Leak around tranny? pics to help

[00SantorinS4]

So upon looking at the ground where my car usually sits each night I come home I saw a bunch of little spent oil drops on the pavement. Sweet.
I jack up the car and bingo I look around the tranny area and there is a few noticeable oil gatherings. I have included pics for you guys, you probably know more than me and can maybe pinpoint where it's coming from. I have circled areas in red that ARE/WERE where the oil is. In one spot you'll see I wiped it dry before I took the pics. my B but I circled where it was (right on the bottom)
Thanks guys. I'm almost done fixing all these problems with this old B5, but it seems another one keeps appearing.. ahh

[317ssayzarc]

follow that oil trail up, dont look where its dropping, but where it originated

[Poopie]

oil will usually drip off the lowest point. I have a feeling its a valve cover gasket.

[00SantorinS4]

I wish there was more room to look up there, If I had a lift it wouldnt be a problem.

[endlesswinterco]

from the last pic, looks like rear main seal.

o yea, nice avatar

[317ssayzarc]

I wish there was more room to look up there, If I had a lift it wouldnt be a problem.

look down the tranny from the top, just get some light in there and snap some pics...

[Poopie]

acutally yeah, looks like rear main seal. There is a ton of oil in those holes.

[00SantorinS4]

Wow guys, thanks for all your help. In about an hour I will go back into my garage and snap some pics down the tranny for you. If it's rear main seal, what am I looking at cost wise?

EDIT: Looks like ECS carries them for 10 bucks. Labor will probably be killer.. Doesn't look like I'll be able to do this one myself

[317ssayzarc]

Wow guys, thanks for all your help. In about an hour I will go back into my garage and snap some pics down the tranny for you. If it's rear main seal, what am I looking at cost wise?

the part doesnt cost shit, its the 6+hrs of labor... im doing mine this weekend, its no fun...

bellhousing bolts, starter, axles, driveshaft, clutch, flywheel, slave, shift linkage and possible the exhaust to if the tranny cant slide back far enough...

[00SantorinS4]

I'd rather keep the oil leak

[317ssayzarc]

I'd rather keep the oil leak

until your clutch starts slipping from contamination

[00SantorinS4]

Dude, weird that you say that. I don't know if this is related but say I shift from 2nd into third in high rpms and punch the gas. The initial three seconds the gas is punched the car will stutter and then even out after the 3 seconds have past.

[Poopie]

thats the clutch slipping

[00SantorinS4]

fuckin A. wow. Let's just say I'm not very pleased.
Anyone wanna buy an A4?

[00SantorinS4]

Well I tried to get pics of the tranny from the top but there is no way to do so. I didnt see anything either, I took a look at both valve covers and surrounding areas show no leaks. I ran my fingers across the bottoms and I saw no oil. Must be that rear main seal..

[Euro-Tuner]

not even worth it for the price of the car, buy another one for $4000 or less. or you can upgrasde to a 1.8

[Poopie]

yeah i agree. No use fixing that on a 1996.

[00SantorinS4]

lol and I just bought the car too. The exterior is immaculate, was just repainted like a little over a year ago too. Put like a grand into her cats control arms brakes etc... Plus I have an S4 bumper fully painted sitting in my basement. Son of a

[AudiKingB5]

If u decide to part this sucker out lemme know.

[00SantorinS4]

I probably wont be "upgrading to a 1.8t" I completely love the V6 motor. If anything I'll be shooting for a 30v V6 perhaps an 00 or 01. Guess after my mechanic confirms it's a rear main seal issue I'll be putting it up for sale.

[endlesswinterco]

glad could help out. rear main seal isnt terrible. but if you are planning on keeping the car, get it done sooner then later.

[00SantorinS4]

Welp, I just put my S4 front on and the car looks mint.
haha I called my mechanic and he said rear main isnt too difficult for him to do.
Looks like I'll be keeping her!

[317ssayzarc]

make sure you get a clutch too... dont want to do that job twice lol!

[00SantorinS4]

I dunno 317, I told him to do the clutch as well and he's like hold on.
I wont even have to do that to replace the rear main seal.
So he must have a different mean of doing so, trusting his 20+ years
as a tech at Morong, Falmouth.
Though, he hasnt physically checked out the car yet, he will be doing that next week.

[317ssayzarc]

sorry but hes wrong, not saying hes a bad tech, but hes wrong...

the rear main goes around the end of the crankshaft, its a lip seal that tightly hugs the machined smooth edge on the end of the crank... the is absolutely NO WAY at all to get it off without taking the flywheel off... it just cant happen... he really should know that lol, its the same way on every car... ill see if i can take some pics for you tonite if you dont believe me... but anyways, like i said, do the clutch now or you will regret it later

[00SantorinS4]

Yeah, like I said I need to bring it to him to check it out.
I talked to him over the phone and he was in Florida so he may not be
thinking of the rear main as I said.
But w/e if need be the clutch WILL BE replaced as well as the flywheel resurfaced.
I'd just hate to give up on the car. Exterior is a 9 out of 10 and the TB/WP and tensioners as well as the thermostat were all replaced in early 07. Hopefully this car will make it to 200k

[317ssayzarc]

sweet, nothing wrong with 200k... my dads 2.7t has 186k+ miles on it, over 80% of those with stage 3 or higher... these germans can take a beating

[00SantorinS4]

Well that gives me more hope.
I've only heard good things about the longevity of the 2.8 motor.