Oil leaking from rear of engine (EGR cooler/turbo area)

[capt_slow]

My TDI is on the last legs of its powertrain warranty, so I decided to check for any oil leaks. The last one around the crank pulley seems clean after 6K, but I found an interesting one near the back of the engine. Looking back at pics from around the other post, looks like this one was already around back then. The subframe right underneath white CV joint splash shield is wet and so is the underbody splash shield right underneath. This area should be right underneath the turbo, so is the leak coming from there? I cant tell as it's a tight squeeze and everything looks clean from the top (thanks, gravity).

I'd like to piece together something more concrete for the dealer to work off of, other than "oil is leaking", so they dont just clean it up, brush me off, and send me on my way.

Looking from ground up towards the EGR/turbo/DPF area. Oil residue around the white shield (front drive axle in the foreground, tranny on the left)

Top side of the drip shield, pointing towards front of car. Oil pooling near the bottom of the ring/bushing

 

[DivineChaos]

Turbo drain leaking? Valve cover gasket...

 

[capt_slow]

Turbo drain leaking? Valve cover gasket...

Oil is accumulating at the DPF clamp and dripping down to the CV joint splash shield. So shouldnt it be clear away from the block and valve cover?

By the looks of it, the turbo and its oil supply line (red) is right above the DPF clamp (green)

 

[DivineChaos]

Oil is accumulating at the DPF clamp and dripping down to the CV joint splash shield. So shouldnt it be clear away from the block and valve cover?

By the looks of it, the turbo and its oil supply line (red) is right above the DPF clamp (green)

I'm not the op. But thanks for agreeing.

 

[capt_slow]

I'm not the op. But thanks for agreeing.

The turbo and valve cover gasket are in two different spots. The former is right above the CV joint shield, and latter further forward. If the valve cover were to leak it would to be pretty serious for it to drip down and aft past the manifold in order hit the spot in the photo. Not saying this isnt possible, but what are the chances?

 

[adjat84th]

Should be able to see a valve cover leaking pretty easy from the top, or feel around it and see if your hand picks up any oil.
By the looks of where it's collecting though, more likely to be the oil feed line is not tight or the oil return gasket is leaking.

 

[capt_slow]

Should be able to see a valve cover leaking pretty easy from the top, or feel around it and see if your hand picks up any oil.
By the looks of where it's collecting though, more likely to be the oil feed line is not tight or the oil return gasket is leaking.

Thanks for the tips. Was able to poke around the back a bit more.

Valve cover gasket looks clean. No leaks around the back.

Turbo oil feed and return lines dont show any signs of leaks, but there is this black sooty material that has accumulated on the lines and the turbine side

I checked the PCV breather hose and there was no obstruction. I did note there was an accumulation of oil in intake just past the hose. I'm not sure how much blow-by the CRUA makes, but its another area that could cause leaks: failed PCV valve.

Going back through maintenance history, the last work done in this area was a couple years ago when the Phase 2 emissions fix was performed. Since this car was one of the new old stock units, it only received the additional NOX sensor.

 

[adjat84th]

If you can, feel around the feed/return lines to see if oil is collecting near a low spot? Turbo itself looks dry.
Could also check to see if oil is accumulating either where the inlet is (the hard plastic elbow that the CCV breather hose attaches to), or where the charge pipe outlet is. The "charge dampener" seal could possibly leak and drip down as well. That's the plastic part attached to the outlet of the turbo compressor that "muffles" any turbo noises.

If you wipe down the dirty areas, how long before oil collects again?
How much oil do you consume in a normal interval?

 

[capt_slow]

If you can, feel around the feed/return lines to see if oil is collecting near a low spot? Turbo itself looks dry.
Could also check to see if oil is accumulating either where the inlet is (the hard plastic elbow that the CCV breather hose attaches to), or where the charge pipe outlet is. The "charge dampener" seal could possibly leak and drip down as well. That's the plastic part attached to the outlet of the turbo compressor that "muffles" any turbo noises.

Felt around the bottom side of the turbo and the charge dampener it's all dry. Also removed the intake the used an endoscope to check the compressor, blades are fine and it's oddly dry.

I'm thinking of lifting the car back up and removing the CV joint splash shield to get a better idea of where the leak is, but at this point it feels like a fools errand as the only three possible sources of oil leaks (valve cover, PCV, turbo) seem non existent.

If you wipe down the dirty areas, how long before oil collects again?
How much oil do you consume in a normal interval?

First time I found this. Since I'm about 4K away from ending the powertrain warranty, I figured to not disturb the mess so at least the dealer can see for themselves. I've never noted any oil consumption. That said, I have noticed other random areas like the oil filter cap and the bottom side of the AC compressor have some oil build up as well. I'm not discounting the idea that the dealer that has been servicing my car just been really sloppy on the oil changes, but I also dont see any reason how they could have spilled oil around the back like that.

 

[capt_slow]

I ended up lifting the car up again and removing the CV joint splash shield to get a better look of the leak. Two 16mm bolts and some wiggling around to get the shield out.

The oil is limited to the bottom side of the EGR cooler/DPF clamp. All the crap as accumulated at the bottom and you can see where it stops building up.

The top side is bone dry and clean, so is the oil return line to the turbo. Took the endoscope up there to check:

At this point I'm stumped. It looks like the oil leak is coming from the EGR cooler, but how is that possible? From what I understand on the EA288 SSP, the EGR cooler isnt oil cooled, so blow-by oil would have to get through the cat and the DPF to leak where it is.

 

[740GLE]

very odd, i wonder if there's a small weep and what your seeing isn't oil but sooty coolant?

What's it taste like?

 

[capt_slow]

very odd, i wonder if there's a small weep and what your seeing isn't oil but sooty coolant?

What's it taste like?

I'm leaning in this direction as well. I'm seeing a slow drop in coolant at the expansion tank and I'm wondering if this is where it's going.

I've cleaned up the area and going to keep an eye on it. Realized that I got a bit more time before the powertrain warranty expires (5yr/60K, delivered new May 2017 and is at 47K).

 

[adjat84th]

The low pressure EGR cooler there is no fun to replace if you can get it done under warranty. There is a delete kit out there for just that part (DPF stays on), but realize you're in CA. High pressure EGR would still be in tact though.

 

[capt_slow]

Since this is a new old stock vehicle, the Dieselgate warranty covering the EGR cooler expires May 2028 or 162K.

As far as the delete kit is concerned, it might be able to pass CA smog as long it doesnt generate a code. A visual inspection wouldnt catch the delete as the bottom side is buttoned up and the top side is too cluttered with stuff to see the missing bits. That said, I'd prefer to keep the car stock.

 

[capt_slow]

At my last post, I cleaned the area up and made a mental note to check the area again before I take it in to the dealer. That was about 3000 miles ago and unsurprisingly, the leak is back.

You can see very clearly there is some gunk leaking down from the seam between the EGR cooler and the DPF. I took a whiff of the stuff and it's definitely not oil. Just to be sure, took a whiff at the dip stick...yup definitely not oil.

 

[jetta 97]

It is most likely from air pipe that connects to inlet of turbo and drip down. Look under inlet pipe with mirror (it is one that comes from Air filter to turbo).
Question is , how do you drive this car , Push hard time to time or you baby it all the time ?

 

[capt_slow]

It is most likely from air pipe that connects to inlet of turbo and drip down. Look under inlet pipe with mirror (it is one that comes from Air filter to turbo).
Question is , how do you drive this car , Push hard time to time or you baby it all the time ?

I'm a very light-footed driver, but in CA we drive fast.

I checked this area initially when I found the leak and checked it again. There's still no signs of leaks from the turbo.

 

[jetta 97]

I'm a very light-footed driver, but in CA we drive fast.

I checked this area initially when I found the leak and checked it again. There's still no signs of leaks from the turbo.

It is not turbo , It is air pipe that goes form air filter to turbo, It has one bolt on top that you loose and you must twist pipe to be able to remove . Once you remove it look for oil inside .
This will happen is you "light-footed driver"

 

[capt_slow]

It is not turbo , It is air pipe that goes form air filter to turbo, It has one bolt on top that you loose and you must twist pipe to be able to remove . Once you remove it look for oil inside .
This will happen is you "light-footed driver"

Yes. I checked this area as well, since my other car had the exact same symptom caused by a failed PCV valve. The exterior of the air pipe to the compressor side of the turbo was dry. Didnt pry the pipe off, but did run an endoscope through the pipe and to the turbo, nothing but a thin film of oil on the interior walls of the pipe.

 

[capt_slow]

Dealer inspected it and sent the car back to me no fault found. Pressure tested the coolant system in accordance with the repair manual, apparently checked out normal.

 

[ticaf]

Any new development on this ?
I might have something similar, but a bit worse.

 

[tungstenb7]

I’ve actually got the same issue on my passat. i just took it on an 800 mile road trip and ended up losing about a 1/2 qt of oil. same situation turbo and valve cover completely dry and egr cooler soaked. any leads yet?

 

[robco]

I have the same issue, but worse. I just bought a 2013 Passat tdi SEL. When I drive it around town it’s not as bad but when I run the interstate at 80 mph I’m loosing 1/2 quart in 150 miles. EGR cooler has oil on it cannot find where it is leaking. At idle it doesn’t seem to leak. I have replaced the valve cover, but no help. Any ideas ?

 

[RhysOnArrakis]

Add me to the list, have the exact same issue on my 2015 GSW DSG SEL. Mystery leak and can't determine the cause.

 

[740GLE]

1/2 qrt in 150 miles, thats thirsty

"I'm gonna top up the oil, can you check the fuel level?"

 

[DewDR]

I also have a similar mystery leak. It appears around the front engine mount bracket, accumulates on the hpfp but is very wet and looks like oil on the egr cooler. I did an egr delete a while back because the bracket supporting the aluminum outlet on the upper right cracked at the weld and has a slow leak. I'll post the a pick for reference. 2013 padsat tdi here btw. Doesn't smell like fuel or oil. No oil or coolant passes between the egr cooler and the block so this is very confusing. No obvious signs of where the leak comes from. And the fluid is slick like oil. Doesn't feel like coolant. Everything above it is dry.

 

[DewDR]

Picture of the back of the ckra engine for reference.

Google Image Result for https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?media/ckra_back_lower-jpg.145094/full

 

[22eco]

Welp if anyone figures this out please post it. Because I honestly think it’s a head gasket, I have an oil leak coming from somewhere towards the top of the engine. It’s not the valve cover as I replaced that already. It’s coming from below that, around the exhaust manifold maybe at the cylinder 2 area? But I can’t see back there. And it’s not coming from the turbo. I cleaned it all up and there is a bead of oil that appears on the back of the head.

 

[lemcc]

Dealer inspected it and sent the car back to me no fault found. Pressure tested the coolant system in accordance with the repair manual, apparently checked out normal.

Curious if you've ever found out. I think I've got the same ordeal. Looks like oil, but I don't believe it is. Wondering if it's coolant seeping from the EGR.

Did you ever get a proper diagnosis?

 

[thepinoyVW]

Same issue here. But when i ask the dealer here there is note from VW that its normal and to change that is not solution. I cant attach the note here i dont know how to add the pictures from my gallery

2016 Vw mk7 GSW 2.0TDI