Hello all, I have been looking hard on the internet for people with the same problem as me and so far I have found very few. I have a 2002 audi a4 1.8t with a oil leak/spray coming from the passanger side close to the front right tire. I did a coolant flange job not too long ago as well as coil pack replacement and since then I smell what seems to be burning oil after a moderate drive. Sometimes I would see white smoke coming from the gap between heat shield and air box above the cat. Less than days ago I stopped driving after about 5 miles and much more smoke was coming from the engine so much so it was coming out the sides of the hood. Later that day I noticed two big puddles of oil under passenger side control arm. I think my engine also eats oil because I have to top off the oil quite often. There was also a line of oil drops from my garage and down the street. The oil seemed to run down the heat wall and on to the 2nd farthest skid plate ( facing front of car) it also apears to leak only when running because there are no drips now. I have felt around the gasket cover and cam valve for an signs of fresh oil or pinching and didnt see any, pics below. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

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can you see the oil feed lines for the turbo? thats on the passengers side. can you get a picture of the back corner of the head and valve cover? or jack the car up and take the skid plate off and get a picture from under too if possible.

 

also a problem i have had with these is leaking rack an pinion seals, the rack is mounted up high so if the side seal leaks it leaks right on to the exhaust and i have personal had an engine fire due to this on my old A4. the power steering fluid is a mineral oil, its green in color and if someone puts the wrong fluid it will swell the seals and they blow out. although im sure you would have noticed the noise and steering effort. but i figured i would cover the bases.

 

Thank you for responding promptly. That's the silver line running inside of the heat shield and next to the coolant flange correct? I recently did a coolant flange job and to get the flange off you have to wiggle and push that silver metal line out of the way, I will try to take some pictures of that area and feel along that metal line for fresh oil. And what and where are the rack and pinion seals? The powering steering fluid has recently been either eaten up or leaked somewhere and i had to fill it up twice once it started making some noise. But I am sure i put the right fluid in it as i did my research.

 

i say its your vavle cover gasket. . .

 

if its the rack leaking just look through the wheel wells, you will be able to see the rack boots. the rack is mounted up high so it will be easy to see through the wheel well. the power steering fluid for that car should be green in color. how many quarts of engine oil are you going through in a week? and how much power steering fluid are you going through. if its engine oil thats causing your problem the smoke should be a bluish color, but the power steering fluid is a mineral oil and gives off white smoke when it burns. let me know what you find. if your lucky pa4ul is right and its just a valve cover gasket lord knows almost every one i have ever worked on has had leaking valve cover gaskets lol.

 

i second the valve cover gasket. its the most common issue and typically most noticeable by the cat.

the smoke also makes sense if its a bad leak, oil dripping on to a hot catalytic converter and then burning off

 

yea cause normally when the power steering leaks it leaks on the drivers side. U can actually pop ur head under the car if u dont have the skidplate on and see the goo in all its glory! Drivers side.

 

Thank you guys for all the responses. A buddy of mine is coming over fridays to help me find the leak so i will tell you guys how that goes. I will also get pictures from underneath the car, the back of the head, and around the valve cover and turbo line. I am going to try to start the car, drive for a bit, and see if i can find the leak. I also have ramps i will put her up on. Check back soon.