Oil leak help
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Arvada Colorado
Oil leak help
I was doing an oil change the other day and noticed some oil droplets over by the oil filter and also coming out of the bell housing. The droplets by the bell housing look to be getting blown onto the exhaust pipes behind it, which explains why I haven't seen a lot of oil spilling on my driveway.
What is the best way to determine the source of this leak? Any ideas of where to start would be helpful.
Thanks.
What is the best way to determine the source of this leak? Any ideas of where to start would be helpful.
Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
It could be a cracked oil sending unit on the drivers side behind the intake manifold. See if it is wet higher up on the bell housing.
If it is coming from inside the bell housing then, do you have a 6 speed or A4?
How many miles are on it and has any work been done back there.
If it is coming from inside the bell housing then, do you have a 6 speed or A4?
How many miles are on it and has any work been done back there.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Arvada Colorado
It could be a cracked oil sending unit on the drivers side behind the intake manifold. See if it is wet higher up on the bell housing.
If it is coming from inside the bell housing then, do you have a 6 speed or A4?
How many miles are on it and has any work been done back there.
If it is coming from inside the bell housing then, do you have a 6 speed or A4?
How many miles are on it and has any work been done back there.
I have a 6 speed with 135,000 miles on it. I replaced the clutch about 20,000 miles ago
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
The reason I asked is because sometimes when people replace the pilot bearing they knock the plug out of the center of the crank shaft. That can be a source of an oil leak. An A4 car doesn't have a pilot bearing.
Hopefully it isn't the crank plug or rear seal. At 130K miles your rear seal shouldn't be failing and with that many miles it probably hasn't been sitting for excessively long periods of time where a rust ring would form on the shaft around the seal.
Hopefully it isn't the crank plug or rear seal. At 130K miles your rear seal shouldn't be failing and with that many miles it probably hasn't been sitting for excessively long periods of time where a rust ring would form on the shaft around the seal.
Last edited by Rob 02; Jun 13, 2017 at 11:11 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Arvada Colorado
The reason I asked is because sometimes when people replace the pilot bearing they knock the plug out of the center of the crank shaft. That can be a source of an oil leak. An A4 car doesn't have a pilot bearing.
Hopefully it isn't the crank plug or rear seal. At 130K miles your rear seal shouldn't be failing and with that many miles it probably hasn't been sitting for excessively long periods of time where a rust ring would form on the shaft around the seal.
Hopefully it isn't the crank plug or rear seal. At 130K miles your rear seal shouldn't be failing and with that many miles it probably hasn't been sitting for excessively long periods of time where a rust ring would form on the shaft around the seal.
What would you suggest for diagnosing the problem? I'm a DIY kind of person but don't know a ton so I like to do research and talk with a bunch of smart people on here before I get started.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
First determine if the oil is coming from inside or outside of the bell housing. I have heard of using die and a black light to find a leak but personally have never done it.
The crank shaft has a hole going straight down the center with a plug on back.
How much oil are you loosing and for how long?
My car is an auto so if anyone else wants to chime in feel free.
The crank shaft has a hole going straight down the center with a plug on back.
How much oil are you loosing and for how long?
My car is an auto so if anyone else wants to chime in feel free.
