My 1985 240DL is spraying oil out from behind the engine at the valve cover level..I'm pretty sure that the half circle rubber piece back there has pushed out..Probably because my flame trap is plugged..I can't think of anything else it could be..That is where you guys come in because you may know of another condition that is causing the problem..Any advise is golden and appreciated by me..I consider this board to be my brain trust because there is so much knowledge here..Thanks!!

Hi,

You might want to check into one of these!

Especially if the seal is completely gone now.

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/5561/103560-rear-cam-seal-retainer

That would definitely cause the spraying out the back.

If you have excessive pressure that will cause the other seals to leak elsewhere on the engine too.

I think the red block went to a totally round seal in 1985 or even sooner with the B23?
I have found on my 1986. I will have to look on my 1984.
Check for years of fitting on their site.

Phil

Thanks Phil..I'll look into the link you sent and make a call in the morning..I'm not sure I even have the config at the back of the cam correct in my head at this point..I'm going to take it apart in the morning and have a look at what is going on..I'll let you know and thank you..One more question..Has there ever been a problem with over pressuring of the oil pump on these engines that you know of..??..I have never heard of one but anything is possible....I am aware that a plugged flame trap can create extra pressure that shouldn't be there..It has been awhile since I cleaned mine and that is part of what I'll be doing in the morning..Throttle body cleaning in the list as well..I have some new parts for the flame trap that I'v been sitting on because one of the hoses has a small crack at a connection point..I'll follow up with you..

Hi,

I will say if you have the round seal at the back end of the valve cover, it can fall out.
I had that happen on my 1986 wagon, while it was on a long trip, doing a lot of highway driving.
It started out a slow weep that I couldn't quite trace down but I let my wife take it on a long trip with her sister.
The Volvo dealership put in a new seal and blamed it the flame trap screen. I didn't know this in the early years of ownership. I bought the car used with 30 k on it.
It was many years after that when it slipped out.
I got my weeping leak fixed. I couldn't tell was a head gasket or a pan gasket.
My wife still holds it over my head that she got it fixed for me!

As far as a over pressure happening in the system, I have to say no. It's more likely to be a low pressure symptom to be wrong first. The reason for the oil idiot light.
Clogged screen or a leaking relief valve that hold the pressure at a certain level.

On my 1984, if it sets for several months the oil galleries seem to lose their oil. I found this out when it knocked upon a start up but only the one and last time. It's the only engine to do this to me. It has 180K. I suspect a very tiny seepage of its relief valve.

Now, if I let it set for a long time, like two months, I just go ahead and use the red wire at the back of the engine by the firewall to roll the engine over.
If you hook it straight to the positive post on the battery it will turn overall the engine with out involving the ignition, fuel injectors or lock out switches to the transmission. So, I put it in neutral or park before spinning it over for about two 10 second intervals with a pause on the starter. Especially if I don't take the time to pull the plugs.

I have read posts, at different times, that there is an "0" ring on the oil pump to the block that sometimes slips.
I do not know what the symptoms are or what causes it to happen. I gather it's a trick to get it in there right.
Maybe it's after a pan gasket replacement and the pump gets its screen cleaned in the process.

Is the car new to you and you are catching up on its maintenance?

Glad to help whenever I can!

Phil

To answer your question..I have had the car for 15 years..It was in tough shape when I got because it had been run hard and put away wet for 17 years..It only had 140,000 miles on it when I got it but needed so much work..I got it for almost nothing and put a lot of money into it from the get go..I really like the car and REALLY like that it is a car I can do most of the work on myself..Front end parts were worn, all the rims were bent and out of round, It needed tires, All belts and hoses and a water pump and timing belt..The fluids had never been changed other then the engine oil..Trans fluid looked liked creamed coffee..The diff was almost dry...The list goes on..My theory with all my cars is never let oils get dirty and broke down..I change the engine oil by what it looks like not miles..The diff, power steering and break fluid and radiator fluid get changed every 2 or 3 years..I flush the auto trans every year..It gets used for mostly city driving so it is hard service..One of the toughest things it throws at me from time to time is bad parts in the wiring harness..I have replaced a bunch of bad spots and I'm sure there is more coming..I plan to keep the car as long as I can..

The O ring you refer to is on the end of the transfer tube coming from the oil pump that gets plugged into the engine block. And it is a seal sort of like the little seal you need for the heater tube coming off the water pump..These seals are so tiny I marvel at how well they work..My 85 had (no) O ring at the oil pump to the engine block..It is just a very smooth machined surface..If I heard what you said correctly about the O ring..Some times that transfer tube O ring can break and reduce oil pressure..But it is all internal within the oil pan area..Your car may be different..

I have all the new parts..The round plug that seals the rear of the camshaft blew out after taking it apart..The flame trap filter itself didn't look to bad..I'm almost wondering if the plastic box the flame trap sits on isn't plugged up..When I first start it i'll leave the oil filler cap loose and see if it gets pushed off..If it does I'll replace the flame trap box..My best guess based on input and what I'v read..I did order the rear cam seal retaining plate from IPD..Once I have that I'll put it back together and see how it goes..I'll share the end result probably later this week..Thanks for your input Phil..When that seal blew out I was thanking the powers above I wasn't far from home..Oh,..And nice of your Wife to fix your car for you..:)..

Hi there,

Glad you have your car on the mend. You say you have all new parts, that's good.
I personally think the whole plug seal must shrink a little. It is a solid disc and is bigger by comparison to the half moon rubber block. The block has keeper ridges to create a trough to prevent lateral movement.

Talking about being close to home ours was not so much. I was on another thread and I wrote the story up and yes the powers above worked well in favor of my wife.
Here is how her luck went! Thankfully, even after I said "Don't bother calling me if the car breaks down!"
https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1655939/220/240/260/280/thanks_need_another_favor.html

Phil

Got it all put back together..The Rear cam plug looks like a freeze plug coated in rubber or something soft..I think with age they must break down and become easy to fall out with a little crank case pressure..I did get the seal retaining plate from IPD and it was a nice piece but really hard to tighten up in the little bit of room there is behind the head..Car is running good and thank you so much for the retaining plate advise...Now at least the seal will never blow out again..In all the years I have had the car I had never heard that was a problem or issue..Now I know..:)..Replaced the flame trap with a new kit and off we go into the wild blue yonder..Slowly mind you but I always get there in my 1985 Burgundy 350,000 mile brick..I take really good care of it and it keeps running like a top..I do most of the work myself and there isn't much I don't know about it or can't fix..Added one more notch to my experience belt with the seal but that is how you learn..I'll look at the thread you send about your wife and the car...Sounds like fun..:)..Thanks!!!