Oil leak - passenger side

xveganxcowboyx · 10-24-2006

I my 91 TSI is leaking oil from somewhere around the front passenger side of the engine. The whole front passenger side of the block and head are covered. There is oil on the underside of the intake tube, running down the lower radiator hose, etc. The bottom of the passenger side of the turbo is coated, but not the driver/exhaust side.

It's a small, slow leak, but enought o make me nervous.

What should I be looking for. Turbo oil feed?

b00stcreep21 · 10-24-2006

Find the highest point where there's no oil, and start there. (I'll assume valve cover from your description). Unless the oil's spraying out, that should give you a good starting point.

xveganxcowboyx · 10-24-2006

Unfortunately it's a very crowded area and hard to see. I've cleaned a lot so that I may be able to see fresh oil, but it is just too crowded.

**Kracka** · 10-24-2006

Valve cover gasket and turbo oil feed crush washers would be a great place to start.

xveganxcowboyx · 10-24-2006

I assume the crush washers are agaisnt the turbo on the oil lines. After looking it appears there is oil on the upper half of the turbo as well, but still only on the passenger side.

Valve cover gasket is relatively new/good condition and the oil does not appear to be leaking from the gasket.

**Kracka** · 10-24-2006

The crush washers that I am talking about are on either side of the fitting on the head. They are very easy to replace and are a common leak point.

xveganxcowboyx · 10-24-2006

Gotcha. Top left of the head with the oil line running down to the turbo, right. I cleaned that part really well a few hours ago so I can't see anything right now. I'll check it over after I drive to and from class tonight. By the coverage area it looks like it may be the culprit. (It was hard to tell at first, because I popped a dipstick and had a failed oil cap at the same time)

If it does turn out to be the culprit where is a good place to get new washers?

b00stcreep21 · 10-24-2006

Get the washers from mitsu if they're bad. If a valve cover isn't torques down right, it can still leak as well

**Kracka** · 10-24-2006

Did you replace both your dipstick and oil cap? Torque down all the valve cover bolts a bit more. When you replaced the gasket did you also get a new half-moon rubber piece? Definitely only go to Mitsu (Brookdale Mitsu, board sponsor and great pricing for DSMStyle members) for the crush-washers.

xveganxcowboyx · 10-24-2006

No, not much of that. The valve cover gasket was actually used, but in decent condition (still rubbery, came with the cover). It's pretty well torqued.

I didn't replace the dipstick, because it only popped once. I put a new seal on the oil cap.

I think I will just go to Mitsu and get the washers and a dipstick (which popped twice on me tonight, making it difficult to tell what may have been leaking where).

Do I just tell them I am a style member when I order?

Thanks for all the help so far!

blageo23 · 10-24-2006

Tell them before you start ordering otherwise some of them get mad.

xveganxcowboyx · 10-24-2006

Will do, thanks!

**Kracka** · 10-24-2006

Get a new valve cover gasket, half moon, and 4 spark plug donuts too! Might as well do everything just to be sure, reusing gaskets is never the greatest idea.

xveganxcowboyx · 10-25-2006

I plan a rebuild over christmas break so I'm waiting just a bit on that, but you're right, it's definetly worthwhile to be up to date on gaskets.