Sudden oil leak?

[Hammer97e]

Just thought I would share my day. This is my second B7, short affair with an Acura in between. I just got this 08 a week ago and today, I noticed oil spots on my garage floor. Previously, there has never been signs of an oil leak. I bought it from a Lexus dealership who changed the oil approximately 500 miles ago. Unfortunately that dealer is about 300 miles away and it is unrealistic to take it to them. I took a couple pics I thought I would share, I know there is nothing that can be deducted from there, I don't have the time right now to remove the underbody panel and inspect further, but I am hoping the oil pan drain bolt worked itself loose. Looks like quite a bit of oil leaked, but according to the dipstick, oil level is perfect. The top of the engine is completely dry, checked the usual places for leaks and they are all dry. Oil filter housing is dry as well as that area of the engine. Nothing unusual that I can see without removing that underbody panel, hopefully I will have time later to do so. Car has 45k miles on it, completely stock, and was previously owned by an elderly woman. Anyone want to take a stab as to what it is?

[awdjunkies]

remove belly pan to further inspect, you may also want to take it to the car wash or if you have a pressure washer, wash/clean the undercarriage and continue to monitor the next few hours/days, to find out where the oil leak is originating from.

[Charles.waite]

Loose drain plug. Maybe the washer is missing. Really hard to tell without removing the belly pan.

[Hammer97e]

Alright, got the belly pan off and I believe the drain bolt is the culprit, however, when I attempted to tighten it, it wouldn't budge in either direction, loose or tight. It's still on the ground, so I couldn't get on the ratchet, but I really didn't want to try that hard anyways. It appears the washer is there, maybe they reused it or something. The real dark spots on the oil pan below is where it was collecting and dripping from. From the way it pooled, I wonder if it left the dealer I bought it from that way. I am going to try and get it into my local Audi dealer in the next couple of days and have them change oil, and hopefully that takes care of it, maybe I can even get the dealer I bought it from to reimburse me the cost. I assume it would be ok to drive it there without the belly pan.

Few more pics:

[eyesolution]

I would not take any chances, belly pan protects your serpentine belt and oil pan from road debris. never know what could be on the road.

I assume it would be ok to drive it there without the belly pan.

[Jay-Bee]

I would not take any chances, belly pan protects your serpentine belt and oil pan from road debris. never know what could be on the road.

I drove a MK4 Golf for 50,000kms without any of the underpans, it will get a little dirty that's it.

Hammer have you inspected the oil filter housing? Everytime I take that cap off for the drain hole it's always filled with oil, but leaks so slowly in my case i haven't bothered to change it.

[B7Joe]

I drove a MK4 Golf for 50,000kms without any of the underpans, it will get a little dirty that's it.

Hammer have you inspected the oil filter housing? Everytime I take that cap off for the drain hole it's always filled with oil, but leaks so slowly in my case i haven't bothered to change it.

This is a potential culprit. Also, non Audi shops tend not to have the proper drain tools for the filter and you can get a lot of residual oil, but this looks worse than that. Could be as simple as the washer or they could have stripped the bolt. You can drive fine without the belly pan for a bit. Won't hurt anything.

[Hammer97e]

As best I can tell, filter housing is dry. From looking at the belly pan, it looks like its coming from passenger side, top side of belly pan is showing in the pic. Damn, I hope the bolt isn't stripped.

[Charles.waite]

If it is a new oil pan may be I your future. You might want to have a little chat with the service manager and ask them why they stripped your bolt and didn't say anything. I think they owe you a new oil pan...

[Hammer97e]

Just dropped it off at the local Audi dealer... so we will see.

[tarunpatel]

Keep us posted!

[Hammer97e]

Just got a call from the dealer... bad crush ring. I will keep an eye on it for a awhile, but they said they monitored it all day and no more signs of leaking. I am going to pick it up now. Do you think I should share these pics with the dealer I bought it from? I am not mad, more of an FYI for the future. Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.

[awdjunkies]

Just got a call from the dealer... bad crush ring. I will keep an eye on it for a awhile, but they said they monitored it all day and no more signs of leaking. I am going to pick it up now. Do you think I should share these pics with the dealer I bought it from? I am not mad, more of an FYI for the future. Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.

Glad it turned out to be something so minute. I don't think you should share the pic/thread, unless crap was to hit the fan while under their warranty period. But strictly up to you though.

[Charles.waite]

Probably not worth it to be honest. You're SUPPOSED to replace the washer, but 95% of the time they wont bother.

I wouldn't worry about it. I'm assuming then that the screw wasn't stripped?

[Hammer97e]

Nope, no stripped drain bolt. Good advice, not worth the effort. Besides, my dealer took care of everything and only charged me $3 for a new drain bolt and washer, even washed and vacuumed it. Best $3 I've ever spent, except for maybe that one time in Tijuana, lol. I can't complain. Just happy it was something so minuscule and is now taken care of. Thanks for the help. It feels good to be back, I spent the last year driving a 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon, which I traded in an 07 A4 to get and have now traded the TSX for this 08 A4. Crazy stuff..