So,

I took the car back to the shop that did the timing belt and they said that the oil pump cover plate was leaking oil... now, I have never seen the front of these engines apart, so I have no idea what or where or how or why, but he told me over the phone that that is where my leak is coming from. The car didnt leak a drop of oil before I took it in, except for the ocasional drip from the passenger's side rear cam seals, and this car has been apart 3 times now, and it is still leaking oil. Does the explanation provided match the symptoms? He said that the plate doesnt have a gasket on it, that it is sealed with permatex form a gasket type stuff from the factory, so I am assuming that the seal is ruined, and that Im going to have to rip it down and get it perfectly clean to have any hope of sealing? He also said he would try tightening the bolts a bit to see if he can get it to seal up...

Im VERY frustrated at this point, my car simply refuses to stop leaking oil, and I cant see where it is coming from, so I have to go with what he is telling me. He owns an S4, and has worked on them for years, so I assume that he knows what he is talking about, but unless I have the worst luck in the world, I dont get why it would all of the sudden start leaking oil from a part of the engine that is not touched during a 60K service.

 

I don't know what you are talking about, there is no "oil pump cover" on the front. There is a front main seal, that can be replaced with a TB job, my bet would be the cam seals leaking, upper oil pan, or some other seal. The S4 likes to leak, I have a couple, & I have done all the seals.

 

I would have his happy *** check around the valve covers with a mirror and see if he didn't pinch the valve cover gasket, that or he messed up the cam seal install. An upper oil pan is a possibility, but they aren't a commonly performed repair.

 

well, an update for you:

I ended up having to rip it all down and fix the leak myself. It was, in fact, the front upper oil pan. The top two bolts by the water pump were loose. My guess is that he loosened them when he was in there doing the timing belt and water pump. I retorqued them, put it all back together, and it runs like a champ and doesnt leak any more oil anymore.

This is the 3rd time that I have tried to find a decent mechanic, and the 3rd time I have struck out, and the only reason I paid to have it done was the timing belt scared me a bit, but I eded up having to take it off to fix the leak myself, so from now on, I'll be doing all my own maintenance, like I used to on my previous cars, and use the money I save for upgrades