IDEAS are EASY! The CULPRIT seems always to be the other CONCERN doesn't?

Did you have the flame trap cleaned? There could be excessive crankcase pressure, possibly it may have been the reason you changed the front seals besides the age and the head.

You did not give a reason for the head gasket change.

Since the head was off the valve cover gasket had to be changed. I like using genuine Volvo cover gaskets because they last longer at not sweating oil. 2k is early for any seals or gaskets so it may be just a bad installation.

I first would suspect the front of the valve cover gasket. The tall hump is a little bit tricky to get the lower corners to seal off. The Volvo gasket seems a little more compliant to fill that void plus they are suppose to put extra sealant in those areas per the manuals. If too much gets pushed to the inside it can create a shelf for oil to land on which leads to seepage. The sealant trick is not the answer to fill the corners. The manuals intent (I think) is to get something in there slippery, so the gasket can squirm a bit. Its how the gasket lays down as the cover goes down over and have enough material to fill and not hold the cover up too high as its being torque down to specs.

Did your mechanic use an Elring kit? It could be for that reason. (IMHO) I feel they scrimp on the oil gasket material as I mentioned. I have no proof of this its just my gut feeling so to each his/her own likes in that area.

Regards

Phil
EDIT: I just noticed Jorrell posted before me! Makes me feel better! Two heads better than one except on single bank engines, of course!

That leak pattern smells of a valve cover gasket leak. Not a bad thing, remove the cover, install a new gasket with a non-hardening sealant on both sides and that will hopefully resolve it. If that doesn't do the trick (due to a warped valve cover), use a new gasket and RTV on both sides of it.

jorrell
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92 245 287K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!