Oil Leak - cant seem to figure it out...camshaft adjuster solenoid??

[522sixth]

So since my rebuild I've chased down a few leaks. Fixed all but one. I seem to have a persistent leak on the back of bank 1. Leaking about 1/2 a quart every 200 miles or so (about 500 on the build so far). The CPS was leaking pretty bad but I fixed that with a new o-ring and some RTV for good measure.

It's definitely leaking from the top, down bank 1. Seems to get worse under high crankcase pressure. I finally pulled the trans as I could not distinguish if their was a leak at the rear main seal due to where the drips were originating. I havent pulled the clutch but the BH and clutch is dry. When its parked its leaving a drop or 2, but it's definitely worse when driving, evidences by the lovely splatter all the towards the rear of the car.

My question is, could a camshaft adjuster solenoid account for this much leakage? I'm thinking it might be coming through the actual sensor. Top of the engine is bone dry. Half moon seals and valve cover gasket is dry. Above the sensor is dry. I did not replace this solenoid when the engine was out.

Anyone have a leak at this location that can chime in? Thanks!20190524_172929.jpeg

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[NALS4]

I can't tell from the picture, but from the memory of my timing job there is a lot of RTV'ed mating surface in that area, and some through holes for bolts that should have been ringed in RTV. Any possibilities there?

[522sixth]

I can't tell from the picture, but from the memory of my timing job there is a lot of RTV'ed mating surface in that area, and some through holes for bolts that should have been ringed in RTV. Any possibilities there?

Certainly a possibilty. I was quite thorough with the RTV but I wont rule it out.

I'm wondering if anyone else on the board has had substantial leaks through the solenoid itself. That is my number one suspect at this point due to the high position of the leak and spray pattern. Everything around that sensor is coated in oil.

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[Jdsb6s4]

that photo doesn't really show much of oil leakage just swap out the solenoid and go from there. try to find a used one online to test cause ECS will make you drop $$$$ on the whole assembly

[DarrenOman]

The upper rear cover has a seal that should stop the oil from leaking by. Did you replace those.
More likely to be that seal than the solenoid.

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[522sixth]

The seal was replaced with a new one when I did the timing. Darren- when you disassembled the solenoid and removed the electrical component from the housing did you see any way oil could pass through the housing around the solenoid? That's what I think is happening.

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[VinnysS4]

Hard to tell from the pic where the leak is coming from. Did you put new camshaft solenoid seals in? If you did, were they OEM?

The only places it could leak from that are above the rear.main seal on bank 1:

Valve cover and/or half moon seals
Cam position sensor
Solenoid seal
Timing cover.

I guess it's always possible it could be leaking through the solenoid, but unlikely.


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[Velox]

When you search the board, There's an O-ring around the solenoid that can fail, which is not uncommon on the 2.0t. And our solenoids are "the same" so that might be your problem.
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...ole-housing***
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...olenoids-Fixed

Edit

[522sixth]

When you search the board, There's an O-ring around the solenoid that can fail, which is not uncommon on the 2.0t. And our solenoids are "the same" so that might be your problem.
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...ole-housing***
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...olenoids-Fixed

Edit

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I read up on the o ring failure on the 2.0s before I posted. since that o ring is in the actual control housing if it did start leaking I would think it would be internal and just leak down the timing components.

I used an OEM seal. I did not RTV it. Bank 2 is fine. No leaks at all. Really appreciate all the suggestions everyone. I'm gonna take a closer look at the outer seal and see if anything is amiss. Its enough of a leak to drip on the DP, down the BH, and off the subframe.

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[522sixth]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I read up on the o ring failure on the 2.0s before I posted. since that o ring is in the actual control housing if it did start leaking I would think it would be internal and just leak down the timing components.

I used an OEM seal. I did not RTV it. Bank 2 is fine. No leaks at all. Really appreciate all the suggestions everyone. I'm gonna take a closer look at the outer seal and see if anything is amiss. Its enough of a leak to drip on the DP, down the BH, and off the subframe.

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To clarify - I only replaced the outer timing cover seals. Not the o ring seals in the control housing

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[VinnysS4]

To clarify - I only replaced the outer timing cover seals. Not the o ring seals in the control housing

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On my car, I had a really nasty valve cover gasket leak that would trail to the back side of the head and drip down on the downpipe. You might shove your hand between the engine and frame to see if you can feel any oil on the side of the valve cover gasket

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[DarrenOman]

Sixth,

The Solenoid has an O ring to seal it to the Cam Adjuster, but if that leaked the oil would just go in the timing area. I wasn't able to dismantle the original solenoid, but the newer version I used, the electrical portion of the solenoid is sealed from the oil.

Good luck.

[522sixth]

Update: after slurping some coffee I went out and poked around. Saw the vent hose off the valley is cocked on at an angle and what appears to be leaks from the clamp. I could never see it from the top.

Theres alot of oil in that valley pan...if it's not venting properly I can absolutely see pressures rising under higher rpms to force out quite a bit of oil. Thoughts on that?

I just 100% want to fix it so I can enjoy the car and the other goodies I have for her 20190525_075929.jpeg20190525_080024.jpeg

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[522sixth]

The oil leaks are coming from behind the engine / tranny mating surface. Dripping down from above. Not a main seal.

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[522sixth]

The oil leaks are coming from behind the engine / tranny mating surface. Dripping down from above. Not a main seal.

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UPDATE: I put some oil leak dye in to try to pinpoint where this issue is. The problem is that it doesnt manifest until the oil is completely warmed up. Running it at idle for 15 minutes will not generate a leak. Needs to have some pressure it seems. After that it's way too hot to reach my hands up in there.

The dye test was mostly inconclusive giving me false readings (hope, lol). This is mainly due to the location of the leak (around the PS tiking cover).

I resealed:

CPS
Valve Cover
Cam solenoid
Checked all PCV hoses

Could a defective Combi valve leak oil since its connected to the PCV system? I "really" dont think it's the timing covers or bolt holes as I was meticulous with cleaning, prepping, and torquing them. Drivers side, valley pan, and oil filter housing show zero evidence of leaks. The oil originates somewhere upon the PS timing cover than travels along the BH around the inside of the starter onto the bottom of the trans.





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[DarrenOman]

Sixth,

Any luck tracing your oil leak?

[522sixth]

Sixth,

Any luck tracing your oil leak?

Man....I've searched with dye, mirrors, everything. My best guess at this point is there is a leak on the main timing cover. It accumulates on the rear of the cover where the starter mount is and drips down. Nothing is dripping from up top anymore. Rear main wasnt leaking either.

I had some crankcase pressure issues when I first got her running. I accidentally left the PS valve cover breather disconnected for a few miles. When I got back I saw the dipstick pushed up and I figured it out. It has since been sorted out but my theory is that the seal may have gotten blown out around the cover. Probably what blew out my CPS and solenoid adjuster seals.

The leak is VERY slow. A drop here and there that hits the exhaust and burns off. More of an annoyance than anything, but doesnt seem to result in any measurable loss.

I'm going to continue to drive it so I can see what my consumption is at. Before I was using 1 quart / 150 miles. I have about 900 miles on the engine so far. I just started tracking consumption seriously though due to all the leaks I had in the beginning.

Engine runs smoother and pulls harder than it did before so there is that

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[DarrenOman]

Sucks to have small leaks here and there, but at least we don't need to worry about chain rattle anymore

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[522sixth]

Sucks to have small leaks here and there, but at least we don't need to worry about chain rattle anymore

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100%!

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[milk]

Did you have any problems with the bolts on the electrical adjust solenoid? On bank 2 I had one of the bolts break off while torquing it down to 10Nm. I got it out fine but I want to know what's going on before using all my replacement bolts - 10nm is not much torque...

Bank 1 went on fine, though I didn't get the torque wrench to trigger 10Nm before I stopped trying with the black bolt. The regular silver bolt (green circle) with the wire harness zip tie guide torqued down just fine.

[522sixth]

Did you have any problems with the bolts on the electrical adjust solenoid? On bank 2 I had one of the bolts break off while torquing it down to 10Nm. I got it out fine but I want to know what's going on before using all my replacement bolts - 10nm is not much torque...

Bank 1 went on fine, though I didn't get the torque wrench to trigger 10Nm before I stopped trying with the black bolt. The regular silver bolt (green circle) with the wire harness zip tie guide torqued down just fine.

Nope. Didnt have any issues with those.

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