940 - another oil leak

irishcarfan · Mar 26th, 2010, 15:46

Hi guys,

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed a smell of burning oil coming into the cabin of the 2.3 LPT AUTO 940 - which is rather unhealthy I think. As I posted before, there's a leaking back-seal on the car, which for the time being I don't think I'll be doing anything about. But the smell of burning oil is very very strong to the point that I don't want to drive, so I'd like to do something about this newer problem. I cleaned down the engine yesterday, and can see the oil leak coming from the front of the engine. Please see the attached photo. I don't believe it's new, but it just seems to have gotten a lot worse recently. Have any of you come across it before? Thoughts? Actions? Is it major? The car is running fine btw.

As always, thanks in advance.

CIMG0203.JPG

740 In France · Mar 26th, 2010, 16:24

In your picture it is the front camshaft oil seals that are leaking. I think there is 2 or 3 seals and you need to remove the cambelt to replace them. When I had my cambelt done on my 740 I got them to change the front cam seals as well. The seals at the time were about 3 times cheaper at volvo!! I would get it done very soon as oil and cambelt do not mix!

With regard to your oil burning smell it would be your distributor seal and or your cam cover gasket. On my 240 B230E it was leaking at the cam cover gasket at the rear to the bulkhead. On my car the distributor is at the front.

Check your flame trap hoses for blockage and the gauze located on the inlet manifold. 2 big hoses going to a Y piece and a small hose going to manifold nipple. (Crankcase breather system) Clean all of this system to make sure that its not putting undue pressure on the oil seals. Try Rufe on here FRF volvo Swansea for mail order parts. I will be using him for parts to Ireland. I have had superb service and cheaper genuine volvo priced parts. Great company.
James

irishcarfan · Mar 26th, 2010, 17:30

Thanks very much James. Some great info - I know you guys mentioned the flame trap before too..

I tell you I'm in a bit of a bind. The car was bought new by my father, and without going into too much detail, he's reluctant for me to do any major work on it. If it was my car, I'd feel much happier touching it, but alas it's not. Just had a conversation with him there again, and he'd just prefer to get someone else to do it.

I think I might have to see if there's any Volvo specialists in Dublin. The main dealers around here are awful.

740 In France · Mar 26th, 2010, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishcarfan

Thanks very much James. Some great info - I know you guys mentioned the flame trap before too..

I tell you I'm in a bit of a bind. The car was bought new by my father, and without going into too much detail, he's reluctant for me to do any major work on it. If it was my car, I'd feel much happier touching it, but alas it's not. Just had a conversation with him there again, and he'd just prefer to get someone else to do it.

I think I might have to see if there's any Volvo specialists in Dublin. The main dealers around here are awful.

If your Father has got the money to get it done then so be it. Much easier

but you don't get the experience. On my own 240 I would do everything else apart from the front camshaft oil seals. Messing with timing belts I leave to professionals! At least if the belt falls off 2 minutes after I can blame them

At least the 940 is so DIY friendly

But at the end of the day if I was in your situation I would let your Dad get it done by a garage. Just my thoughts. James

NI_Volvo_Nut · Mar 26th, 2010, 20:56

X2 on the front cam seal, and also as said, clean the breathers or you will just be chasing oil leaks....

irishcarfan · Mar 27th, 2010, 15:00

Hi guys, went to my parents house today to have a look at the 940 again. I'm hoping to have a go at the the breather box etc - I've read through some of the faq regarding removal etc. - have you guys any tips or any favourite methods of getting in at it? I'd rather not remove the manifold for the sake of public relations - but frankly I can't quite see how to approach it? How is it held on?

Thanks again!

As it turns out, the car is due for NCT (MOT in Ireland) in the next few months anyway, so I might as well see what I can do, within reason. Have found a 'Volvo specialist' here and will talk to them on Monday to see whether they are in anyway reasonable for the front seals.

irishcarfan · Mar 27th, 2010, 15:50

Just reading, some pictures I took:

Is this the y-tube where the flame trap is?
CIMG0205.JPG

And the oil breather box
CIMG0206.JPG

irishcarfan · Mar 30th, 2010, 16:58

After many hours and days of research, I removed the breather box and flametrap and found that they were not blocked. I cleaned them out anyway, and whilst I was there pretty much took apart everything I could in the space of a few hours.

The distributor seal is gone, though not majorly. The (water?) seals at the front are gone. And the rear main seal remains gone. Even the seal around the oil cap was gone.

Now, the fact that all these seals are gone suggests that there is a fair bit of pressure building up. I think that this is a result of the car's mileage - which is nearly 130k of city driving. Worn parts.

I have decided to replace all of the seals myself. However, I am confident that they will all go again in the following 20,000 miles due to this pressure building up. With this in mind, I will endeavour to inspect the internals. My contract at work ends in the summer, about a month before the NCT (Ireland's mot) is due. I think it's the only way, the car deserves it.

stephend · Mar 31st, 2010, 23:25

When I did the head gasket on my 740 (B200E), I found the oil separator and flame trap were clogged solid, so I cleaned them out while I had the access. Despite this, no sign of problems with the crankshaft seals, suggesting that my engine wasn't breathing heavily even at 150k (a good sign, presumably).

What puzzles me, though, is this: the breather is for the crankcase only - so how could a blocked breather affect the camshaft seals? What also puzzles me is that on both Fords that I've owned (Sierra with CVH engine and Mondeo with Zetec), the breather system also connects to the cam cover, which seems to imply that you could get pressure around the camshafts, which would affect the camshaft seals. So why no breather for this part of the engine on the Volvos?

Can anyone shed any light on this...?

rick84 · Apr 18th, 2010, 20:26

Hi all,

Been reading through this thread and I've had a go at sorting out the crank case ventilation. 2 of the hoses needed uncloging and I've replaced the vacuum hose to the inlet manifold and have a good vacuum on this now. If I blow down the pipe to the breather box I can feel the pressure on the filler cap and can here the oil bubbling. Can I assume that this is now clear?

I will have to hunt for the leaks that these blockages have caused now! The pictures above where helpful.

Thanks

Mar 26th, 2010, 15:46	#1
irishcarfan Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 02:29 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dublin	940 - another oil leak Hi guys, Over the past few weeks, I've noticed a smell of burning oil coming into the cabin of the 2.3 LPT AUTO 940 - which is rather unhealthy I think. As I posted before, there's a leaking back-seal on the car, which for the time being I don't think I'll be doing anything about. But the smell of burning oil is very very strong to the point that I don't want to drive, so I'd like to do something about this newer problem. I cleaned down the engine yesterday, and can see the oil leak coming from the front of the engine. Please see the attached photo. I don't believe it's new, but it just seems to have gotten a lot worse recently. Have any of you come across it before? Thoughts? Actions? Is it major? The car is running fine btw. As always, thanks in advance. CIMG0203.JPG

Mar 26th, 2010, 16:24	#2
740 In France James Last Online: Apr 4th, 2010 20:25 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near Villedieu les poeles	In your picture it is the front camshaft oil seals that are leaking. I think there is 2 or 3 seals and you need to remove the cambelt to replace them. When I had my cambelt done on my 740 I got them to change the front cam seals as well. The seals at the time were about 3 times cheaper at volvo!! I would get it done very soon as oil and cambelt do not mix! With regard to your oil burning smell it would be your distributor seal and or your cam cover gasket. On my 240 B230E it was leaking at the cam cover gasket at the rear to the bulkhead. On my car the distributor is at the front. Check your flame trap hoses for blockage and the gauze located on the inlet manifold. 2 big hoses going to a Y piece and a small hose going to manifold nipple. (Crankcase breather system) Clean all of this system to make sure that its not putting undue pressure on the oil seals. Try Rufe on here FRF volvo Swansea for mail order parts. I will be using him for parts to Ireland. I have had superb service and cheaper genuine volvo priced parts. Great company. James Last edited by 740 In France; Mar 26th, 2010 at 16:31.

Mar 26th, 2010, 20:56	#5
NI_Volvo_Nut Volvologist Last Online: Dec 6th, 2023 11:13 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangor - Norn Iron View Photos By: NI_Volvo_Nut	X2 on the front cam seal, and also as said, clean the breathers or you will just be chasing oil leaks.... __________________ What's the matter with the car I'm driving? Can't you tell that it's out of style? Should I get a set of white wall tires? Are you gonna cruise the miracle mile?

Mar 26th, 2010, 17:30	#3
irishcarfan Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 02:29 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dublin	Thanks very much James. Some great info - I know you guys mentioned the flame trap before too.. I tell you I'm in a bit of a bind. The car was bought new by my father, and without going into too much detail, he's reluctant for me to do any major work on it. If it was my car, I'd feel much happier touching it, but alas it's not. Just had a conversation with him there again, and he'd just prefer to get someone else to do it. I think I might have to see if there's any Volvo specialists in Dublin. The main dealers around here are awful.

Mar 27th, 2010, 15:00	#6
irishcarfan Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 02:29 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dublin	Hi guys, went to my parents house today to have a look at the 940 again. I'm hoping to have a go at the the breather box etc - I've read through some of the faq regarding removal etc. - have you guys any tips or any favourite methods of getting in at it? I'd rather not remove the manifold for the sake of public relations - but frankly I can't quite see how to approach it? How is it held on? Thanks again! As it turns out, the car is due for NCT (MOT in Ireland) in the next few months anyway, so I might as well see what I can do, within reason. Have found a 'Volvo specialist' here and will talk to them on Monday to see whether they are in anyway reasonable for the front seals.

Mar 27th, 2010, 15:50	#7
irishcarfan Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 02:29 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dublin	Just reading, some pictures I took: Is this the y-tube where the flame trap is? CIMG0205.JPG And the oil breather box CIMG0206.JPG

Mar 30th, 2010, 16:58	#8
irishcarfan Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 02:29 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dublin	After many hours and days of research, I removed the breather box and flametrap and found that they were not blocked. I cleaned them out anyway, and whilst I was there pretty much took apart everything I could in the space of a few hours. The distributor seal is gone, though not majorly. The (water?) seals at the front are gone. And the rear main seal remains gone. Even the seal around the oil cap was gone. Now, the fact that all these seals are gone suggests that there is a fair bit of pressure building up. I think that this is a result of the car's mileage - which is nearly 130k of city driving. Worn parts. I have decided to replace all of the seals myself. However, I am confident that they will all go again in the following 20,000 miles due to this pressure building up. With this in mind, I will endeavour to inspect the internals. My contract at work ends in the summer, about a month before the NCT (Ireland's mot) is due. I think it's the only way, the car deserves it.

Mar 31st, 2010, 23:25	#9
stephend Premier Member Last Online: May 27th, 2024 22:10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S. Wales View Photos By: stephend	When I did the head gasket on my 740 (B200E), I found the oil separator and flame trap were clogged solid, so I cleaned them out while I had the access. Despite this, no sign of problems with the crankshaft seals, suggesting that my engine wasn't breathing heavily even at 150k (a good sign, presumably). What puzzles me, though, is this: the breather is for the crankcase only - so how could a blocked breather affect the camshaft seals? What also puzzles me is that on both Fords that I've owned (Sierra with CVH engine and Mondeo with Zetec), the breather system also connects to the cam cover, which seems to imply that you could get pressure around the camshafts, which would affect the camshaft seals. So why no breather for this part of the engine on the Volvos? Can anyone shed any light on this...?

Apr 18th, 2010, 20:26	#10
rick84 Member Last Online: May 19th, 2019 17:31 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Stockport	Hi all, Been reading through this thread and I've had a go at sorting out the crank case ventilation. 2 of the hoses needed uncloging and I've replaced the vacuum hose to the inlet manifold and have a good vacuum on this now. If I blow down the pipe to the breather box I can feel the pressure on the filler cap and can here the oil bubbling. Can I assume that this is now clear? I will have to hunt for the leaks that these blockages have caused now! The pictures above where helpful. Thanks

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