Volvo RWD 200 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 4/2007 200 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

head gasket oil leak 200 1993

posted by  john morton on  Mon Dec 14 10:06 CST 2015
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
last visit: Wed Jul 4 07:00 CST 2012
[RELATED]

good morning!

I seem to have an oil leak directly underneath the exhaust manifold for #2 spark plug. I have cleaned the flame trap apparati and washed the engine. The drip very clearly comes from between the valve body and the red block, ending up on the mount for the oil filter. It is not a huge leak, but after cleaning the engine and idling for 10 minutes, the oil leak was about half way to the oil filter/mount.

car has at least 300,000 miles.

I did a compression test and all four cylinders were in the 170-180 range.

I am assuming it is a head gasket oil leak. From reading other threads it sounds like this is not typical. Am I missing something?

(I tried to take a photo but it didn't turn out)

thanks as always-
John








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    head gasket oil leak 200 1993

    posted by  1990Volvo240 on  Wed Dec 16 13:48 CST 2015
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Oct 3 13:18 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Hi John,

    I remember someone posting a pic on here 1-2 years ago with a oil leak coming from where you describe.

    Two summers ago I changed the head gasket on our 90 244 (at approx. 260k miles) that had developed a head gasket oil leak-leaking from where you describe.

    And our 92 245 (234k miles) has the same leak.

    Both checked out on compression tests.

    For an original head gasket to make it to approximately 250k before it needs changed, I call impressive.

    There is a pretty good video on Youtube detailing a hg replacement on a 240 that would give you a glimpse in pretty good detail in what to expect.

    Replacing a head gasket mostly consists of performing several maintenance tasks (intake gasket, exhaust gasket, throttle body cleaning,etc.) in a shorter span of time. None of which are too difficult, just time consuming. The machine shop does the difficult work.

    Travis







    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      head gasket oil leak 200 1993

      posted by  Dan Marino on  Thu Dec 24 05:48 CST 2015
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:46 CST 2014
      [RELATED]

      I'm the guy who posted photos of a head gasket oil leak at that spot. I made sure to use a Volvo gasket and took my time torquing the head bolts. I took my head to a machine shop to make sure it wasn't part of the problem and they cleaned it up, pressure tested it, and leveled it off. I have a bunch of posts on here talking about the process of identifying the oil leak source and repairing the head gasket.

      Tom








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        head gasket oil leak 200 1993

        posted by  1990Volvo240 on  Thu Dec 24 15:47 CST 2015
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Fri Oct 3 13:18 CST 2014
        [RELATED]

        Hi Tom,

        I thought I remembered that a regular on the BB had posted about this!

        I replaced mine for the same reason a little while after you did.

        ...now if I can only get around to doing the 92 245 that has the same problem.

        Travis








        •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

          head gasket oil leak 200 1993

          posted by  john morton on  Fri Dec 25 11:10 CST 2015
          Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
          last visit: Wed Jul 4 07:00 CST 2012
          [RELATED]

          I don't think I am going to undertake a head gasket change - the car has too many other issues and I have a replacement 93 240 wagon almost ready to go.

          Travis - how long has your 92 245 had the leak, and has it gotten worse over time? I am not loosing much oil at this point and would like to keep driving this car for a few months before I make the change over to the "new" car (only 225,000 miles!).

          thanks,
          JOhn








          •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

            head gasket oil leak 200 1993

            posted by  Dan Marino on  Thu Jan 7 08:44 CST 2016
            Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
            last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:46 CST 2014
            [RELATED]

            John,

            Well if you have a place to work on the car and the tools, the head gasket job isn't all that much more difficult than doing a timing belt. You are essentially taking parts off the engine and then putting them back on. So if a guy like me can do it, anyone with some patience can complete the task.

            Yes, there was a great Youtube video series about some guy doing a head gasket job on a Volvo redblock. The Bentley manual is great help as well. I had a good feeling of accomplishment after doing the job and felt very comfortable with the engine afterwards.

            Tom








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    head gasket oil leak 200 1993

    posted by  john morton on  Mon Dec 14 19:03 CST 2015
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Wed Jul 4 07:00 CST 2012
    [RELATED]

    thanks for the clarifications.

    There are so many issues with this car that it may become my parts car. A head gasket job, as much fun as it may be, is more than I am prepared to do (or pay someone else to do).








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    head gasket oil leak 200 1993

    posted by  trichard on  Mon Dec 14 18:34 CST 2015
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Oct 24 05:52 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    you are looking at new head gasket job like it or not.
    put a gauge in place of you oil filter pressure switch and check your actual oil pressure at 2000rpm or there abouts to ascertain if the leak is causing a pressure reduction.

    these gaskets only go for so long before wearing out








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    head gasket oil leak 200 1993

    posted by  Volvo From Heck on  Mon Dec 14 10:34 CST 2015
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Mon Oct 13 20:56 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Oil is supplied to the cylinder head (to lube the camshaft, etc) through a galley that uses the 2nd headbolt back as a path. Take a look at a photo of a head gasket (Rockauto has good photos of parts) and you'll see a teardrop shape opening which directs the oil to a galley in the head. A leak at that point will not show up as a typical "blown" headgasket resulting in loss of compression. I don't know why that galley might develop a leak but I have seen the cylinder head galley clog resulting in a loss of oil to the camshaft. It might pay to examine the cam (a look through a removed oil cap with the engine running will tell you if oil is getting up there). If there is none it may be that oil under full pressure is forcing its way past the HG because it has nowhere left to go. -- Dave








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      head gasket oil leak 200 1993

      posted by  john morton on  Mon Dec 14 10:46 CST 2015
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Wed Jul 4 07:00 CST 2012
      [RELATED]

      Yep, I see it on the photo of the gasket, and that location is exactly where the leak is coming from (the "bump" directly under the front bolt for the 2nd cylinder exhaust manifold pipe).

      Can anything be done other than a new head gasket? Will the leak get worse over time?

      again thanks.








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        head gasket oil leak 200 1993

        posted by  Volvo From Heck on  Mon Dec 14 11:53 CST 2015
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Mon Oct 13 20:56 CST 2014
        [RELATED]

        I don't know if it'll get worse--but for sure it will not cure itself. Do check the cam for good oiling. With the compression such as it is you will probably not have to do any real head work but if the passageways to the cam are clogged that will be the time to clear it. There's a plug (eleven mm wrench size-if I remember correctly) at each end of the head and channels from each cam journal to that oil galley. -- Dave








        •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

          head gasket oil leak 200 1993

          posted by  john morton on  Mon Dec 14 12:20 CST 2015
          Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
          last visit: Wed Jul 4 07:00 CST 2012
          [RELATED]

          thanks Dave for your responses.

          So I gather that if the oil ceases to flow to the cam, I should open the plug closest to the 2nd head bolt. I take it oil will flow out, correct? Or is this something I should do when doing an oil change?

          This car is starting to have multiple problems (in tank fuel pump, broken hinge on back door (wagon), warped rotors that are stuck on the back wheels. All fixable but none are easy. I have another 93 240 with fewer miles I may start to use - just needs exhaust work.

          john








          •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

            head gasket oil leak 200 1993

            posted by  Volvo From Heck on  Mon Dec 14 16:50 CST 2015
            Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
            last visit: Mon Oct 13 20:56 CST 2014
            [RELATED]

            I mentioned the location of the plugs because if the oil flow to the cam is compromised and you have the head off to fix the leak problem opening all the oil flow paths would be a help in getting them cleared (with wire and solvents). -- Dave







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.