black64

So I guess I am new to this forum. I have some experience with Audi's. This is my second one. I had a Audi A4 1.8T (1998) last year and then I got this one about 8 weeks ago.

So any way on to the problem. I started smelling smoke a little while ago, with none being visible. I took it into a mechanic and he said the turbos are leaking some oil and it causing the O2 senses to fail and the smell. He didn't do anything to it. He just told me about the issue and said he couldn't do anything about it. That is why the check engine light is on. But today the smoke smell was stronger and I opened the hood and could see smoke from both sides of the engine. I also suspect the turbo waste gates may be stuck open.

Any help is great thanks!

dust10314

check your valve cover gaskets, cam tensioner gaskets and cam seals. these motors are notorious for oil leaks and oil leaking unto the headers causing bad burning oil smell.

black64

Well the mechanic said he couldn't do anything about it. So now I am taking it to the Audi/VW specialist across town tomorrow. I called him up and he said that it wasn't my turbos because of 2 things.

1. There is no smoke in the exhaust
2. There is no whine or hiss after I turn the car off from the turbos. Which would be from a leaking oil seal.


But he said the check engine could be one of 3 things(cheap easy to fix, like an O2 sensor) and that the turbos may have an issue with the vacuum in the blow off valve(also cheap to fix). So just got to wait an see.

also it doesn't seem to be getting any worse, no more smoke and the smell is still very light and hard to notice. But still going to get it fixed. Also going to have the timing belt checked and maybe changed.

black64

OK The mechanic finally called me back. Here are the issues....

1.Valve cover leak
2.Cam Plugs
3. 5 trouble codes
a. 2 O2 senors are bad
b. 2 secondary air injection ports
c. 1 exhaust gas temp sensor is bad

The cam plugs, secondary air injection ports and gas temp sensor are both cheap and easy to do. I know O2 sensors will be about $100 each and I am unsure about the valve cover leak. They said they will call me back when they have pricing for everything. Whew.. The turbos are fine That saved me like 2K.

Preatorian

If you think the EGT sensors are easy then I highly suggest you replace the valve cover gasket yourself. It's even easier, just a series of 10mm bolts and nuts. The gaskets are like 30 bucks per side from ECS or AZAutohauz. Plus if you are doing the cam plugs it will be easy to do them at the same time as the valve cover. I just replaced all my O2 sensors also. Get them from amazon. They are the cheapest by far and its the regular Bosch sensors. So you aren't buying crap...well other than the fact you have to buy bosch sensors. If you want to go cheaper you will have to get a wiring diagram and buy universal sensors. It can be done just more of a PITA.

black64

OK so the mechanic called me back with the price info.

issue
oil leak
fix
1.Valve cover leak
2.Cam Plugs
cost
$740
I am doing this because I just don't wanna do it myself. I don't know that much about engines and it leaking in a few different places.

issue
O2 sensor fault
fix
reset it
cost free
done

issue
O2 sensor needs to be replaced in the back left
fix
replace it
cost
$180
I will do this myself I just needed to know which one.

issue
check engine on because air pump failure
fix replace it
cost
$700
I will just leave it or DIY later on. It's not needed.


So thats it. Just glad it wasn't the turbos. I and thanks for the help Preatorian. I will check Amazon for the O2 sensors.

Preatorian

Just cause I was curious I priced out the valve cover gaskets and cam plugs as well as gasket sealant from ECS. It's 74.89 plus shipping for the parts. I can tell you its about an hour or so per side to change the gaskets and not very hard to do. 740 seems really high to change the gaskets. I'd save the 640 and do it myself. you could add buying the bently manual and ross-tech scan tool and still have money left over but be significantly better off. Just my 2 cents. I will say the one problem I had with mine was getting the driver side valve cover off because the vacuum line port on the combi valve is too close to the cover.