Help!! Oil Leak

**2BblkAudis** · 01-07-2009 09:11 AM

Guys,

I've had my S4 for almost a year now and about three months ago, I started to get an oil leak. My initial assessment was that the drivers side turbo is leaking, however after some digging while the car was on the lift last night it looks like the leak is coming from somewhere above the turbos. I'm almost positive that it's not the valve cover seals, since they were replaced about a month ago. I've got oil all over the inlet pipes, turbo, and etc. This was all observed while looking up into the engine by from the bottom of the car while on the lift. I thought I found the leak, but the hose that I thought was leaking, was a coolant hose. From the top of the engine bay I wasn't able to really tell where the leak was coming from, due to the plastic covers. I'm going to try and take some of the covers off after work to get a better look.

My question to the forum is if anyone is aware of any oil lines that are in that area? Any reference to diagrams or drawings would be great. I'm not losing tons of oil, but enough to have to carry several quarts and top off every fill up. TIA, it's getting cold and significant other can't stand the smell when the heat is on.

Thanks everyone.

**md s4** · 01-07-2009 09:53 AM

It really sounds that it the valve cover gasket, even though you had them replaced, if the gasket is not sitting properly or if the mech over tightened the bolts by then causing the gasket to spread, oil will leak..

**infinkc** · 01-07-2009 10:19 AM

did they replace the cams seals also when they did the vc gasket?

**2BblkAudis** · 01-07-2009 10:40 AM

All seals were replaced, and from my initial look it didn't appear to be the valve cover gasket.

Curious as to the lines around that area that my carry/feed oil.

**Avant Fetish** · 01-07-2009 01:03 PM

I had the same issue with my driver side VC gasket. There was so much oil seeping from the gasket, it was dripping onto the garage floor.

When I looked at it...you can see the gasket squeezed out when the VC was put back on. Lol...and it was Audi that replaced it back in 07.

**RolledMySTi** · 01-07-2009 01:17 PM

I would say the valve cover gaskets. If the person doing it didn't know the right procedure it is very easy to do it wrong. You have to put gasket sealer in the 4 corners of the gaskets. If you don't do that they will leak from the corners. That is what happened to me after the first time I replaced my valve cover gaskets and it was leaking on the manifold creating a great burning smell all the time. Your best bet is to take the covers off and clean the engine good. Then go for a drive and check where fresh oil is leaking from.

**2BblkAudis** · 01-07-2009 02:59 PM

Thanks everyone for your feedback. From what I can see everything was done correctly. My mechanic also used the sealant on all four corners. I'll double check the valve covers with the plastic removed to make sure there isn't a leak from there.

**A62TURBO** · 01-07-2009 04:02 PM

I had the same problem and it turned out to be my rear main seal, use some of that special flourecent dye in your oil to see where the leak originates from.