Gearbox oil leak after the big BANG

[Thewebster]

My 2007 model xc90 auto has had a knock coming from around the no.5 cyclinder. Took it into local dealer back in April who had it for 3 days and came up with "EGR pipe blowing" they replaced that and said should fix the noise.. Well a different noise appeared and has steadily got worse.

It sounded like an injector so I replaced it, cleaned the EGR valve and Particulate gunk and still it was there...

Well today folks I found out what is was... A conrod appears to have left the piston and then done other damage. Unfortunately it was the missus driving to work in it this am, along the motorway... when it went.

Nice man from green flag brought it home but what it seems to have done it dump transmission fluid rather than engine oil...

Even though there is a fair amount of oil coming out there was loads of ATF, even on the road side (you could see it in the rain)

When it was taken off the transporter there was a moderate patch of engine oil but more ATF.

I crawled under the car and removed the cover and looked up. Where the engine meets the gearbox is where the oil seems to becoming from.

Any suggestions why the gearbox would dump its oil ? If the crank took a hammering in the failure, could it cause the seal in the gearbox to go ?

Reason for asking is it looks like a replacement engine (gulp) but the gearbox had new valves in it about 3 years ago and I'd rather keep this one if it would be ok (hard to tell without looking I guess).

Thanks
Webbo

[Paul_Paul]

Or something smashed into the box?

[TiredGeek]

Just guessing but when the engine went it'll have given the gearbox a hell of a shock, particularly at high motorway speeds. Probably shock loaded all sorts of things in there and done some significant damage to it's internals and seals... I bet it hadn't got a clue what was happening and tried to find an appropriate gear...

[Thewebster]

Hi Tired Geek

Yes, I guess it got a fair jolt. I looked on Vida and the errors were all gearbox but none of the engine... Selector errors and poor changes so I think there must have been a big off as far as the gearbox goes....

Found a replacement engine and gearbox, luckily same year and model as mine but with about 20k miles less. Also an ex volvo mechanic to fit it at a reasonable price. it is still over a £2500 job....

Looking at it again I am thankful that the whole thing didn't cease in gear and stop the car across the motorway...

Thanks for the comments

[Paul_Paul]

No warranty with the car?

[Thewebster]

Hi Paul

The car has just done 100k and is 7 years old. It has had a history of gearbox problems from volvo and the engine was re-built by them twice... But that was 3 years ago no so can't claim anything from them unfortunately.

I service and maintain the car myself after the warranty expired, probably better than they would, but all any one wants to hear is full main dealer service history...