine need to come out?





I can see where the oil is coming from. Cleaned the engine twice with degreaser and you can start it climb under there and watch the oil come out.





Looking up at the backside of the motor

 

Check where I put the arrow on your picture.That is the turbo return line.Alot of the time the o-ring goes bad and it will leak oil there.You can clean that area good and then start it and use a small mirror and look in the hole with a flashlight and see if it leaks.Is is leaking from the back of the engine?

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Had real problem with oil leaks around 150,000 - 160,000 miles. Took it to a non-Volvo mechanic and he replaced the front seals, then the rear seals then the head gasket. After each thing was changed it was fine for a while. Then it started using oil like crazy (10 quarts in 1500 miles). The non-Volvo mechanic told me it was burning it and since I had very little underneath it in the garage, I thougt he was right. He pretty much convinced me my engine was shot. Took it to the Volvo mechanic and he said it was hemoraging oil through some turbo hose. He replaced it for around $130 and I haven't used a quart of oil between oil changes ever since. Needless to say I take it to the Vovlo mechanic only from then on. He didn't even charge me for the return hose since he replaced previously like a year before. He also told me it quite rare for that engine to need a head gasket. I'm not sure mine needed or not.

 

I agree the headgasket almost never leaks oil.The front seals and rear seals leak after alot of miles.
I would have suggested replacing the seals and cheking the pipe.

 

Thanks Tech I will check the turbo oil line.

In the pictures above you can see oil leaking where there is a joint or gasket.

The second time I cleaned the motor off and ran it up in the air and watched all the bolts became wet with oil so I tried removing them one at a time and coated them with Volvo sealant but it still leaks


-Scott A.



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If it leaks out of the pipe it will run down and throught the seams.
Also it looks like a new oil pan.They might not have sealed it properly when they installed it.

 

I'm trying to order a turbo return line O-ring and do you by chance know its correct part#?
The fcpgroton.com has turbo oil line drain O-ring (part#: 30637866) and not sure if this is the right one for the job.

Thanks!

 

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exe...ategory_id/215
http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exe...ategory_id/215

Those are the 2 things you will need.

 

Thanks Tech for the info and Happy New Year to you!
My volvo looks just like yours. Have you done anything to improve its fuel efficiencies?
Something that I'd love to consider doing after I take care of starter, radiator, turbo oil leak problem...and a few others.

1996 Volvo 850 turbo - 126K miles

 

I gave it a full tune up when I got it and we were getting 29 MPG on long trips on the highway. Around town she gets about 26 or so.(Really light foot unless someone pisses her off)

Also dropped a K&N stock style filter in and thats all.