Hi Everyone,

I just bought a 1998 Audi A4 1.8T for my brother for $8000 Canadian, fully loaded with every possible options. The car only has 85,000 KM, not miles. so that's about 50,000 MILES give or take. I got the car inspected by 2 mechanic shops and they both said the car is in great shape except for some minor leaks from the oil pan (possibly). I bought the car and the the car has been great except with the minor oil leaks, about 2 drips everytime it was driven. I had the timing belt, water pump and the front crankshaft seals replaced also. There is this oil leak coming from the front which I CANNOT find. It's not from the valve cover or from the crankshaft seal. There is oil residue all over the oil pan seal area...but only on the passenger side. not the driver side. No oil on the oil pan, just on the seams where the pan is bolted onto the engine. I took it to another mechanic that I trust and he told me that is could be leaking from the engine cover that is right in front, just sitting above the oil pan or the oil pan itself is leaking. Is there even a cover like that in front of the engine????? I need help guys. I did a lot of reading already and I know that the oil pan hardly ever leaks and if it does, it's a pain in the *** to change with the whole subframe removal to get access to the oil pan. Your inputs are greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance.

 

Its either the oil pan thats leaking in the front, OR its the front cam shaft seal (not the half moon cam seal that everyone replaces) Its the round oil seal thats directly behind the camshaft sprocket, it sits around the cam. Put a oil dye in it and take off the upper timing cover and use a flash light and a mirror to check where the leak is coming from with the engine running.

 

auditech79,

Sorry, I did change the cam shaft seal already when I had the timing belt and water pump changed because my mechanic told me that it was leaking from there. But then when we changed everything, the leak remains, but no longer from the cam shaft. Does the oil pan even leaks? thanks again.

 

The oil pan does leak after time, it doesn't use a gasket, just a silicone based goo that hardens quickly after it is applied. To replace the oil pan gasket on a 1.8T is a pain your right, what we do is install an engine support tool (those hooks you see on the cylinder head) and hold the engine in place while we un-bolt the subframe and lower it out of the way to get the pan out. Not really a job you want to do yourself.

 

yeah i know exactly what you mean. it's not cheap job either. I don't want to do the oil pan gasket and then find out that it is still leaking and have to take everything apart again. I have a qoute for $350 labour for the oil pan..not including parts. About the cover thing that my mechanic mentioned, is that true? does the 1.8t have an engine front cover behind the pulleys?? thanks

 

Not that i know of, the only thing behind the pulley'sis that round cam seal. Sounds like he is pulling one on you to get a little extra money.

 

thanks a lot for your all comment. do you have a diagram of the engine other than the typical one that I've seen that can be found on google?? I want to see a clearer on the lower part of the engine.

 

I just checked, none of them would really help you with what your looking for, sorry. The best way is to just check it out with the dye trick and a mirror that i told you about earlier. Not much else i can do for ya.

 

hey everyone, I'm back once again with the oil leak issue. After going to several "Audi" mechanics, they all claimed that it is the oil pan leaking and will have to replace the gasket. Having said that, I got the gasket changed along with the motor mount because they were dead. The labour and parts for the oil pan gasket, motor mounts including the snub mount up front, timing belt and cam seal came to $1500 bucks Canadian. absolutely rediculous. But here is the **** off. the Damn thing is still leaking. front the same if not similar location. Its all over the oil pan. Now the mechanic is saying that the block may be cracked. Is that even possible? the motor has very good vacuum and it's still running strong. I don't know if I trust him anymore (the mechanic). Everytime I drive it, at least a few drops on the floor once the engine has stop. Plus I smell burning oil under the hood and into the cabin area when running. PLEASE HELP. I'M STARTING TO REGRET BUYING THIS CAR. Thanks!

 

you have your TB done twice(from first post and last post sounds like two seperate times)? or is that a running total(the $$ amount)? clean the **** out of everything down there and then wait for it to do it again - your going to have to track it down. we can only give suggestions of what it could be.