clancy

2000 A6 2.7l was driving fine then just before arriving home it began leaving an oil trail on the ground. Shut off in garage and left about a quart of oil on the floor under the engine. Looking under car with no mud or sound shield on the bottom found no obvious problems. Oil pan cover was not cracked, Oil filter not leaking, oil pressure sender intact, No obvious sources for the oil leak. Accumulated oil appears to be a little heavier on the passenger side. The front of the motor was covered in oil but only on the bottom below the alternator and back to the end of the oil pan. Could not readily see up to the bottom of the turbos to see whether they were the source. No reason to expect it to be coming from there, just looking.

Is there something on the lower front part of the motor that you would suspect to be the source? Just trying to figure out whether this might be easily repairable or will require motor removal. Car runs fine but at a quarter million miles not interested in a $2000 repair. It will definitely have to go to a shop. This is out of my league.

Any thoughts on what it might be? Or things that I can look for with at with a trouble lamp and crawling around on the ground looking up at it? Just raised and on jack stands. Recently moved across country and no longer have my guru audi specialist. Trying to figure out whether this is a tow to the junkyard or try to find a local generalist shop that might be able to figure it out. I’m in a small area with no old Audi independent repair shops.

Any suggestions on pattern failures that would cause a sudden oil leak that I could verify would be sincerely appreciated.

Harleyguy

Difficult question. If you do some research, try to find an Audi independent shop within a couple of hundred miles, get a trailer from U Haul or similar and tow it yourself. You may need to have the car running to locate the leak. Oil cooler/ line???

clancy

Our other car is also Audi A6, so our towing it is out. Our AAA will get us 100 miles. Wilmington North Carolina to the north in Myrtle Beach South Carolina to the south. Both within towing distance. But I need to find an Indie Audi shop. Otherwise I’ll tow it to the junkyard. Time for a newer car. Just not interested in paying some shop a pile of money to learn on my car. If they don’t know these old C5 cars then I don’t think it’s worth the hassle.

I was going to add oil then run it and see if I can find the source. But I’m honestly not that optimistic about finding a shop that I will feel comfortable with.

clancy

OK, started car and after about 2 minutes it started leaking per the photo. The drops are coming from above the oil pan cover plate, almost dead center. See photo above. Can't see above to locate the actual source. Just that it is not the oil pan gasket, it is above and dripping out where you see the oil.

Looking at this file photo, below, not my engine, just one out and on a stand, it looks like it might be coming from either the base of the dip stick tube or just to the left. Or, somewhere above that. Any ideas?

georgeb944

Based on your description of the source, I am going to guess 1) crankshaft front oil seal or 2) oil pressure sender.

Either would send out a large amount of oil.

If I were doing the seal, I would do the sender at the same time. Good luck, gb

clancy

Isn't the oil pressure sender located above the oil filter? If so, why would the oil be leaking from above the front of the engine center? Or am I thinking of another part?

Crankshaft front oil seal is in the appropriate area. Do these sometime give out suddenly creating a flow of oil? Can it be replace without engine removal? Just put into service position? Or, will it take much more time to access it? Trying to see if it is a $1000+ repair.

Thanks

4Driver4

My money is on the seal between the oil cooler and the engine.

dwengi

If the breather hose assembly/PCV valve becomes blocked the crankcase can develop significant pressure - this can cause damage to main seals and massive oil leaks.

clancy

where is this located, please

clancy

I remember reading here about this. Where is it most likely to be clogged?