Hello all. First timer here hoping to get some help.

I have a 2005 A4 1.8t. Recently I have noticed white smoke coming from around the passenger side of the engine bay. I have been trying to figure out where the smoke is coming from.
A couple of things:

1) I have been leaking power steering fluid for some time now but it is getting worse (obviously). I’m not sure where the leak is coming from.

2) While changing my oil the last time (1500 miles ago) the orange plastic housing that the dipstick goes into has broken. Whenever I check the oil it’s hard to get an accurate reading but it appears that maybe there could be too much oil.

3) I replaced the valve cover gasket about 6 weeks ago along with the Coolant Temp Sensor. I have looked all over the engine bay from the top and see no signs of oil leaks or spraying. Yesterday I drove the car onto ramps and saw oil all over the A Frame of the passenger side.

Any ideas as to where this leak could be coming from? I am a DIY guy so if it’s something that can be fixed myself I will give it a shot.

Any help would be great! Thank you

 

well u said u did the coolant flange and u are getting smoke from the passenger side. I wonder if the o ring maybe didnt get seated right when u installed it causing the leak to happen again.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VW-Passat-Au...f99824&vxp=mtr

 

I actually replace the coolant sensor. The coolant flange was replaced 2 yrs ago when i bought the car. Over the last 2 days i have driven the car very gingerly and haven't noticed any smoke which makes me think it has to do with the steering. But the drips on the bottom of the car were brownish in color and the power steering fluid is green. I've read on other threads and forums that it could be the crank case seal also. I also read something about a rear seal that requires the motor to be dropped (something i cannot do). I sure hope that's not it.
I will get some pics this weekend and upload as well.

Thanks for the response and for the link to the dipstick tube!

 

anytime sir. I would check where to coolant flange is. U replaced it two years ago. normally those flanges take a poop on us whenever they feel! Wether it was 2 years ago or 2 months ago! I really hate that!

 

Ok I will check the coolant flange tomorrow. I just hope I can locate the leak this weekend before it gets worse.

I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks again!

 

could be the coolant flange - tstat housing - butt plug for tstat housing - head gasket - coolant reservoir

get a pressure tester on the system and look for dried coolant trails

 

thanks for the tips 01avant. i just had the check engine light and ran the scanner...P2181 (Cooling system performance) so you may be right on.

I still have to find the power steering leak and the oil leak. I was hoping that the oil that was dripping was the Power Steering fluid but it wasn't green.

 

what area is the oil leak generating from?

p2181 shows to be from a possible ECT sensor and/or thermostat

 

I don't see any leaks when looking under the hood. I changed the ECT 2 weeks ago b/c of the p2181. The check engine light never went away after I replaced it. I should have clarified that. Today I had the code cleared. There is oil on the A Frame and the sub frame of the passenger side.

 

possible cam tensioner seal - cam plug - valve cover gasket