Engine Oil Leak, Help

[Jayh922]

Hey i have an little oil leak on my 1999 audi a4 2.8 quattro auto. when i park the car after driving it leaks a little oil out of the front left side. but thats about it when it cools down it doesnt leak anymore. the front undercarriage is covered with oil and i know you can use brake fluid cleaner to clean if off but i was wondering if anyone knows any techniques to look for oil leaks. every time i go under with the car started it never leaks for me. HELP please

[jzobie]

Check the OPS, mine just went recently and it really made a mess from under my car. I kept thinking that it was the oil cooler and I replaced the gasket because I couldn't see the OPS without the oil cooler removed and a mirror. It isnt the easiest to get to but it was an $8 fix.

[Jayh922]

Thanks, ill definitely get that checked but my oil pressure sensor works fine, i mean the display says the pressure is normal

[jzobie]

Yeah mine did too, it was just getting past the sensor too and coming out the plug. Then it dripped down the oil cooler and it looked like it was coming from either the rear oil cooler seal or the oil cooler itself. All fixed now though, one thing to watch out for is that the oil pressure sensor is a 24mm but the one that I got as a replacement was a 22mm so it took me forever trying to get the 22mm socket on there since I couldn't see it. I remembered someone on here saying that they thought it was a 23 so I tried that and it felt closer so I tried a 24 and it worked.

[Jayh922]

Hey i found out that its the oil pan for sure. I had some one look at is and he just looked under the car at the oil pan and said immediately that it was the oil pan. Thanks for all you help though

[jzobie]

Ok good luck with that, I have never had an oil pan leak, it always just appears that it is leaking but the source has always been elsewhere.

[Jayh922]

I had some one look at it before and we dropped the oil pan and used rtv gasket maker all around making sure to cover even around the slots were the skrew goes. we put it back up and torqued it. but it was still leaking and i think it was becuase i put rtv on the old gasket so im gonna give it another try with a new gasket an no rtv and see what happens.

[jzobie]

Let us know how it goes.

[Jayh922]

haha you guys were right, it needs the cam chain tensioner seal's replaced, one on the front right valve cover and the left back valve cover.