timing cover leaking oil

[audi-art]

it looks like my timing-cover ( A5 TFSI QUATTRO 2012) is leaking some oil . my dealer made me aware and wanted to fix it for about $ 650. i told them to forget it and looking to find out if i can do it myself. i never worked on modern cars but i have rebuilt 2 classic cars (60s-70s) so i know a little about how to use tools :)

i did do some search online and it looks like it can be done by a diy home mechanic?
i found a thread here on audizine about it on a 2012 Q5 .. i assume procedure is exactly the same for my A5? ( i assume that even the parts number are the same for my A5)

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...oil-leak-FIXED


is there any catch on this fix... i did read somewhere that if the timing-cover is leaking there might be a deeper engine seal leak (crankcase?) be the cause ? or can there be something else below the time cover that leak oil?



the leak doesn't look that bad but i just don't like the idea of an oil leak.

arthur

[old guy]

A defective PCV combination valve can cause issues with block pressures and can result in leaking engine seals. Here's a thread that gives a little more info on how to check the block vacuum. Clicky click®

My personal opinion is that the PCV should be replaced with the latest OEM revision every 50k miles as a preventive measure. PCV failure can cause all kinds of nasty problems such as blowing out the crankshaft seals.

The engine cover sealing procedure should be the same as the 2012 Q5.

[audi-art]

thank you for the reply. indeed a good idea to replace the pcv valve ( i am on the 50k miles mark)
been looking online for a replacement but no idea about what supplier has good quality parts.
maybe someone has an idea of what brand to go for and what to avoid?

jp group
metzger
topran
meat doria
swag
vika
esen skv
vaico *
maxgear
autlog
febi bilstein


arthur

[old guy]

I would recommend going with a genuine OEM replacement. It just isn't worth trying to save a few $$ on a critical component that you will probably only replace once or twice in the lifetime of your ownership.

If yours is a black top PCV the latest revision is 06H103495AH

If yours is a white top PCV the latest revision is 06H103495AK

[audi-art]

ok , thanks
i have the white top so i need the AK version
ohhh i did read here and there remarks about software update needed when installing the new pcv valve version....is this true?..... my car is chip-tuned so i don want to get into all kind of error codes because of the new pcv.

[old guy]

ok , thanks
i have the white top so i need the AK version
ohhh i did read here and there remarks about software update needed when installing the new pcv valve version....is this true?..... my car is chip-tuned so i don want to get into all kind of error codes because of the new pcv.

If you go from a black top to a white top you need the software change and a different front crank seal. If you already have a white top the AK is the correct revision for you. No updates needed.

[audi-art]

thanks very much,
with this info i will be able to replace the pcv by myself :)

[audi-art]

today i went under the car (removed the engine undertray cover) to find out more about where the oil leak might come from.
i didn't find "fresh" oil traces as far as i could look/feel upwards . only half dry mixed with mud etc.
the only spot i could find some small fresh clean oil trace was under the Magnetic Variator so i assume that the magnetic variator seal is leaking (a little bit)
can i only replace that seal by removing those 3 screws from that cover or do i have to take off the whole upper timing cover ?

thanks

arthur

[misterdray]

today i went under the car (removed the engine undertray cover) to find out more about where the oil leak might come from.
i didn't find "fresh" oil traces as far as i could look/feel upwards . only half dry mixed with mud etc.
the only spot i could find some small fresh clean oil trace was under the Magnetic Variator so i assume that the magnetic variator seal is leaking (a little bit)
can i only replace that seal by removing those 3 screws from that cover or do i have to take off the whole upper timing cover ?

thanks

arthur

Don't even start the car at this point. If you are not mechanically inclined I would suggest taking this to a shop. Have them pull off the upper timing chain cover and pull off the Camshaft bridge. make sure the screen and little ball bearing has not dislodged from the bridge. The screen is very common, the ball is not. Oil is pushing out for a reason. Could be a bad PCV, a plugged oil galley(screen clogging), or simply bad gaskets. If the top end is getting starved of oil, it will be a bad situation. Preventive maintenance or spending a few hundred for a shop to take a look and verify and replace gaskets is better than 2 to 6k for a rebuild or engine swap. Here is the part numbers for the gaskets you'll need to have replace when you have it checked. I would buy the gaskets myself before going to a shop and tell them to give you the old gaskets back in a bag so you can verify they did what they were supposed to.
06H-103-483-C-M17
06H-103-483-D-M17
WHT-007-212

There may be updated revisions on these gaskets but this is what I had down in my spreadsheet!

If the screen is bouncing around in the camshafts and rockers, it will score the lobes and start to seize a camshaft which in return will make you skip timing.

[findalex]

If it's the plastic upper timing chain cover, then it's pretty easy. You don't need to take off the valve cover. The link you had is exactly what you need. I've done the same procedure on my '09 A3 with the same EA888 engine.

As for the PCV, I have the white cover on my 2013 A5, and I bought a new diaphram from Amazon. It was the expensive German brand around $50 (can't remember now but will update later if remember) After I took off the cover to get to the original factory diaphram, I found out that it is the exact same one I bought on Amazon. Same markings, looking and feel of material. It was in perfect shape and still supple.

If I were you, I woud replace the plastic timing chain cover since it's leaking for sure. They warp over time, not much you can do. Then just degrease everything and watch for new oil leaks before deciding on the next move.

[audi-art]

thanks for the replies,
i already found an oem pcv valve ( 06H103495AK made bij Hengst) .
the oil leak is very minor , car had it's regular maintenance by the dealer 2 weeks ago...they noticed the leak but no imidiate action required.
car runs fine , no error codes but i just want to stop the leak before it might get worse... and not getting ripped by the dealer with their $ 650 charge for it ( i noticed 2 weeks ago they are almost deperately trying to find ways to make extra $ ( suggested a wheel alignment ,completly refresh AC fluid because with aging the old fluid might damage the airco pump ? they wanted to replace wiperblades because they "noticed they were not good anymore .....(i really had them replaced with new bosch 4 weeks before ) i guess the covid19 had big income impact for them.

arthur

[audi-art]

i thought before ordering the new pcv i double check with my current pcv installed .
checking the number it looks like my pcv has already been replaced with the newer AK version.... and if those circled numbers on the right is a date stamp... this pcv is from august 2017?
dealer must have replaced it with a major maintenance few years ago ?!

[findalex]

Yup, that's a newer one for sure. My timestamp had 12 since it was manufactured in 2012 and the part number ends in J.

You could try torqueing down the screws to spec. Mine had minor seepage, and after I realized the diaphram was still perfect, I just torqued them down to spec. No leaks whatsoever after that.

[audi-art]

thanks, gonna give it a try.

[audi-art]

sorry guys i keep coming back with questions :)
since my pcv has already been replaced 2 years ago....and tighting the 3 bolts on the cam's adjustment magnet didn't help i want to replace the seal on the cam's adjustment magnet.
can this be done by just unbolting the 3 bolts of cam's adjustment magnet and putting the new seal in without taking off the upper timing cover or do i have to take off the complete upper timing cover to be able to install seal 06H-103-483-D. i also want to replace the o-ring inside : Audi Part WHT-007-212-B
and does someone know the torque specs for the 3 bolts ?

thanks
arthur

[old guy]

Arthur

There are lot more A4's on the road than A5's. Consequently the A4 B8 forum has a lot more technical information readily available for the 2.0 TFSI engine. I know that there are at least five guys who post daily on the A4 B8 forum that have just gone through what you are asking questions about. Pop over there and you will get quick answers.

[audi-art]

thanks for your advice old guy .. i will hop over to the A4 and bother the guys there

[eddiemedic]

thanks for your advice old guy .. i will hop over to the A4 and bother the guys there

I have the same issue that you did.
Were you able to replace the camshaft seal (from the magnetic cam adjuster) without taking off the upper timing chain cover?

What about the other gasket inside the cam bridge?
Thanks