ltooz_a6_a8_q7

I smell the burnt oil after a long drive, even inside the car, but I can't see oil leak anywhere. Is there any generic oil leak place for this car @98k miles?
BTW, the ding dong bell doesn't sound when the lights are on? Where is this sensor at?

Thanks,

rmccomiskie

My '96 A6 Avant does the same (120K miles). After a drive on the highway, I can smell burning oil. Drive around town for a while and it goes away.

My mechanic says the head gasket around oil passages is seaping. The oil finds its way to the exhaust headers or pipes. I crawled under one day and confirmed that the oil originates near the head/block junction.

The car doesn't lose very much oil. Pretty much normal usage. So, I'm not going to pull the heads just for this even though it is annoying.

I wonder if retorquing the heads would help.

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

Head gasket NOT head COVER gasket? I'll take a look this weekend!! Thanks

islingtonaudi

Are you sure it's ENGINE oil? Maybe the infamous rear seal on the tranny. Many leak onto the cats.

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

I'm not sure about engine oil, rear tranny seal leak may be the cause... Is it hard to replace??

beep-beep

besides rear seal it can be steering fluid. Also something simple like a plastic bag melted on the hot exaust.

rmccomiskie

...the head to block joint is wet. The oil originates there and travels back along the block and eventually drips on the headers or exhaust. I guess the extra airflow when driving on the highway forces the oil off the block.

All Wheel Driver

I get a smell after long drives and it's not motor oil, it's the rear diff.
They usually leak and that might be what you're smelling.

Mine is all cruddy up under there, so I know it's slowly dripping out over time.
I'll have to get the seal replaced soon.