D3 4.2TDI Oil Leak

[Lee S]

Help !!

As per the title, although I'm not sure this is the right section just yet. I was told by a family member that last time I visited (5 weeks ago) there were a couple of spots of oil left on their driveway. I have a dirty old gravel driveway so I have not noticed anything. But I checked under the car and there is oil all over the left hand (N/S) exhaust flexi-joint and down to the flange that joins to the first silencer. I just had the oil changed and the levels seem fine. I took the engine cover off an had a good look at everything as far as I could see with a torch and everything seems dry as a bone in the engine bay. The spots on their drive were about the size of a 50p coin and appeared to be a golden colour. There are no lights on anywhere and no errors at all in VCDS.

Anybody any ideas where this could be coming from? Is it more likely to be a leak from the transmission or diff or something? Just wanted some ideas of where it could be from before I take it in somewhere to get checked.

Thanks.

[Lee S]

BUMP !! Any ideas anyone?

[Dezzy]

Power steering fluid?

[IT]

From memory I think its not uncommon for the 4.2's to weep a little engine oil from the rear, I seem to recall our old Q7 lost a little....

See this also:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7211

[Lee S]

I thought it may be power steering fluid but really hoping not as that's an engine out job isn't it? Also isn't the pump on the O/S of the engine and not the N/S?

Thing is that the oil on the dipstick looked a bit black and not clear and the oil on the floor definitely was more clear and thicker, but it didn't have that smell of transmission/diff fluid.

Well I called Audi today and asked them why it was not picked up on an inspection service 2 weeks ago when it has been dripping for at least 5 weeks or so. They have agreed to get it in on Thursday morning for an hour or twos diagnostic, so we will see what they come back with... Gulp !!

[Lee S]

Well had a good look underneath (as far as I could get with a mirror and torch) and I "think" it's coming from the gearbox sump. The front of the box looks dry, as does the rear, but there is lots of oil around the sump pan at the very back edge, so either the sump gasket has gone (how strange) or there is something else around that area that's leaking.

OK. Now what to do... Let's see what they say it is and what their remedial plans will be, will Audi have the knowledge and tools to drop the sump and empty out the old oil (I could ask them to change filter whilst it's off) and refit sump with new gasket and refill and it will be OK? Or will this be a gearbox specialist job? It's very bloody annoying as I had bargained on going up to Mackies early next year to get it serviced. Doubt it will last that long in the state it's in.

Trust to Audi or take to someone else??

[Joe2.0E]

In my experience, an Audi Dealer would be well able to do the work. I had the selling Dealer change the atf & filter when I bought the D3. My local Dealer also changed the atf & filter twice during my D3 ownership. I cover a lot of miles !! Never had an issue other than its a €500+ job due to the high cost of the atf fluid and 2-3 hrs labour.
My D3 was a 3.0TDI but the job wouldnt be any different on a 4.2.

[Lee S]

Thanks Joe. That's sort of comforting to know and yes, I doubt there is much difference between the V6 and V8 trannies when it comes to changing the ATF/filters.

Although the more I think about it and the more I read about it, the more I am tempted to just take it to Chester Transmissions and have the job done by them. They're only about 6 miles from my folks house so would be an easy task and may well be cheaper and better.

Well fingers crossed and we will see what they say tomorrow.

[Lee S]

Well that was a bit of a waste of time... Audi cleaned up the mess of oil on the exhaust, confirmed that it was transmission oil and that it "appeared" to be coming from the top of the gearbox and not the bottom or the sump. For them to completely identify "exactly" where it was coming from would entail gearbox out, which allegedly means engine out too. He was going to talk with his gearbox "specialist" and phone me back that day with a plan of action. Not heard anything back from them since. The cynic in me is thinking that they are sighing a sigh of relief that it was nothing they'd done to cause this on the last service and now they don't really want to know. Poor... but maybe a blessing in disguise as..

Speaking to Chester Transmissions, they concur that the engine/box does need to come out if they need to remove the box for repair as there are half a dozen bolts that they can't get to with the engine in and that Audi would have that down as 34-38 hours labour alone, before repairs, oil, spares,etc. So for me, just the labour cost alone is prohibitive to getting this done with Audi, as well as their lack of care or interest.

CT gave me a much less painful estimate for engine/box removal, replacement and flush and refill but warned it would be more if the box needed repair/serious work.

Long story short - gearbox is leaking oil from somewhere and it's going to Chester Transmissions week after next for diagnosis and we will know exactly where we stand after that. Hopefully it's something they can sort without removing the engine and box. If not - C'est La Vie... It is what it is and at least the box will be like new afterwards and will have had a full service.

The gearbox itself is behaving fine though. Smooth shifts and no noises or vibrations. Let's hope it lasts another week and a half....

[Joe2.0E]

Might be worth spending a few quid on car hire and park it up until the gearbox is checked out. The fact that the gearbox is still working fine would indicate it is just a seal or gasket gone somewhere and hopefully wont be a huge job to sort.