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I picked up a 98 A4 2.8 from a dealership and drove it home the other day. While there I checked all the fluid levels, looked under for leaking, and test drove the car and everything felt just great. 1600 miles later I have a wicked leak(down a quart)coming from what seems to be right above the oil pan, or somewhere in that area.Does this model and year leak commonly down there? Is it best to just take it in to the dealership or is there any way I can fix this on my own.I would like to fix this myself, I get this self gratification and a feeling of competancy as repair my car. But I will take it in if it is too complicated. Let me know if you have any ideas on what is wrong with it(what seels are broken) thanks</P>

 

the 2.8 is a leaky engine - moreso than the 1.8t at least. Your leak could be the upper pan gasket, in which case is a huge pain in the *** to change. Could also be your camshaft seals.

I have never change any of these so I can;t help ya. I know its not some simple job tho. If you can take it to a shop that specializes in Euro cars - not the dealer who will rape you.

The cases I mention above are only a couple possibilities. You normally need to get down and dirty and take a apart a lot of crap to diagnose an oil leak.<edited><editID>brrman</editID><editDate>38013.3978356481</editDate></edited>

 

I don't know go about to fix it, but I can tell you that I have similar problem recently and got it fixed by the dealer which covered under Extended Warranty. Mine is a 1999 1.8T. I detected some sort of fresh oil rest on top of theoilpan area and there is a burning smell whenin parking, presumingly I was told becausethe oil leaks out from the camshaft down to the hotmainifold.They told me that they replaced the camshaft seals and that is very common for this type of car. Yours is 1998 2.8, I'm guessing may be having similar problem. Oh, they said it is an 8 hrs job, but actually I noticed that it was less than 4 hrs.</P>


Good luck.</P>

 

I had my cam shaft seals changed as well - though I didn't do it myself. They basically have to take the entire front of the car off - put it into the service position. If you have to get that done its just as well to have them do the timing belt and tensioner while they are in there to save on labor.

Speedracer's car is 2.8 though, so the cam seals are a little different on his, so I can't be sure.

 

Thanks for all the input. I am taking in to the shop on Wednesday to see whats going on. Ill keep you posted minute by minute<IMG src=smileys/smiley1.gif border="0"> If you have anymore ideas, please let me know. Do any of you have any cost estimates?