"Oil level low" . . . PANIC

[emtor]

V70-2008-2.4d (5244T5 engine)
Oil change a week ago.
Yesterday I drove 200 km. and when almost at the destination the dreaded message appeared in the instrument panel . . . "Oil level low".
Full panic and stopped the car instantly.
Checked the dipstick and there was a hint of oil down at the tip.
Luckily I had four litres of oil in the back of the car so I filled one and a half litres to get it up to max.
In other words, one and a half litres was lost in about a week.
I suspected the plug in the sump and checked it today, expecting a lot of oil around the plug and on the plastic bottom cover,-but no . . . dry as a desert.
Then I saw it. Plenty of fresh oil around the crank pulley.
What options do I have? -Crank seal, oil pump seal or both?
Next move: -Brake clean and pressure washer to get it clean and dry and then inspect daily to see exactly where it leaks oil.

[bananarama]

Has the oil filter housing been tightened up properly?

[Double_Trouble]

I do not know these cars that well yet but, I'd advise to do as you planned - that is, clean up mess, then drive it a little ((check the oil level a lot!)) and see where the oil is coming from.

If it's the crank pulley seal I'd expect it to get flung (thrown) outwards by the pulley when the engine runs - so it'll get sprayed around and may coat the belts etc. IF they are coated - then it'd be good practice to replace the belt(s) and tensioner(s) 'while you are in there'

I had a similar problem on an old V70 the one with the VW 5 cylinder diesel engine. I fitted a new crank seal myself but, it was a difficult job. The BIG nut on the end of the crank was torqued to a very high level. Getting it off was really tough (mainly because the cheep tool I had to lock the crank sheared off - yes the nut was THAT tight), so a long breaker bar could not be used and my 1/2 air impact had no effect at all! In the end I had to borrow a 1" high torque air impact from a local truck mechanic to get the nut off...

Not sure if the more modern engine has same toque spec...

The seal will be relatively cheap. The time taken in fitting it (and buying belts etc) will cost more - but, a LOT less than a replacement engine or car!

Good luck!
Mark

[emtor]

Originally Posted by bananarama

Has the oil filter housing been tightened up properly?

Yes, and it's bone dry.

[emtor]

Originally Posted by Double_Trouble

The BIG nut on the end of the crank was torqued to a very high level.

I replaced belts/tensioners a couple of years ago and getting the big nut off went quite well. On my old V40 it was stuck tight and I hade to give it up.

[GrahamBrown1]

There is an excellent video here done my by a forum member on a euro 3 D5 but it will be similar to your engine on oil pump and crank seal ect

https://youtu.be/GF5jclEsLGM?si=Uchr4vpNjM19ul-_

[emtor]

Originally Posted by GrahamBrown1

There is an excellent video here done my by a forum member on a euro 3 D5 but it will be similar to your engine on oil pump and crank seal ect

https://youtu.be/GF5jclEsLGM?si=Uchr4vpNjM19ul-_

Excellent,-thank you.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by emtor

V70-2008-2.4d (5244T5 engine)
Oil change a week ago.
Yesterday I drove 200 km. and when almost at the destination the dreaded message appeared in the instrument panel . . . "Oil level low".
Full panic and stopped the car instantly.
Checked the dipstick and there was a hint of oil down at the tip.
Luckily I had four litres of oil in the back of the car so I filled one and a half litres to get it up to max.
In other words, one and a half litres was lost in about a week.
I suspected the plug in the sump and checked it today, expecting a lot of oil around the plug and on the plastic bottom cover,-but no . . . dry as a desert.
Then I saw it. Plenty of fresh oil around the crank pulley.
What options do I have? -Crank seal, oil pump seal or both?
Next move: -Brake clean and pressure washer to get it clean and dry and then inspect daily to see exactly where it leaks oil.

This happened my Dad's V70 a few years ago. He noticed a bit of an oil leak from the crank pulley when he took a tyre off to check the brake discs/pads. He had a warranty with the car and that covered the costs of the repairs. The seal failed whilst I was driving it on a motorway!!!

The seal is cheap. The labour to do it isn't (if you bring it to a garage that is).

[emtor]

Originally Posted by Double_Trouble

. The BIG nut on the end of the crank was torqued to a very high level. Getting it off was really tough (mainly because the cheep tool I had to lock the crank sheared off - yes the nut was THAT tight)

When I did my Volvo I also used a locking pin for the crank to hold it steady while changing the belts, and when loosening the big nut I made myself a pulley holding tool as shown in the image below.

[emtor]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

!

The seal is cheap. The labour to do it isn't (if you bring it to a garage that is).

Changing the seal is not that big of a deal, but getting to it certainly is.
A garage would probably charge as much as when replacing the cam/aux belt kit minus the cost of those parts.