Engine: 2.3 F/Inj B23E/B230F: - 240 oil leak

icedvolvo · Mar 12th, 2009, 07:59

Hi there,
i have a 1990 240GL 2.3 f/injected
i think the front camshaft seal has blown.
oil is leaking (for about 3 weeks)from that vicinity and running down the left side of the engine.
i took the top half of timing cover off and everything is dry inside.
but you can't see anything nearer to the camshaft as there is that bit off black plastic on the inside of the timing gear.
i cleaned out as best i could (is it called the) PCV valve, as it was gunked up.
Could this blocked valve cause the seal to blow?
Is there anything else to check?
Do you think i could get away with replacing the PCV, or once a seal leaks, that's it...it keeps leaking...or could it return to its former oil sealing days?
I know the correct thing to do would be replace all three seals and belt.
but im a student and that also means for me very low income.

thanks in advance,
ian

honestjoe · Mar 12th, 2009, 11:00

Hi..as you say the crankcase ventilation is the most likely culprit for blowing camshaft seal or worst case cylinder blow by..With the cv cleaned out this should stop this..You may be able to reuse seal...but if you can easily enough get a new one i would..this happened to me on my 360gls and as an emergency fix i used two washers with rubber inbetween and place it in the seal housing and tightened up with a nut and bolt..just to get me home..good luck..hj.

Andrew (UK) · Mar 13th, 2009, 23:11

A blocked PCV system (no actual PCV valve) is a classic cause of blown seals.
The plastic disc with the holes in is the flame trap, you also need to check the narrow hose and the nipple it leads to in the manifold. I'm not quite sure how the routing goes on a '90 but there should be a hose that leads down from the flame trap to the oil separator which is a black box bolted on the side of the block. That can also block if the engine has been neglected for a while. One way to test for the PCV system working OK is to loosen the oil cap with the engine running. You should be able to feel a slight suction holding the cap down. If the cap is being blown off by positive pressure then there is more work to do cleaning the PCV system out!
Unfortunately I expect the seal to need replacing although the leak should reduce once the PCV system is doing its job.

Mar 12th, 2009, 07:59	#1
icedvolvo New Member Last Online: Jul 16th, 2009 00:04 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kin Kin, Queensland	240 oil leak Hi there, i have a 1990 240GL 2.3 f/injected i think the front camshaft seal has blown. oil is leaking (for about 3 weeks)from that vicinity and running down the left side of the engine. i took the top half of timing cover off and everything is dry inside. but you can't see anything nearer to the camshaft as there is that bit off black plastic on the inside of the timing gear. i cleaned out as best i could (is it called the) PCV valve, as it was gunked up. Could this blocked valve cause the seal to blow? Is there anything else to check? Do you think i could get away with replacing the PCV, or once a seal leaks, that's it...it keeps leaking...or could it return to its former oil sealing days? I know the correct thing to do would be replace all three seals and belt. but im a student and that also means for me very low income. thanks in advance, ian

Mar 12th, 2009, 11:00	#2
honestjoe MY 240 DRIVES ME! Last Online: Apr 26th, 2024 05:46 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ashford kent View Photos By: honestjoe	Hi..as you say the crankcase ventilation is the most likely culprit for blowing camshaft seal or worst case cylinder blow by..With the cv cleaned out this should stop this..You may be able to reuse seal...but if you can easily enough get a new one i would..this happened to me on my 360gls and as an emergency fix i used two washers with rubber inbetween and place it in the seal housing and tightened up with a nut and bolt..just to get me home..good luck..hj.

Mar 13th, 2009, 23:11	#3
Andrew (UK) VOC Member Last Online: Dec 3rd, 2021 08:39 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Sutton, near Ely	A blocked PCV system (no actual PCV valve) is a classic cause of blown seals. The plastic disc with the holes in is the flame trap, you also need to check the narrow hose and the nipple it leads to in the manifold. I'm not quite sure how the routing goes on a '90 but there should be a hose that leads down from the flame trap to the oil separator which is a black box bolted on the side of the block. That can also block if the engine has been neglected for a while. One way to test for the PCV system working OK is to loosen the oil cap with the engine running. You should be able to feel a slight suction holding the cap down. If the cap is being blown off by positive pressure then there is more work to do cleaning the PCV system out! Unfortunately I expect the seal to need replacing although the leak should reduce once the PCV system is doing its job.

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