Just bought a 2002 S60 5 speed, non-turbo with 53k miles on it to replace the 89 240DL that has 250k miles on it.

Noticed some oil drops on the garage floor so we took it down to the local mechanic yesterday and put it up on the rack.

Found that on the back of the block, in the middle, below the exhaust is a round boss about 1" in diameter that stickes out from the block about 1/2". When the engine was reved up oil would squirt out of this hole and onto the bottom of the car and exhaust pipe.

It looks like something is supposed to go in this hole. Anyone have any ideas on what it might be?

There was another volvo there with the same 5 cylinder engine. We looked at it and it appeared the hole had never been drilled out or it has some type of a metal cup plugging this hole.

We installed a 1/2" dorman rubber expanding plug in the hole to stop the oil leak.
I'll try to get a picture of it later today.

Thanks for you help,

John

I had what may have been the same issue with a 2002 V70 - normally aspirated engine. I picked the car up off lease with 30,000 miles, certified with 100K Volvo warranty. We found that under full throttle, there was a puff of smoke out the rear (Q would have been proud).

I bought the car to take kids to schools 750 miles away, and was particularly concerned with breaking down hundreds of miles from home.

It was to the dealer several times to diagnose, and the dealer could not find the problem. I even insisted they do a compression check (all cylinders good). Eventually I was away for a week and dropped the car with the dealer, told them they had it for the week, and I expected it fixed. They found an unplugged hole on the back side of the engine; they said it was where the turbo oil return line goes. They said the same block is used on both engines. They never answered the question; why was this not plugged?

Yes, that's what I was told it was, oil return for the turbo if it had one.
If not, its supposed to be plugged.

Seems that there is a metal sealing plug that goes in this hole.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/johnn1211/CCE00000.jpg

The previous ones were rubber coated metal but have been replaced by all metal.
Ordered on from the local Volvo dealer for $3.29, part #8687868.

Next time the oil is changed, I'll put it in.

Here are some photos.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/johnn1211/DCP_1618.jpg
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/johnn1211/DCP_1622.jpg

When you tighten the nut on the plug it expands the rubber and seals the hole.

Nice plug :)

Did you or your mechanic notice if someone threaded it? I have a hard time believing someone pulled out whatever was there and didn't plug the hole. Then again, some of the used junk I have worked on ...
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My name is Klaus and I am a Volvoholic.

No I didn't.
I wonder if there was some type of threaded plug that came out.

I took the photos by sticking the camera between the engine and firewall.
There is no way i can get under the car at this time.
I may go to Kragen tomorrow and buy some Blitz Car Ramps so I can get under the car to see what I'm doing.

The car is in very good condition, it was sold in the San Francisco bay area and has only had 2 owners before us.

The factory does not have a threaded plug in that location. Some one punched it out. What you have in there should last quite a while.

Ramps are always nice to have anyway. Makes oil changes easier :)
--
My name is Klaus and I am a Volvoholic.

That soumds just like where a block heater is supposed to go. But why would anyone in CA have a block heater? You need to have the hole plugged.
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My name is Klaus and I am a Volvoholic.