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How can you identify a original Volvo Rear Main Seal vs an aftermarket one? 850 1996

posted by  someone claiming to be Hugh on  Tue Jan 24 16:49 CST 2023 [RELATED]

Hello All,

I have a 1996 850 GLT wagon with a 5-speed manual. In February of 2022 with 430,000 miles, I paid to have the engine rebuilt. This past Christmas when my daughter brought the 850 wagon home for Christmas, I notice a significant amount of oil was leaking from the engine. The engine had approximately 6,0000 miles on it since it was rebuilt. I am based in CT and I had the engine rebuilt by a Volvo garage located in MA that had been recommended to me for rebuilding Volvo engines. Because I left on a family vacation on Christmas day and returned on Jan. 2 and my daughter needed to immediately take the 850 wagon back to VA, I could not make arrangements to bring the 850 wagon to the garage in MA (125 miles away) that had rebuilt the engine. Instead I had my local Volvo garage that I have dealt with for over 25 years examine the 850. My local garage confirmed the oil was from the rear main seal. It removed the RMS which appeared to be an aftermarket seal. The Volvo seal has a felt ring and the seal that was removed did not and is of all rubber construction. No where on the RMS that was removed was the "Volvo" mark displayed. The garage saved the old seal and gave it to me. I contacted the garage in MA and spoke to the owner. I told him oil leak appeared to be from an aftermarket RMS. He denied that and refused to reimburse me for the cost of the repair, saying I should have brought the car back to him. I explained my travel schedule and my fear that if I drove the 850 to his shop, the oil leak might destroy the new clutch I had installed when I had the engine rebuilt. He said up until 2014 the RMS that Volvo sold had a felt ring and thereafter it went to all rubber design and did not have anywhere written on it "Volvo". He was a 100% sure a Volvo RMS had been installed. Because of the age of the 850, most Volvo dealerships do not have a RMS on hand, but I suspect they can order one. I hope to be able to examine a Volvo RMW right out of the box soon. In the meantime, I would welcome any comments or advice with regard to what a true Volvo RMS looks like. Thank you for all who respond.

Hugh






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