Arrived home in 2008 XC90 AWD 3.2 with only 1,600 mileson Monday to find fluid leaking from engine. Put several pans and next morning found CLEAR viscous fluid (thus not water) with a yellow-brown scum on top in the pan under the left forward section of engine bay; light brown oily fluid in pan under right forward section of engine bay. Towed it to authorized service center (1-man shop nearby), then had to tow it onto Hawaii Superferry to Volvo dealer on island of Oahu this weekend. The local shop insisted it was condensate and oil, but the clear fluid I collected was definitely not oil, but very viscous. Is this the Haldex AWD fluid? Oil plug, filter, etc. all tight. I assume if it was tranny, it would be red.

 

It doesn't matter WHAT the fluid is, it shouldn't be there, at least in my humble opinion. A new Volvo should have passed quality assurance people at plant. Did you by any chance hit something or did something off the road bed flip up and hit your underside? Regardless, you were smart NOT to drive it but tow it. For sure let a Volvo dealer handle it from here out. Again, take this for what it's worth, I am no authority, just using common sense.

My 2002 XC70 leaks ZERO anything/anywhere/anyplace. So your case sounds abnormal.

 

My guess is for power steering fluid. I don't know anything about Volvo AWD, but if they use a viscous coupler like Subaru it could be that leaking as well.