2011 Volvo S80 T6 AWD is leaving marks on the driveway. Just trying to confirm my fears that there is a transmission seal that is leaking. It looks to be coming from between the front diff and the trans case. I'm good with wrenches (long time Land Rover owner) but any pointers on this issue? Better to sell and find something else or is this even doable? The car has 182k miles and drives great.

It definitely isn't power steering (electric) and not engine oil (smell).

I see the drain plug but I don't see where the fill is (top side?). Opinions?


Farther away

A little closer

Up close and personal

 

Any updates on this issue? I see that unfortunately no one has replied.

I just bought an 07 v8 and found out that it has the exact same leak and from what I can figure out it has to be transmission fluid too!

Trying to figure this out myself right now. There seems to be no good documentation on it. I wish I could even find a diagram of the transmission but can’t.

 

Also, I believe (at least on the v8) the tranny fill plug is a big t60 or t70 star bolt on top of the transmission under the air box.

I’m in the process of this leak right now so I want to get a big enough bit to open it up and check if the color is matching the leak. It’s not powersteering fluid (like some v8 a have in the area) and the color and smell does not match the new oil in it, unless it is getting really dirty in that area on its way dripping out of the case.

 

It turned out to be the transfer case output shaft seal (part 8653927). On the 2011 T6 AWD, it was a pretty easy fix even with only jackstands. The hardest part was getting to the bolts on the passenger half-shaft pillow block bearing. It's been a while but I don't think I actually removed the axle shaft but I could be mistaken. The transfer case only weighs about 30 lbs. and the bolts are easy to get to (looking at you Land Rover LR3 transmission-transfer case). When I was there, I actually replaced any seal I could easily get to. When you put the seal back in the transmission, there isn't an actual backstop as you could push it all the way into the transmission and then really be in a world of hurt. Check where it is before removing and then set it back in the same distance and square in the hole.
I think these are the steps I used:
* jack and block
* open fill plug on top of transmission (absolutely the first thing...can't the fill plug out, do not proceed!)
* drain transmission, not transfer case. The drain plug is not just a plug but it has a small screw in the middle that you remove (for filling procedure) and then use a large hex to take out the actual plug and pipe on the back.
* remove starter and transmission brace (the link in the pics between the 'leak' and the 'crossmember'
* take out passenger side drive shaft (cv shaft, half shaft, call it whatever you want). I don't remember if you have to remove it from the car or if I unbolts along the shaft so you don't have to remove the wheel, hub, and strut.
* drop the transfer case
* replace seals, etc.
* reverse

Filling the transmission is a bit of a procedure but Google and search are your friend. Nothing crazy just a bit of a goat rope with the temperature, small screw in the middle of the drain plug, etc.
https://www.volvopartswebstore.com/c...rbo-parts.html - This is a what I used for getting out the "Adapter gearbox, angle gear and overdrive, and bevel gear"

Overall, took 3 hours or so...highly dependent on your wrenching abilities. No crazy tools necessary, just 10, 12, 13, 15, and a larger hex. I don't have the car here (kid at college) or I'd actually get the hex size for you.

Good luck. Nothing crazy, just bolts. And they are easy to get to!!!

 

Awesome. Thank you so much man! This makes it a lot easier and is definitely something my dad and I can knock out.

 

What were you referring to in the link here? It is not taking me to a specific part or tool, just a list of Volvo transmission components.

 

Correct on the list of components. This shows the seals and which ones to get, at least for my model. The site, in general, has great exploded views of the various parts and usually how they go together. Plus, you can see if there are any springs that are going to enter low earth orbit or steel ***** that are going to disappear into an abyss if you take it apart incorrectly.

 

If it can help someone with similar oil leak issue, I had a leak on the 3.0L T6 engine (2012 XC70). In my case it was the outer seal on transmission output.

Leak. Under transmission.

Leak. Under transmission (close up)

Transmission with transfer case.

Transmission with transfer case (close up)

Transmission outer seal causing the leak.