'00 V70 R AWD with about 135k miles.

I have a problem with oil leaks onto the catalytic converter / exhaust / turbo. It's not just one leak, but several small leaks.

Anytime I come to a stop, there is the smell of burning oil getting into the cabin and around the outside of the car.

The last mechanic said there a leak in the angle drive drive shaft seal that was blowing back on the cat. He fixed it ($600) but it still has the burning oil smell.

Before he started, he said there were many small oil leaks - and fixing the angle drive seal may not completely fix it.

None of the mechanics have talked about the flame trap being clogged up, but after reading some of the threads, I get the feeling that I might have this problem.

Before I jump in and replace the flame trap, is there any way to fool-proof troubleshoot it down to a clogged flame trap?

There is no oil leaking out around the oil filler cap nor any oil leaking on the ground. If it wasn't for the smell of burning oil in the cabin, I wouldn't know there was a problem.

 

Bounce.

 

Your does not actually have a flame trap persay.
You have a vent system though.
But before that I would check the turbo return line o-ring first. There is a pipe that comes off the bottom of the turbo and goes into the block. They are known to go bad.
When they do and you boost the car it can shoot oil out of the block.

 

I've checked the drain pipe from the turbo - it seems fine. No excessive amount of oil residue around the area.

Is the vent system the box under the intake manifold? Maybe it isn't called the flame trap - but that's what it is called in the "sticky post" in this forum. I assume they are the same. If not, then where is the vent system going to plug up and cause the engine seals to leak?

 

That is the vent box under the intake.
There is a small hose that goes from the vent box area over to the induction hose by the front of the turbo. They clog up from time to time. Also sometimes the vent box itself clogs up.

Only N/A cars have a flame trap.

The back of the motor just above the drain plug is dry?

 

I've heard the old trick of sticking a latex type glove over the oil fill tube and see if it inflates. Makes sense, I replaced mine after the dipstick kept getting forced out of it's seat, spraying oil all up in the underside of the hood. Lot of pressure.

 

oil coming up through the filler tube means there is an overabundance of "crankcase pressure".You probably need to replace "flame trap" one of the cheapest parts for volvos. I was told I needed a new engine but, replaced trap and was just fine. The part is two pieces for about five dollars.