Oil leak - drivers side?

[hunker7]

Hi all,

I am trying to chase down an intermittent oil leak somewhere from driver's side. I say intermittent as it is accompanied by smell of oil in the cabin and smoke coming from driver's side wheel arch, and it doesn't always happen.

I've replaced valve cover gasket along with blanking plugs & cam seals. I have taken cam covers off again and I'm quite confident they're seated right.

I am very close to giving the car to someone to take engine out to sort all the seals out as smell of oil and smoking wheel arch isn't very A8 like. But would rather avoid it if possible.

4.2 BFM engine

Any tips & suggestions welcomed.

[MikkiJayne]

Have you put sealant in the sharp corners of the gasket? If you take them off and put them back on you need to clean off and reapply the sealant.

Driver's side is usually the rear corner of the cam cover or pointy bit between the cam cap and the tensioner, dripping on the exhaust manifold.

[hunker7]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Have you put sealant in the sharp corners of the gasket? If you take them off and put them back on you need to clean off and reapply the sealant.

Driver's side is usually the rear corner of the cam cover or pointy bit between the cam cap and the tensioner, dripping on the exhaust manifold.

Applied sealant to sharp edges, blanking plugs and tensioner gaskets. I'll try and have another look, tried with the inspection camera but access isn't great

[MikkiJayne]

Old oil burning off?

[hunker7]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Old oil burning off?

That was my initial thought, but happening on and off makes me think there is a leak.