A8 Parts Forum  

Go Back   A8 Parts Forum > A8 D2 > D2 - Engine Bay

D2 - Engine Bay Everything under the bonnet

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 21st March 2019, 07:29 PM
johnny_quattro's Avatar
johnny_quattro johnny_quattro is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Wallington, Surrey
Posts: 555
Default Something not right - puff of smoke (OSF)

I've just seen a puff of smoke emanating from the driver's side front wheel (OSF) whilst waiting in traffic. My brakes aren't red-hot (checked and showing 45C on IR thermometer) and I was wondering if this is due to some seal that goes, inevitably leaking onto one of the front cats? My old A8 used to do this on a regular basis, but I've not experienced it so far in my A8L.

I always thought that it dripped on the nearside cat i.e. passenger-side but this puff of smoke came out of the driver's side wheel area. I'm sure some learned person will be along in a minute to allay my concerns... or tell me it's going to cost more money lol

Cheers all.
__________________
2010 B8 S5 Sportback quattro 3.0 Supercharged in Sprint Blue (current girlfriend)
2000 D2 A8L quattro 4.2 in Audi silver (my ex-girlfriend)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 21st March 2019, 08:13 PM
moltuae's Avatar
moltuae moltuae is offline
RIP 27/02/2021 :-(
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: East Lancs.
Posts: 2,679
Default

I suppose it could be a number of things but that's how my power steering hose failure started. There was also a strong smell, like burning plastic.
__________________
Mark
------------------------------------------------------
2002 FE S8 Ebony Black Pearl
------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------
Cars Owned:
The Tesla Era: 2020 Model S Performance Ludicrous+ (present)
(Black, with all black premium interior and carbon fibre décor, 21" sonic carbon twin turbine wheels and FSD capability)

The Audi Era: '97 A8 4.2 (Ming Blue) --> '96 A8 4.2 QS (Dark Green) --> '02 FE S8 (present)
The Citroen Era: '84 BX 1.6 RS --> '89 BX 1.9 DTR Turbo --> '94 XM 2.0L Turbo --> '96 XM 2.0L Turbo Exclusive --> '00 Xantia Activa 2.0L Turbo
The Banger Era: '76 1.2L Lada VAZ-2101 (Ruski Fiat 124) --> '80 1.7L Morris Ital HL, finished in Ermine White and Rust
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 22nd March 2019, 05:45 PM
RS6's Avatar
RS6 RS6 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 439
Default

Not a coolant leak is it?
__________________
Audi S8 D2 #ronin - Cedar Green
Abarth 500 Esseesse - Sold
RS6 Avant Black - Stolen
Mercedes Benz CLS 500 - Sold
Corsa VXR Nurburgring - Sold
RS6 Avant Grey - Sold
Seat Leon Cupra R - Sold
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 22nd March 2019, 06:34 PM
MikkiJayne MikkiJayne is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,017
Default

Could be cam cover gaskets. There is an oil trap in the rear right hand corner of the right cylinder head so if the gaskets are dried up that corner drips on the exhaust manifold first.

There's also a cam oil seal blank in that same corner, but they don't tend to leak. Or of course the cam tensioner gasket - they can often leak and also drip on to the exhaust manifold.

If it was the gearbox that would usually show from under the car rather than as far forward as the wheels.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 22nd March 2019, 08:44 PM
The_Laird's Avatar
The_Laird The_Laird is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Redmile: Leics, Notts, Lincs border - near Belvoir Castle
Posts: 5,069
Default

Doesn’t the rear output seal on the ‘box drip onto the o/s cat? IIRC, I had just that issue some years back.. MJ will know for sure!
__________________
2002 Final Edition S8. Ebony black with Silver Grey leather and myrtle wood trim.
Current mods: solar sun roof, 20mm rear spacers, 15 mm on front, red brembo callipers, 6k headlights, rear view camera, engine remap, alloy dash dial rings, alloy navi rings, tt/phaeton pedal upgrade, (and custom matching foot rest) dension ipod interface & parrot hands free kit (both fully hidden), av input, tv in motion switched thro' PF switch in blanking plug right of steering column, Audi 'quattro' sill covers, repositioned centre console switches, radio clock, .
Planned mods: auto-dimming rear view mirror, dash cam (as steamship's), fit the ski hatch, refit philips drl's (or maybe not - nope, definitely not - horrible botch!).
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 22nd March 2019, 09:00 PM
MikkiJayne MikkiJayne is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,017
Default

Yes it does, but that is much further back than the wheel arch and would normally present itself as a bad smell rather than smoke. The description of smoke from the driver's side wheel arch says engine to me since that's typically where the V8 leaks - cylinders 4 and 5. If it were the passenger side I'd suspect power steering since an oil leak would usually drip on the power steering pump on that side, not the manifold.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 22nd March 2019, 11:23 PM
The_Laird's Avatar
The_Laird The_Laird is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Redmile: Leics, Notts, Lincs border - near Belvoir Castle
Posts: 5,069
Default

I told you that The Doctor would know!
__________________
2002 Final Edition S8. Ebony black with Silver Grey leather and myrtle wood trim.
Current mods: solar sun roof, 20mm rear spacers, 15 mm on front, red brembo callipers, 6k headlights, rear view camera, engine remap, alloy dash dial rings, alloy navi rings, tt/phaeton pedal upgrade, (and custom matching foot rest) dension ipod interface & parrot hands free kit (both fully hidden), av input, tv in motion switched thro' PF switch in blanking plug right of steering column, Audi 'quattro' sill covers, repositioned centre console switches, radio clock, .
Planned mods: auto-dimming rear view mirror, dash cam (as steamship's), fit the ski hatch, refit philips drl's (or maybe not - nope, definitely not - horrible botch!).
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 23rd March 2019, 04:26 PM
johnny_quattro's Avatar
johnny_quattro johnny_quattro is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Wallington, Surrey
Posts: 555
Default

Thanks to all for the invaluable assistance.

I've just returned from Somerset and although I didn't see any puffs of smoke, I did smell something when I parked the car up just now. I'm sure it's not a coolant leak as I've only recently had the aluminium oil cooler union/connection fitted to replace the stupid plastic OEM part that cracks. My old A8 certainly had the issue with fluid dripping on the catalytic converter but this current problem doesn't smell quite the same though.

Some of you may already be aware that I had some rough-starting recently with an O2 sensor code but this hasn't come back to haunt me yet. Lumpy idle is still being experienced for the first 2-3 seconds after starting her up but it settles down to a solid 650rpm or thereabouts.

MJ's comments about cam cover gaskets / cam tensioner gaskets sounds likely -
I will allocate some time this week to pop down and see DS Autowerks in Crawley.
__________________
2010 B8 S5 Sportback quattro 3.0 Supercharged in Sprint Blue (current girlfriend)
2000 D2 A8L quattro 4.2 in Audi silver (my ex-girlfriend)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.