Oil leak after service?

[arjunlall]

Hey all,

I just brought by 2013 S4 in for its 5,000 mile service to my local dealership this Thurs (1/23). They did the routine oil change etc and said everything looked fine. Prior to the service I havent had any problems with the car. Today I just got back from running an errand and noticed something dripping from my car when I was leaving the parking lot

It seems to be a dark oil like substance and is dripping from both the front left and right side suspension arms (not sure if that is the right term, but the pics below should give an idea). Not looking good... any ideas what this might be? I tried checking the oil level using MMI and it just said that the car wasnt warmed up and I would need to wait 2 minutes, even though the engine had been on for a while. It also said it couldnt measure with the engine on, but when I shut the engine off it wouldnt let me select the oil level.

I just spoke to the service department and they recommend I get a roadside assistance tow in for service on Monday, which I am definitely going to do, but Im a bit worried since it seems like they may have messed something up last time. Any thoughts?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hmr253gujfv0r4a/leak.jpg


https://www.dropbox.com/s/1j4rc1cuo1xsv97/fluid.jpg

[Skywagon]

First of all invest in a dipstick. See below. The oil appears to be dirty which means it probably was the old oil? I have no idea where the oil filter is on these engine, only had mine a few weeks, but some oil may have been spilled either from the filter changing or from the drain plug its self. These cars have plastic pans under the engines and some oil may have gotten onto the pan and is now dripping from the car. Also, oil may have been spilled when the new oil was poured in, picked up dirt as it ran down the engine and now appears dirty. I've changed a lot of oil in my day and it can be a messy job. I'd wager your car is OK but obviously have the dealer look at it and keep an eye on the size of the puddle.

http://www.europaparts.com/oil-dipstick-06e115611h.html

[integroid]

The filter is on top of the engine....Could be the drain plug leaking although I have never had this problem with mine.

[shadycrew31]

I had an oil leak after an oil change because I bent the crush washer by over torquing the bolt.

[SwankPeRFection]

$20 says the idiots at the stop didn't change out both rubber rings/gaskets on the oil filter cartridge. Pop open your hood and look at the 1 o'clock position next to the Audi rings on the engine cover. That black cylinder holds your oil filter. It screws together kind of like a mason jar. Anyway, check around the edges on the side and see if there's any oil seeping/dripping.

If it's not that, then the guys that changed it dropped oil all over the back of the engine when they changed the filter. Most dealership suck up the oil from the top, so I doubt it's the drain bolt/crush washer, but I'd check that too just to be safe.

[westwest888]

I thought I had this problem once. It was actually a brake line that loosened up. If the leak is in that location I would suspect brake line.

[SwankPeRFection]

I thought I had this problem once. It was actually a brake line that loosened up. If the leak is in that location I would suspect brake line.

Doesn't even look like brake fluid.

Chances are good oil got spilled all over the firewall when they changed the filter since if you don't undo it slowly and then pull the top and filter out while letting it drain at just the right angle it can drip everywhere. This is even more of a problem if you change the oil after shutting down the engine instead of letting it all drain somewhat out of the filter by letting it sit a bit.

If you'd hurry up and get your diploma from blacksmithing school, you'd know this.

[david55838]

$20 says the idiots at the stop didn't change out both rubber rings/gaskets on the oil filter cartridge. Pop open your hood and look at the 1 o'clock position next to the Audi rings on the engine cover. That black cylinder holds your oil filter. It screws together kind of like a mason jar. Anyway, check around the edges on the side and see if there's any oil seeping/dripping.

If it's not that, then the guys that changed it dropped oil all over the back of the engine when they changed the filter. Most dealership suck up the oil from the top, so I doubt it's the drain bolt/crush washer, but I'd check that too just to be safe.

+1. And get the dipstick.

[TexasDfwS4]

I've had this happen over and over on the wife Q5. The tech are idiots and don't check there work before closing up the bottom shields. They kept blaming the drain bolt seal but if they can fix it the second time why not do it right the first time and make everyone happy. By the way it happened twice on her 2009 and once on her 2012, and once on my 2012 S4, (idiots) Oh and the dip stick a must!

[dbX79]

All this sounds so screwed. First they handwash my car and put streaks in the paint, now they are doing a poor job changing the oil. I'm beginning to not want the dealer to touch my car unless supervised.

[SwankPeRFection]

Simple solutions. Change your own oil and request they DON'T wash the car at the dealership. Simple as that. If you feel that you cannot change your own oil or you're one of those who shouldn't be bothered with such things, then I suggest you throw out some bad reviews for the dealership when you get the surveys in your email for the work they do. Sure, it can piss them off and cause them to dick you over even more, especially when they should help you with something but they decide not to, but things could get even worse if you don't say anything and the problems go uncorrected.

The ISSUE IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN BOOK TIME AND RUSHING FROM THE TECHS!!! It's as simple as that guys. They rush the jobs so they can do more in less time and get paid more. This HAS TO STOP! It's one of the reasons I no longer go to dealership unless I need serious service done or something fixed under warranty. Aside from that, I will do my own stuff. I always have for like 20 years and all my cars have had over 100k miles by the time I get rid of them because I want something newer or different.

[JJP1978]

Simple solutions. Change your own oil and request they DON'T wash the car at the dealership. Simple as that. If you feel that you cannot change your own oil or you're one of those who shouldn't be bothered with such things, then I suggest you throw out some bad reviews for the dealership when you get the surveys in your email for the work they do. Sure, it can piss them off and cause them to dick you over even more, especially when they should help you with something but they decide not to, but things could get even worse if you don't say anything and the problems go uncorrected.

The ISSUE IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN BOOK TIME AND RUSHING FROM THE TECHS!!! It's as simple as that guys. They rush the jobs so they can do more in less time and get paid more. This HAS TO STOP! It's one of the reasons I no longer go to dealership unless I need serious service done or something fixed under warranty. Aside from that, I will do my own stuff. I always have for like 20 years and all my cars have had over 100k miles by the time I get rid of them because I want something newer or different.

+1 on the wash. My SA put it in the notes and they even created hang tags so as not to wash or vaccuum my car. I've read way to many horror stories on here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[arjunlall]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. Will certainly update here once I find out all the details.

[Black3.2]

All this sounds so screwed. First they handwash my car and put streaks in the paint, now they are doing a poor job changing the oil. I'm beginning to not want the dealer to touch my car unless supervised.

JE Marietta or Atlanta?

Dont ever let the dealer touch your paint. I also make it a requirement that they deliver the car still in its shipping wrap directly to my detailer. Never had an issue with that either.

[integroid]

All this sounds so screwed. First they handwash my car and put streaks in the paint, now they are doing a poor job changing the oil. I'm beginning to not want the dealer to touch my car unless supervised.

Dont ever get them to "Hand Wash" your car. When I take my car in for service, they put a tag in for vacuum only NO WASH. The person that owned the car before paid for the audi care package....that is the only reason I get my car serviced there.

If you are going to JE in Atlanta, let me know and I will PM you my SA. He is an awesome guy and has always gone above and beyond.

[dbX79]

JE Marietta or Atlanta?

Dont ever let the dealer touch your paint. I also make it a requirement that they deliver the car still in its shipping wrap directly to my detailer. Never had an issue with that either.

I'll keep a note of this I've got swirls in my paint now. After it was washed last week I filled the swirls with some wax but the swirls might come back. I'm kind if ticked they did this to me. I know they didn't wax it but scratching it up is even worse.

[dbX79]

Dont ever get them to "Hand Wash" your car. When I take my car in for service, they put a tag in for vacuum only NO WASH. The person that owned the car before paid for the audi care package....that is the only reason I get my car serviced there.

If you are going to JE in Atlanta, let me know and I will PM you my SA. He is an awesome guy and has always gone above and beyond.

I'm the kind if person that notices small details and this showed up one day I was looking at the paint. Now the entire body will have to be restored and redone. Once I meet up with you I'll show you.

[arjunlall]

Swank was right, they messed something up with the gaskets on the oil filter. They were a bit vague (probably trying to cover their butts) but they took care of it without issue and no more drip! Thanks for the help everyone!

[SwankPeRFection]

Swank was right, they messed something up with the gaskets on the oil filter. They were a bit vague (probably trying to cover their butts) but they took care of it without issue and no more drip! Thanks for the help everyone!

The B8 has two gaskets on the filter canister. One large one in the same place as the B7 (on the inner lip of the cap) and a smaller one on the very edge of the canister the filter fits into. It's actually right above the threads and can easily be missed. Both must be replaced during the filter change and they must be installed properly.

Here's what they look like.