A3 1.8 tfsi Oil Leak?
Discussion
Hello,
I've just signed up having read thousands of topics on here over the years.
Having a slight meltdown.
I picked up a used a3 with the above engine on Monday.From a dealer (Groan). I know all the usual drills, these guys gave it a new rear wiper motor and oil and filter plus MOT before it left. I was as happy as I can be. Oil level good when I looked at it last week before I decided to go for it. 83k on clock, Audi history, runs absolutely smooth as a nut, pulls well, everything feels tight. I know some of these consume oil, but my last 2.0 PD is not greatly reviewed and I had zero issues with it so decided to go for this one.
Two days later, driving home tonight, I get the oil light 'top up engine oil' warning. I let it sit for ten mins and see it is not a sensor issue, the oil level is on the bottom edge of the dipstick. It had an Oil and Filter service end of last week as well as MOT.
I have a drip coming from the under side of the engine tray/cover, and if I pop the plastic cover off the top of the engine things are looking quite 'wet' around there and even over the cover itself. I'm starting to wonder if the dealer had topped it up, and tried to clean things up.
I honestly thought with this sort of car I would be in a good place for this sort of thing.. Obviously I'm very stressed about it, and it being the evening I can't make contact with anyone. I'll head to my local chaps first thing (after a top up). I really can't bare the thought of what might be ahead for me.
I know there's a lot of 'I told you so', etc with my wort of situation. I really hope it's not a pup..
My question is, is there any possibility this could be anything other than a major major problem with the car? Or is it major full stop? Wondering if anything could have been done badly by a rushing mechanic...
These guys are established, AA approved, and willing to take care of lots of bits to sell the car to me 'straight'. I hope that wasn't a massive smoke screen.
Thank you so much in advance.
I've just signed up having read thousands of topics on here over the years.
Having a slight meltdown.
I picked up a used a3 with the above engine on Monday.From a dealer (Groan). I know all the usual drills, these guys gave it a new rear wiper motor and oil and filter plus MOT before it left. I was as happy as I can be. Oil level good when I looked at it last week before I decided to go for it. 83k on clock, Audi history, runs absolutely smooth as a nut, pulls well, everything feels tight. I know some of these consume oil, but my last 2.0 PD is not greatly reviewed and I had zero issues with it so decided to go for this one.
Two days later, driving home tonight, I get the oil light 'top up engine oil' warning. I let it sit for ten mins and see it is not a sensor issue, the oil level is on the bottom edge of the dipstick. It had an Oil and Filter service end of last week as well as MOT.
I have a drip coming from the under side of the engine tray/cover, and if I pop the plastic cover off the top of the engine things are looking quite 'wet' around there and even over the cover itself. I'm starting to wonder if the dealer had topped it up, and tried to clean things up.
I honestly thought with this sort of car I would be in a good place for this sort of thing.. Obviously I'm very stressed about it, and it being the evening I can't make contact with anyone. I'll head to my local chaps first thing (after a top up). I really can't bare the thought of what might be ahead for me.
I know there's a lot of 'I told you so', etc with my wort of situation. I really hope it's not a pup..
My question is, is there any possibility this could be anything other than a major major problem with the car? Or is it major full stop? Wondering if anything could have been done badly by a rushing mechanic...
These guys are established, AA approved, and willing to take care of lots of bits to sell the car to me 'straight'. I hope that wasn't a massive smoke screen.
Thank you so much in advance.
Thanks guys,
It looks like these symptoms were unrelated. I suspect some monkey had poured oil over the block when they filled it, as we cleaned it off and nothing has come back.
The drip looks to be coming from the sump tray, suspect the seal has gone so it's in my garage on thursday for a new one and hoping the dealer contributes to the cost of that repair as it had an oil change before I picked it up.
I'm topping up the oil as I go, but have noticed oil-y spots over the rear of the car, I'm wary there might be a (separate) oil consumption issue. It has mostly audi history, I don't mind it consuming a bit as long as it gets through emissions tests on it's MOT. It seems weird, is it ever normal to have oily spots over the back end? (I cleaned it yesterday before another 140 mile drive and they're back again).
Cheers
It looks like these symptoms were unrelated. I suspect some monkey had poured oil over the block when they filled it, as we cleaned it off and nothing has come back.
The drip looks to be coming from the sump tray, suspect the seal has gone so it's in my garage on thursday for a new one and hoping the dealer contributes to the cost of that repair as it had an oil change before I picked it up.
I'm topping up the oil as I go, but have noticed oil-y spots over the rear of the car, I'm wary there might be a (separate) oil consumption issue. It has mostly audi history, I don't mind it consuming a bit as long as it gets through emissions tests on it's MOT. It seems weird, is it ever normal to have oily spots over the back end? (I cleaned it yesterday before another 140 mile drive and they're back again).
Cheers
Yep. They offered to do it but as they're almost two hours away, I thought I'd rather not waste both our time. My choice. Anything more and I'll be straight back to them of course. To be fair they said they don't deal with third parties but will look at the cost and consider covering it or helping out. Which I completely understand.
Black oily spots over the back of the car are becoming more of a consideration.
Booked a consumption test with Audi monday morning. So annoying the sump issue effecting consumption so I feel like I've owned it a week without knowing how that side of things looks.
By the way, AUDI dealer is doing the consumption test FOC, I actually had to call back and check as there was no mention of cost! So that's something...
Black oily spots over the back of the car are becoming more of a consideration.
Booked a consumption test with Audi monday morning. So annoying the sump issue effecting consumption so I feel like I've owned it a week without knowing how that side of things looks.
By the way, AUDI dealer is doing the consumption test FOC, I actually had to call back and check as there was no mention of cost! So that's something...
For the record, anyone researching this generation of engine. The oil consumption was through the roof, the dealer struggled to remedy the oil leak (I know), so I got my money back. It's still been costly. The dealer says things like 'I went to Audi, they said the car was over filled with oil (When I gave it back to them it was on the marked mid-range of the stick), and that it had passed a health check so they weren't going to do the consumption test'. Well, my local Audi dealer said they wouldn't pass any comment on the engine until they had the results of the consumption test!
I had to walk away, there was no way I was going to take the keys back. It had consumed a litre and a half of oil in 1000 miles. That's the only fact I can go on now. I suspect the dealer refunding and saying the car is fine is just part of protecting his reputation as these two events are a contradiction.
Upshot for me really is I recommend avoiding the TFSI between 08-12. It's a lovely car, but there are too many reports of this problem.
It's sad, the dealer will no doubt have another go at the car, or auction it off. Who knows, but it's been a headache.
Good luck and happy motoring!
Thanks for the above input.
I had to walk away, there was no way I was going to take the keys back. It had consumed a litre and a half of oil in 1000 miles. That's the only fact I can go on now. I suspect the dealer refunding and saying the car is fine is just part of protecting his reputation as these two events are a contradiction.
Upshot for me really is I recommend avoiding the TFSI between 08-12. It's a lovely car, but there are too many reports of this problem.
It's sad, the dealer will no doubt have another go at the car, or auction it off. Who knows, but it's been a headache.
Good luck and happy motoring!
Thanks for the above input.
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff