Here's a pics on a new oil leak. It's a 2000 S40 with 105k miles. The rest of my vehicles are big V8s so not sure where to start on this. Hoping it's DIY capable. Some puddle a day. Any suggestions where to start looking? Never seen one pool on the top like this.

 

Make sure oil isn't leaking from the PCV breather hose or oil cap. Either of those can cause oil to accumulate under the coil cover. Otherwise, possible front can seals

 

The CVVT gear on the exhaust cam can sling oil up top. Either from a leaky cam seal, or from a bad O-ring on the CVVT hub, or from the little plunger on the CVVT gear itself. When mine began leaking it soaked the timing belt which lead to further problems. Your picture shows the timing belt to be dry so the leak is probably small now.

Here is a pic of the little plunger. When this one leaks it really slings the oil:


Here is a pic with the front upper timing cover removed. The cam seal is behind each gear. The CVVT O-ring is only accessible by removing the CVVT gear which you really don't want to try without a Volvo cam holder tool as the gear is not indexed and can be installed in any position.

 

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the detail response. I'll check the easy stuff and cross my fingers it isn't the CVVT gear.