hisport

I bought a '99 A8 recently, with 52K mi, and tracked down the "burning oil smell" problem (with help of this Forum) to the transmission final drive output flange seal.

This flange is what drives the rear propeller shaft. It was leaking gear oil on the LH cat converter.

So, I replaced the seal. Didn't look like there was anything wrong with the original one, though.

And, guess what? It's still weeping oil.

Question for you A8 technos: Can (does) oil leak through the center of this flange and out through the CV joint? That's the only other leak path that I can imagine. Or, are these seal chronic in some way? I used an Audi (ZF) factory seal, and carefully polished the flange seal surface.

Help! My garage is starting to smell like a quick lube place.

Tks,

John

ChrisV

Had oil leak on my 98 A8. But garage fixed this and said it was just some bushing where all the cables go into the gearbox. Sure the source of leak is seal or maybe somewhere else above gearbox and just running down over the seal?

hisport

Thanks, Chris.

I will check it out. BTW, do you have the Audi part number for the cable grommet?

John