Hello i have a 99 a4 2.8lqm and over the summer i had some work done at a shop to fix an oil leak i was having. They had to replace my valve covers and spark plug wires and a few oil lines/fittings because oil was leaking on top of the motor and burning on the valve covers. Well a few months to the present a small oil burn still seems to be present on what i believe it right above the left side valve cover (when looking at the motor from the front of car). And now my car is making a weird humming noise when i have my foot on the gas. It almost sounds like my car has a small bov when im shifting. I was reading up on oil leaks on this model of car and they were saying that many are caused my the engine having breathing issues. If anyone has any experience with this please help and i will add additional info and pictures to help diagnosis the problem. I would just much rather fix this myself now then bring it to shop then can only half fix the problem.

 

There is something called a crankcase breather system on the car. Here's a link to what is involved.

The ccb system allows oil vapor to be exhausted from the engine. When it gets plugged up, then the oil vapor has no escape route. So it picks the path of least resistance, your valve cover gaskets and cam chain tensioner gaskets and half-moon valley seals.

There are also some round gaskets that look like caps that go on the ends of the cams, and are usually included in valve cover kits.

My guess is that the shop replaced the valve cover gaskets, but not the cam chain tensioner gaskets & valley seals. Or, your ccb system is plugged and now your valve cover gaskets are leaking again.

Not sure what the weird humming noise could be. If you could give us specifics on when it happens, at what speed, whether it coincides with the speed of the engine or tires, etc, we might be able to pinpoint that.

 

the sound only comes on when i have my foot on the pedal. it is even evident when the car is in neutral and not moving. The noise seems to be apparent at all speeds yet speed has no affect of volume or frequency of sound. And as soon as i let my foot of the gas and start to coast the sound goes away. It is not a load sound either just enough to be heard with soft music but it seems to also be felt but i dont know if that is me more or less being paranoid. I hope this can be a little more help.

 

Is the sound coming from the back seat? If so, that's probably your fuel pump telling you to replace the fuel filter before the pump fails.

 

Sorry but the sound seems to be coming from the engine bay not the back seat.

And i was leaning to believe there is a breathing issue how could i further diagnosis this problem.

Now i am in urgent need for help. On my way to class this afternoon the engine was making a terrible grinding sound. It almost sounded like a had lost a cylinder and a cardboard box had gotten stuck in the radiator fan. And this sound was noticeable above idle. Last night before i came home the oil light did come on, but i doubt the engine is bone dry. After class i will try and post a video so u can hear the sound but if someone could help me solve this quickly it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Regarding that last post i just checked under the hood to find that i have cracked my oil pan and leaked all of my oil. So seeing i had to changed my oil anyway to fix this what would i have to add to my parts list.
-oil pan
-oil pan gasket
-oil
-oil filter

 

i have a gasket!

u don't need it tho only the 12v need it