Oil filter housing

[seanj130]

So, in January, i checked my oil when i heard the clicking, so i filled it back up, and watched a constant steam of oil coming from the back of my motor. I have done some research, and the gasket i guess gets brittle and fails when it gets cold. (the night before was -10) so i am on break from college and im about to rip it apart tomorrow. im just wondering if there is anything else in the back of the motor that will leak a constant stream such as that. Maybe valve cover, but i am leaning towards that gasket/o-ring. Any input?
Thanks in advance.
-Sean

[salz2135]

You have to be more specific about where the oil is coming from. Things like "back of the motor" and "gasket that gets brittle" are too vague. Furthermore, the filter stand isn't located on the back of any B5, so this statement alone is confusing.

Info on what the motor and trans in your car would also help people to give you useful info.

[seanj130]

sorry, it looks like it is coming from the Oil filter housing, I have the 1.8 with a 5 speed manual. is there a rubber ring or gasket that fails in the cold? i cant think of anything else that has a constant steam of oil dripping, only while the motor is running.

[jpcallmotor]

Yep, that sounds like the oil cooler seal.

They are NOTORIOUS for failing when it is cold. It happened to me this winter. The seal was about $3 at the VW dealer. To replace it just take off the oil filter and then you need a deep 27mm socket to undo the thin nut holding the oil cooler in place. Once that nut is taken out, you can slide the oil cooler down and you will most likely see that your old brittle seal has come apart in a few places. Take off the old seal and line up the new one, there are two aligning holes on the new seal, so installation is very straightforward. When you put everything back together, don't overtighten the nut for the oil cooler, its aluminum and all it needs is a little torque, same thing goes for the oil filter, don't overtighten that or you will spin the oil cooler and might tear your new seal. I like to hand tighten my filters and I never have issues with leaks. Hope this helps.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Ditto the potential for it to be the oil cooler o-ring. However, right about the oil cooler is the oil pressure switch, when that fails it dumps oil out like a creek, since it is right above the filter housing it looks like it is coming from the oil cooler. In my experiences, 3x now, the pressure switch is prone to failure. The only way to know is by removing the oil cooler and inspecting the o-ring. If it is solid then you are likely needing a new oil pressure sendor\switch.

Click here for a new oil pressure switch
Click here for a new oil cooler o-ring

[seanj130]

Chris & JP thank you for your input. I just ordered the seals from John Holtz in Rochester (the are the definition of a stealer-ship) but I am head down to Florida until Tuesday night (sitting in the airport with my flight delayed almost 4 hours, and I'm going to miss my connection) But I will install those when I get home on Wednesday and check for leaks. I really appreciate your help, because of people like you I can afford to drive an Audi
Thank you
-Sean

[chimchongdlight]

i have the same problem, oil is just dripping to where i think its the oil filter, hopefully its just the o ring, im gonna go ahead and order the parts today at the dealer...now my question is, which is a better way to work on the problem? from ontop of the motor? or lifting the car and going under nearth?

[salz2135]

answered in the other thread...

[chimchongdlight]

Does anyone kno where the nut is im suppose to take off? A picture would b great

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Does anyone kno where the nut is im suppose to take off? A picture would b great

Under your oil filter, IE: when you spin off your oil filter you will be staring the huge nut right in the face. It shares the same threads that your oil filter spins onto.

[chimchongdlight]

found it

so i changed the o ring, now instead of pouring, it just drips, how tight am i suppose to screw back the nut? how tight am i suppose to screw on the oil filter?...maybe its dripping bc i didnt screw it on tight enough? i didnt wanna do it tight bc you guys said i might smash the new o ring