Oil leak coming from under the timing cover

[ZaijiaN]

I had some problems with my engine last year (1.8t quatro on a 2004 A4 sedan), and ended up getting the coils, pcv hoses/tube/valve, plugs, o2 sensor, crankcase vent valve replaced. Basically I was losing pressure and the engine was running really rough.

Soon after, I noticed an oil leak - it was about 1qt every 3k miles, but it seems to have accelerated lately. I had a garage take a look at it and they saw the oil leaking from underneath the timing cover, so they suspect it's the head gasket.

I was out of warranty and I didn't have the $ at the time to fix it, so I just lived with the oil drip for awhile, and checked the oil every couple weeks.

It's getting to the point now where I have some $ and the oil leak is getting worse, so I need to get it fixed.

So, in y'all's opinion, where should I take my car to get fixed? I figure it's going to be expensive no matter what, if the oil was leaking from under the timing cover. Is this something that might be covered under a recall or service bulletin? Is this something I should trust to a non-dealer garage? Or should I just bend over and have the dealer service it?

[wolfdog]

I didn't exactly see a valve cover gasket in there... eliminate that as a possibility first.

[ZaijiaN]

I didn't exactly see a valve cover gasket in there... eliminate that as a possibility first.

Talked with the dealer service and they mentioned it's probably the valve cover gasket or the cam adjuster seal. Based on the location of the oil leak (mostly on the passenger side) they think it's the cam adjuster shield, which would be $1200 to fix.

[Jeff]

Talked with the dealer service and they mentioned it's probably the valve cover gasket or the cam adjuster seal. Based on the location of the oil leak (mostly on the passenger side) they think it's the cam adjuster shield, which would be $1200 to fix.

Cam Adjuster seal and valve cover gasket should always be changed together. Are you serious that it's $1200? The gaskets alone only costs <$50

[ZaijiaN]

Cam Adjuster seal and valve cover gasket should always be changed together. Are you serious that it's $1200? The gaskets alone only costs <$50

If someone wants to point me to a reputable garage in the Dayton Ohio area, i'll be all for it. But at the very least, I'll have them verify the problem for me and confirm it's not the head gasket.

[PDX04a4]

very easy to tell if its valve cover gasket/cam adjust gasket, just look on the back/sides/front of the block around the top, if you see oil (especially behind where the crankcase breather hose comes out) then you have bad gaskets. the DIY is pretty easy, can be done in an hour, maybe a little longer if you have to do the cam adjuster gasket.

[A4 TSCHUSS]

You are saying behind the timing cover but then everyone is mentioning stuff on the back of the head which is making no sense. You are refering to the timing belt cover correct? Which is on the front of the motor. It is most likely one of your cam seals. Pop that plastic cover off and get a flashlight and shine it right through the exhaust cam gear and see if oil is leaking around the cam (leaky cam seal). On the intake cam you would possibly need to remove the 2 bolts (10mm) that hold the little cover on and pull that off to look around under there. Both of those are extremely easy to do and will take literally 2-3 minutes to check both.

[ZaijiaN]

I had a local garage try and find the leak, I think they put in some dye or marker and found it was leaking from underneath the timing cover, that's all the info I have.

[A4 TSCHUSS]

Go out to your car, pop that plastic cover off the front of the engine that covers the timing belt. There is a little latch on each side of the head that just clips on. After that is removed look around on the front of the head where the camshafts are and see if oil is coming from right there. Also you will see oil that has leaked down the front of the head/block if one or both of the cam seals are leaking.

[ZaijiaN]

Go out to your car, pop that plastic cover off the front of the engine that covers the timing belt. There is a little latch on each side of the head that just clips on. After that is removed look around on the front of the head where the camshafts are and see if oil is coming from right there. Also you will see oil that has leaked down the front of the head/block if one or both of the cam seals are leaking.

I'll do that when I get home and let you know!

[Jeff]

If someone wants to point me to a reputable garage in the Dayton Ohio area, i'll be all for it. But at the very least, I'll have them verify the problem for me and confirm it's not the head gasket.

You don't need a garage. Just a 10mm deep socket rachet to remove 9 M6 nuts.

Then you need to purchase this kit:

http://www.purems.com/products/product.php/II=1410



You should typically replace the rear seal for the cam tensioner as well, but start with this one first.

[ZaijiaN]

Go out to your car, pop that plastic cover off the front of the engine that covers the timing belt. There is a little latch on each side of the head that just clips on. After that is removed look around on the front of the head where the camshafts are and see if oil is coming from right there. Also you will see oil that has leaked down the front of the head/block if one or both of the cam seals are leaking.

I wasn't able to pull off the timing cover completely, but I was able to unlatch it and peer inside a bit.

Pictures with notes here

Also, is this sludge?

[A4 TSCHUSS]

Yes that is sludge, nearly all the cars will look like that though. And as far as your timing cover, just unclip those two latches at the top and then pull the top forward like you did then pull it straight up and it will come out (just take the hoses out of the little holders on the front of the cover.) It just fits into a grove with the lower timing cover to connect them together on the bottom part of it so you just pull it up and out.

[ZaijiaN]

Yes that is sludge, nearly all the cars will look like that though. And as far as your timing cover, just unclip those two latches at the top and then pull the top forward like you did then pull it straight up and it will come out (just take the hoses out of the little holders on the front of the cover.) It just fits into a grove with the lower timing cover to connect them together on the bottom part of it so you just pull it up and out.

I can't get enough clearance to remove the timing cover w/o disconnecting the hoses, there's not enough give there to clear the bottom edge of the cover around the wheels.

[Molotov]

pop your coolant reservoir out and move it towards the front of your car, should give you more slack. Don't remember what other hoses go through there if any.

[ZaijiaN]

pop your coolant reservoir out and move it towards the front of your car, should give you more slack. Don't remember what other hoses go through there if any.

At this point I'm just going to take it to the dealer, they can figure out what's wrong with it.

If it's just the valve cover gasket and/or the cam adjuster seal then i'll get it done somewhere else - if it's more than that, say, like a head gasket then i'll have the dealer do it.

[downhillracer]

I am 99.9% sure its not the head gasket.. It is probably the cam plug seals.