Volvo AQAD41P oil leak - help!

[longjohnsilver]

Son's just bought a Fairline weekender with Volvo engine fitted about 10 years ago. Runs really well but leaks oil like a good un. He's taken some photos of where it's coming out but not being a Volvo expert I'm no real help. The leak seems to be just above the starter motor.

Does anyone recognise this, hopefully it's just a gasket.

Looks like it's just below the heat exchanger, but as i say I'm no expert. Any guidance would be much appreciated.

 

[DoubleVision]

You may be lucky and find its the turbo oil feed pipes. Where they join onto the turbo--usually the bottem one. Being this side of the bell housing flange I dont think it can be the rear crankshaft seal. Take the air filter off and see if its oily under the turbo and there ya go--undo the 2 10mm bolts and a new gasket and your sorted.

 

[DAKA]

I never had problems from mine so cant help much apart from, thats not the heat exchanger ( thats the round cylinder on the other side).

the square thingy is the after cooler.

Above there is the crank case breather not far away, they are volvo rip off price and dont get changed, they block and cause excessive oil pressure.

if DPs suggestion doesnt work try the crank case breather.

You can take the breather off, clean the thread and blow into it to see if it is blocked.
Take 5 mins to do , no tools required.

edit
the newer aqad41 got rid of the breather, need to look for an inverted silver coke can next to the air filter.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Thanks guys, your suggestions have been passed on to ljs jnr.

 

[spannerman]

The intercooler has a small drain hole just above the starter motor, when the engine has a few hours on it it blows oil mist from it which then looks like a leak. Its oil vapour from the inlet side which could be from the seals in the turbo or from the breather system if its blocked and not working correctly, check the breather as others have mentioned. Its not terminal just annoying.

 

[mont]

Hi,
FWIW...
Picture seems to show oil around base of intercooler dropping down ??
I would monitor the actually oil useage more carefully to see if you've actually a major leak i.e. it drips when the engine runs or there is only a mist of oil around that area after decent amount of use.
Feel you need to track the source more clearly to establish problem. Lots of possibilities around that area. Would suggest a good clean up of the area with some degreaser etc and then look again.
My ad41's (1993 ad41'b's ) are a bit oily but seem to use virtually no oil in the process. That area on both of mine looks similar to your pics.
Guessing aint the way forward and you'll spend £££'s to maybe solve one monor weep only to find theres another as well.
There have been some threads and comments that this engine can be a bit oily although it is highly rated as a unit. Quick phone call to good bits supplier with the engine number will establish exactly what unit you have as regards oil breather unit mentioned as to whether fitted. Suggest at the same time you get hold of the manuals for future help.

 

[volvopaul]

Same answer as spannerman, nothing to worry about as long as its not excessive.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Unfortunately it is excessive, probably a couple of litres when we brought it back from Soton to Exmouth, certainly enough for the oil pressure alarm to sound half way across Lyme Bay. Not what we wanted on the first trip just as it was getting dark and fairly lumpy sea conditions.