Found my oil leak and got it fixed

[TexS4]

Hey Gang,

Wanted to make this post for information purposes to anybody trying to find a pesky oil leak that appears to be coming from the font of the engine. A few weeks back I made this post (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ol-Syntec-5w30) about putting in the wrong oil and while doing so discovered a new oil leak. Having sorted the wrong oil issue (Thanks again Dpram) and putting in the correct type of oil, I shifted my focus to finding the new leak. I had already had the front main seal replaced (twice) by my shop. Second one was under their warranty so no charge and the issue was fixed for the long haul after discovering the seal was not fully seated the first time and thus had a small leak.

So we found the new leak under the intake manifold (see pictures below) and its coming from the lower gasket on the Oil filter housing/plumbing. The gasket simply failed most likely due to heat and thus started running out towards the front of the motor. Once it ran down the front of the block, the pulley's allowed the oil to get flung all over the place thus making us think it might have been the front seal again. We're also going to be replacing the gasket on the cover of what I have always referred to on V8's as the "valley". Since we're already this far in; its just good measure to replace that gasket too since we already have it pulled apart and the gasket itself cost a couple of bucks.


oil leak 2 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

closer view of oil leak. by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

oil leak snail trail by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

As you can see from the last picture, the oil snaked its way to the font of the motor and on down the front of the block. All in all its not "that bad" and the cost is less than it was for the front main seal. Got a chance to look at my valves in the process too and according my mechanic and his techs, the motor internally looks really good. No build up around the port holes, and the tops of valves are nice and shiny. Taking the intake off was really not that hard to do; just remember there are plastics bits that easily can break on our cars especially at their ages now.

In case anybody is wondering, i'm sitting at 104,xxx miles.

[blaelock]

My original engine had the same leak. The entire front of the engine was coated with oil and dirt at 132k. Another 15 cent gasket that takes hours to replace. At least this one isn't too bad.

[art]

I have the same problem on Q7.
Any one have intake man. removal DIY for rs4 or q7?
Take a look at the rubber hose on the left. Looks a little burned.

[SpoolBus]

I have replaced the valley pan gasket twice in 4K miles!

Not sure why the gasket failed the first time...

[gcoy]

Nice Work!! I have replaced mine as well

[TexS4]

Take a look at the rubber hose on the left. Looks a little burned.

Its actually plastic with rubber lining. We checked it out really good and it doesn't have any cracking nor is it wearing through the actual plastic. I am amazed at how much plastic this car really has. It makes me wish I had a 3D printer to replace some parts with

[djs]

I've had a pesky leak that I've been trying to solve. Like you I've already had the front seal replaced. Like you, my shop also had to do it twice. I thought that was the culprit due to the serp belt going out. I guess on of the common side effects of a shredded serp belt is that it gets wrapped around the crank pulley and gouges the seal. Turned out that wasn't it. Thought maybe it was the oil pan gasket since it's always worse when I'm parked on a slight decline (nose down). That wasn't it either. The shop wanted to do VC gaskets but I already did those myself. Plus it's wet on the front lower part of the engine but not wet around the VCs so I can't believe that's the cause. I just ordered a valley pan gasket from ECS so I'm going there next. I'll check out this oil filter gasket as well. Thanks for posting.

[art]

Keep an eye on that hose. I now (no problems so far) regret not changing it as I was already there and it looks like only two clamps and new hose. Just a tought.

[chargin]

I just did the oil filter housing seals and the upper valley pan gasket. While I was there I also replaced the oil pressure switch for $9.00.
I was leaking almost a quart every 300 mi. now I'm back to a clean garage floor :-)

[djs]

Nice.

Anybody have the part numbers for the oil filter housing seals? Good call on the oil pressure switch, I replaced that about 2 years ago and it's really tough to get too. I had some room because I was doing VC gaskets at the time, but it's tight back there.

[BlazingS4]

Yup I also need this done it looks like my oil filter house is leaking too.

[TexS4]

Nice.

Anybody have the part numbers for the oil filter housing seals? Good call on the oil pressure switch, I replaced that about 2 years ago and it's really tough to get too. I had some room because I was doing VC gaskets at the time, but it's tight back there.

I'll see if I can get you the part #'s from my buddy today. We ended up changing out that hose and the oil pressure switch while it was all pulled apart.

No more leaks! No more oil smell in the cab!

[aroderick56]

Nice.

Anybody have the part numbers for the oil filter housing seals? Good call on the oil pressure switch, I replaced that about 2 years ago and it's really tough to get too. I had some room because I was doing VC gaskets at the time, but it's tight back there.

If he doesnt get you the part numbers soon, I think I still have my invoices from when I ordered mine. Have to check when I am home

[Rirruto]

079115111A for the two-hole gasket and N90959701 for the single hole seal.

[TexS4]

079115111A for the two-hole gasket and N90959701 for the single hole seal.

bingo

[djs]

For those of you that have done this, did you need to replace both? I'm thinking about doing it because once I'm all the way in there it should be easy to just do both.

[aroderick56]

For those of you that have done this, did you need to replace both? I'm thinking about doing it because once I'm all the way in there it should be easy to just do both.

I always replaced gaskets or o rings when I take stuff apart. I think its about 5-10 bucks for the o-rings. Might as well replace both since its all apart!

I wouldn't want to have to pull it apart again because the old one didnt seal right from not replacing it...

[djs]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[httuner]

OP, did you have to replace the intake manifold gaskets while you are at it too? I am replacing my valley pan gasket soon, was just wondering if I should replace the intake manifold gaskets too or maybe it'll just be a waste of money (Although might be worth replacing now)

[DTMOOOO]

My stock gaskets were pretty shot first time i removed the Manifold.
Get the JHM intake manifold spacers that has the victor Reinz gaskets. those have woked great and no problems whenever i pull the manifold.

[2004B6S4]

079115111A for the two-hole gasket and N90959701 for the single hole seal.

OP, did you have to replace the intake manifold gaskets while you are at it too? I am replacing my valley pan gasket soon, was just wondering if I should replace the intake manifold gaskets too or maybe it'll just be a waste of money (Although might be worth replacing now)

this is a great thread. my car was leaking quite a bit out of the oil cooler o-rings. I'm not sure if the valley pan gasket was bad but I changed it at the same time along with the pcv valve, the oil pressure switch and the little hard vacuum lines that run to the back of the motor all as preventatives. I've heard that the intake manifold gaskets can be re-used but I replaced those and all the fuel injector o-rings and pintle caps as well just to be safe.

besides the o-rings quoted above, here are the other part #s that I used for my 04:
079103161d - valley pan gasket
06A919081J - oil pressure switch
077103245B - pcv valve
077129717q - intake manifold gasket
078103251 - the little plastic dowels or "guide pins" that go under the IM to hold the gasket and help guide the manifold into place. They seem to always break when the IM is removed but they don't need to be replaced, I did anyways cuz they're cheap
fuel injector o-rings and pintle caps - def get those from JHM, audi charges too much for the o-rings and I don't believe they have a replacement pintle cap (a few of the originals will almost always break when they're removed from the IM)


after doing all that and replacing my valve cover gaskets, my oil leak/consumption has gone WAY down and the front of my engine is staying clean and oil-free. I do seem to have a leak somewhere at the back of the engine, though, as I have oil dripping from the center crossmember. the oil pan and everything in front of it are dry, but the crossmember is all oily. I assume that must be coming from the rear main seal, can anyone confirm this? As far as I know, the front and rear main seals are the only other possible oil leaks left my car, is that right? are there any other oil seals that are known to leak (or that can leak) besides the vcgs, oil cooler o-ring, pressure switch, valley pan, and front/rear main seals?

edit - correction, I was using the wrong term but I didn't mean crossmember I meant the subframe. oil is dripping from the rear of the motor onto the subframe. would that be a sure indication of a bad rear main seal?

[HHS - T-BONE]

ok curious, I didn't see any other posts?? were you able to get any answer to your last question about the rear seal ?

[EhEhEhEINSTEIN]

this is a great thread. my car was leaking quite a bit out of the oil cooler o-rings. I'm not sure if the valley pan gasket was bad but I changed it at the same time along with the pcv valve, the oil pressure switch and the little hard vacuum lines that run to the back of the motor all as preventatives. I've heard that the intake manifold gaskets can be re-used but I replaced those and all the fuel injector o-rings and pintle caps as well just to be safe.

besides the o-rings quoted above, here are the other part #s that I used for my 04:
079103161d - valley pan gasket
06A919081J - oil pressure switch
077103245B - pcv valve
077129717q - intake manifold gasket
078103251 - the little plastic dowels or "guide pins" that go under the IM to hold the gasket and help guide the manifold into place. They seem to always break when the IM is removed but they don't need to be replaced, I did anyways cuz they're cheap
fuel injector o-rings and pintle caps - def get those from JHM, audi charges too much for the o-rings and I don't believe they have a replacement pintle cap (a few of the originals will almost always break when they're removed from the IM)


after doing all that and replacing my valve cover gaskets, my oil leak/consumption has gone WAY down and the front of my engine is staying clean and oil-free. I do seem to have a leak somewhere at the back of the engine, though, as I have oil dripping from the center crossmember. the oil pan and everything in front of it are dry, but the crossmember is all oily. I assume that must be coming from the rear main seal, can anyone confirm this? As far as I know, the front and rear main seals are the only other possible oil leaks left my car, is that right? are there any other oil seals that are known to leak (or that can leak) besides the vcgs, oil cooler o-ring, pressure switch, valley pan, and front/rear main seals?

edit - correction, I was using the wrong term but I didn't mean crossmember I meant the subframe. oil is dripping from the rear of the motor onto the subframe. would that be a sure indication of a bad rear main seal?

I'm also curious how the rear seal ordeal went? My subframe has oil on it as well. As does almost all the of the bottom of the engine.. Yay for hunting for oil leaks!

[2004B6S4]

Haven't solved it. I think I may actually be leaking a tiny bit out of the rear halfmoon seals. I haven't found/heard any definitive answer about other possible sources of oil leaks on the rear of the motor, but from looking at pictures I can tell there are several timing chain covers back there and I assume any of them could develop a leak. That's just a guess but besides those covers, the rear main seal is the only other thing back there as far as I know

[Bootleg25Q]

I have the same problem on Q7.
Any one have intake man. removal DIY for rs4 or q7?
Take a look at the rubber hose on the left. Looks a little burned.

RS4 Intake Manifold removal DIY that I used to do my Carbon Clean (Sent to me by RS4 Tony, I believe originally from SilverRS)

http://bit.ly/1u6ZN0j

[Mike141]

I have an 07 A8L 4.2FSI with 77K and am experiencing an oil leak that appears to be coming down the front of the engine. The rear of my engine is dry. Back in Sept when I did my last oil change, there were no leaks. Now I took off the belly pan and can see oil dripping down the front of the engine more towards the passenger (US) side. It appears that it is coming from under the intake manifold. If I look down just in front of the oil filter housing I can see a slight pooling of oil. I am probably going to assume that the leak is coming from the oil filter housing. Does anyone know if that intake removal DIY for your RS4 would be same for my engine and how complex is it? Strongly thinking of ordering the gaskets and doing myself.
Thanks!

[SprintBlueWorld]

I have an 07 A8L 4.2FSI with 77K and am experiencing an oil leak that appears to be coming down the front of the engine. The rear of my engine is dry. Back in Sept when I did my last oil change, there were no leaks. Now I took off the belly pan and can see oil dripping down the front of the engine more towards the passenger (US) side. It appears that it is coming from under the intake manifold. If I look down just in front of the oil filter housing I can see a slight pooling of oil. I am probably going to assume that the leak is coming from the oil filter housing. Does anyone know if that intake removal DIY for your RS4 would be same for my engine and how complex is it? Strongly thinking of ordering the gaskets and doing myself.
Thanks!

Check out the "warm rattle solved on my car" thread for everything you'll need. Good time to do intake spacers too.

[FormulaElement]

this is a great thread. my car was leaking quite a bit out of the oil cooler o-rings. I'm not sure if the valley pan gasket was bad but I changed it at the same time along with the pcv valve, the oil pressure switch and the little hard vacuum lines that run to the back of the motor all as preventatives. I've heard that the intake manifold gaskets can be re-used but I replaced those and all the fuel injector o-rings and pintle caps as well just to be safe.

I'm assuming you replaced the vacuum lines that run from the front of the intake manifold to the two combi valves on the back of the engine. I ended up breaking both vacuum lines near the combi valves in the back, and can't find a part number to replace them. The vacuum lines aren't on the secondary air injection diagram or the intake manifold diagram. The local Audi dealer couldn't find the lines in their system.

Do you have a part # or place where they can be bought? Would rather buy a new set of vacuum lines then patch them up with tubing from the auto part store.