JKG

I had my A4 1.8T timing belt changed by an independent garage, along with water pump, accessory belts, etc. about 5000 miles ago. Almost immediately afterward, I noticed what appeared to be a an oil spray all over the front of the engine compartment. The spray and associated smell disappeared after a couple hundred miles, and engine fluids looked okay, so I didn't worry about it.

However, oil is still leaking from somewhere in the engine compartment sufficiently enough to drip from just about every surface on the underside of the engine, onto the belly pan, and from there onto the garage floor. I changed the engine oil a couple days ago, and wiped up the underside of the engine pretty well, cleaned the belly pan, and after a couple hundred miles the oil is again leaking sufficiently to coat the underside of the engine and drip from the belly pan onto the garage floor. This leak was not present prior to the timing belt change or, if it was, it certainly wasn't severe enough to be this noticeable.

The oil appears to be motor oil, though I haven't noticed a drop in the crankcase oil level. I am perplexed as to the source, and wonder if it could have been caused or aggravated by the shop in the course of changing the timing belt. Does anyone have any ideas?


Thanks,
JKG

FoKai

did you check the oil filter to ensure its properly seated?

JKG

Yes, it isn't the oil filter. The leak appears to be coming from somewhere toward the front of the engine, but I can't tell where without tearing the front end off. Just didn't know whether there was something that could have been jarred loose during the timing belt change that would cause this type of leak.

s4master1

is your car auto
possible the cooler hoses for the tranny were losen when they remove the carrier

JKG

It is an auto. I thought of that, but it doesn't look like transmission fluid, unless Audi uses a tranny fluid that looks and smells like motor oil. What do you think?

JKG

Also, as far as I remember, the cam seal was not replaced.