Help! Oil leak but I can’t figure out where it’s coming from

[Lane8seandurham]

I have had an oil leak since I got my 2012 audi a4 s-line. Originally I thought it was consumption. (Didn’t seem to use much oil and didn’t see visual signs of a leak) the longer I have owned the car the more evident it’s become that I have a decent oil leak. I visually see oil in the top of my motor. (On the valve cover) There is very little oil on the left side of my motor near the turbo. There seems to be a lot more on the right side of my motor below the intake manifold and even ontop of it. After cleaning everything I got underneath and visually checked everything. I could see air escaping (very small sort of bubbling) in between what I believe to be the motor and the head. I have uploaded a picture showing the area circled in red I believe to be leaking and just want to be 100% sure what I’m looking at. The car also has a very small undetectable coolant leak. I add about 40 oz every month. Can anyone help shine some light on my situation because I was hoping for upper timing cover gasket but I don’t see an apparent leak in that area. Please help! https://www.audizine.com/forum/asset...9&d=1673825244

[redrackham17]

Question, what is this a picture of? Is it from the top of the motor looking down behind the intake? Please specify. Also, look at your spark plugs. If you have oil in the wells and on the coils then it's probably a valve cover gasket. If you can clarify from that angle and what part of the motor this picture is from, it would be kinda helpful

[RPMtech147]

The pic is garbage....but it looks like it's leaking from the head gasket.....but I've wrenched 1000's of 2.0Ts, old and new...I've never seen one leak oil from the head gasket...that's like old school MB leaks...not saying it's not possible, but not probable.

Sorry. I get too crass sometimes.

maybe take a better photo...

Common "late" 2.0T oil leaks: RMS, timing covers, turbo lines, oil pans, upper and lower...

[Theiceman]

it's looking up from underneath on the passenger side. in the pic you see the waste gate actuator, and the turbo cooling line with the lower timing cover in front.

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[Theiceman]

it's not leaking from the head. never ever seen a head gasket leak, and besides, the water jackets run up the outside of the block/ head

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[RPMtech147]

it's looking up from underneath on the passenger side. in the pic you see the waste gate actuator, and the turbo cooling line with the lower timing cover in front.

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The area OP circled in red is the "right"side of the block(Passenger for us that drive on the left side), just below where the head mates to the block...



just going off of what I'm given.

Maybe the oil line spraying up? Just shooting in the dark trouble shooting for fun.

[Lane8seandurham]

Yeah I’m sorry it’s hard to get a good picture. Getting my phone to focus was the problem. It’s the drivers side under the intake manifold. I’m gonna try some uv dye and maybe it can lead me directly to where I need to fix. I’ll keep everyone posted, thanks for the input guys!

[Danzzo]

It's weird because I have that same issue on my Q5. I was told I am getting 370m before needing to fill up a quart of oil due to oil consumption but at that sort of loss per mileage I would have expected to see a ton more oil consumption signs. I look at the side of the engine near the turbo side and see what appears to be grime and oil collection. Not sure if it's enough to rule out oil consumption but it's something i'll have to look into for sure.

[Lane8seandurham]

Yeah, who wants to add a quart of oil every time they fill up the car with gas… that’s rediculous.

[Theiceman]

my money is on lower timing cover , oil blowing back.

[MongoMcG]

my money is on lower timing cover , oil blowing back.

Since there is oil on the valve cover, I would not rule out the upper timing chain cover as a possibility, as well.

[Theiceman]

It's weird because I have that same issue on my Q5. I was told I am getting 370m before needing to fill up a quart of oil due to oil consumption but at that sort of loss per mileage I would have expected to see a ton more oil consumption signs. I look at the side of the engine near the turbo side and see what appears to be grime and oil collection. Not sure if it's enough to rule out oil consumption but it's something i'll have to look into for sure.

yup you are burning it so the whole engine has to come apart anyway... your car would look like the exon valdez if it were leaking that much.

- - - Updated - - -

Since there is oil on the valve cover, I would not rule out the upper timing chain cover as a possibility, as well.

Absolutely .... i very high possibility.. those are the two big leaker areas .. still don't think its leaking a quart every 370 miles though lol.

[Lane8seandurham]

So after the UV test today I realized that my oil drain plug is leaking. It has a constant drip. I plan on fixing that issue first and then checking for leaks after. I don’t understand how a plug leak could make its way to the lower timing chain cover… I constantly put oil in the car without a funnel so I’m hoping the only reason oil was on the valve cover was from me spilling small amounts over time. I checked for about an hour on the top and of the motor and never saw anything concerning. There is a possible very small leak at the upper timing chain cover and maybe that is the reason for fluid being on the lower timing chain cover. But the only noticeable leak was at the oil drain plug. I’m gonna start there and clean the motor very well, then see if any oil spots occur after cleaning. Thanks for the help! I’ll keep you posted.

[RPMtech147]

Yeah I’m sorry it’s hard to get a good picture. Getting my phone to focus was the problem. It’s the drivers side under the intake manifold. I’m gonna try some uv dye and maybe it can lead me directly to where I need to fix. I’ll keep everyone posted, thanks for the input guys!

This is implausible. The turbo is on the (USA and German) passenger side, the right side, the starboard side(lol)...I see the waste gate actuator and the oil lines for the turbo in the photo, but you're saying it's on the intake side, the "port" of "left" side...

[Theiceman]

This is implausible. The turbo is on the (USA and German) passenger side, the right side, the starboard side(lol)...I see the waste gate actuator and the oil lines for the turbo in the photo, but you're saying it's on the intake side, the "port" of "left" side...

lol yup... that pic he posted is definitely passenger side by the turbo. sounds like the thing is bleeding out everywhere.

[Lane8seandurham]

Your right it was the passenger side…