2012 Oil Leak

[AaronB]

Hello! I've been searching for known oil leak locations to help track mine down . Have an oil leak on back passenger side of the engine. Back side of engine is covered. Exhaust manifold seem a bit wet but the valve cover gasket doesnt seems that wet to have caused this. I've added dye to the oil need to drive some more to help identify the location. Do cam seals go out on these. I've read about the turbo drain. I just would like to narrow the location before i gut the back side of the motor.
Thanks

 

[VeeDubFamily]

Just had the cam seal done on my ‘13 TDI with @175k miles. I was trying to find this for months. Just like you said, back passenger half of engine was covered. If I parked on an incline, nose up...it would drip within 30 seconds.

I think it’s a likely culprit


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[AaronB]

Awesome thanks! How did you end up diagnosing it to be the seals? Where you able to see oil coming from that location?

 

[Mikestdi]

I just picked up a 12' CKRA Passat with 155k on the clock, same oil leak as described. Ill be digging into it shortly.

 

[VNF]

I had the same oil leak on back passenger side of the engine. I spent a lot of time trying to identify the source of the leak but could never really determine anything. I finally changed the valve cover gasket and cam seal and it seems to be fixed. I don't think the cam seal was bad but I did it while I was there. The valve cover job looked daunting with the injectors and associated plumbing but was actually quite simple. You need vcds to prime the injectors though.

 

[Lex Tdi]

just had a cam seal done in Nov... 160k. No oil on the front... all on the rear passenger side of the engine. Starting to notice a trend....

 

[d2freeman]

I have a similar leak that I have so far been unable to find as well.
I am at 255k and it is not leaking bad enough to fix right now ( I have pig mats taped to inside of the belly pan to catch the oil that drips) so I am holding out until I do the next timing belt at 270k in a few months, looks like I should also plan on the valve cover gasket as well.

 

[xpert]

I have taken the car in for the airbag recall. When they checked, they found that there was an oil leak invisible for me because the oil was staying in the plastic protective tray under the engine. Diagnostic: CAM SEAL. They replaced it and it took them two days. Now, I noticed that they had to remove the timing belt and in the notes I read at home, they put it back.

I am not a specialist, but I was under the impression that once you touch the timing belt, it should be changed and it must absolutely not be put back. Could anybody with more experience help me with this. Is this a rule or just a recommendation?

The car has 120k+ km.

Thank you!