Rear Timing Cover gasket under Dieselgate?

Liamfm

New member
Joined
Jun 26, 2024
Location
United States
TDI
Q7
A few weeks ago the car was in for an oil change. Tech noticed a "large oil leak" and it was in today for diagnostics. Result is it needs a rear timing cover gasket and a drivers side valve cover gasket. Apparently the valve cover gasket can be performed at the same time for no charge, but the rear timing cover is listed at 42 hrs of labor and $1060 in parts for a total of $9526.80, none of which, they claim, is covered by Dieselgate.

The car is a 2015 Q7 TDI, inservice date of 2018, and only about 45k miles on it.

Any suggestions? Other than "audi really built a **** engine". My 12 year old had to ask, in front of the service person, why my 23 year old Saab with 200k miles has never needed anything on the engine except a single valve cover gasket (that I can do, in my driveway, with one arm behind my back in under an hour).

What's the best way to get the nice folks at Audi to have a look at this as a warranty claim? $9500 to change a gasket out on a car with 45k is just mind blowing.

And, what else should I have done while they are in there?
 

gforce1108

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 2, 2006
Location
Newburgh, NY
TDI
04 Jetta GLS BEW, 14 Audi A7 V6 TDI, 13 Porsche Cayenne V6 TDI
Call audi customer care and quote the dieselgate agreements that state oil leaks are covered (don't say "seepage"). They don't particularly like being reminded of the scandal but it works to get the point across. Valve cover gasket is also covered (but may actually be an injector seal since they leak out under the valve cover).

Bad part of getting them to do it is dealing with whatever other problems they cause... Several people have had multiple issues after audi has pulled and reinstalled their engines.
 

TurboABA

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Location
Kitchener, ON
TDI
RIP-2010 Jetta 6spd 2014 Touareg Execline '14 A6 Technik S-line
I'm not familiar with the Audi powertrain warranties, but I know the Touaregs got 10/100 on your side of the border..... I'd be surprised if the Q7 didn't match it....
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....

Liamfm

New member
Joined
Jun 26, 2024
Location
United States
TDI
Q7
Oilhammer, you're suggesting it is the upper oil pan cover, where the tech is suggesting it is the rear timing cover as he and I discussed my desire (and his need) to replace the rear main while in there. (item 40 in this image)

I've opened a case with AoA and should have correspondence from them here in the next few days. Appreciate the attachment provided previously!


 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Well first, it would be almost impossible to say if it was the timer cover or the oil pan leaking, since they are both sealed against each other, and the block, all at the same location and you cannot really see in there.

Second, there is a KNOWN issue with the leak at the oil pan, not the timing case. But it doesn't matter, because it all has to come apart anyway. If I had to guess, I'd say once the inner timing cover is off, you're probably only another few hours away from also resealing the oil pan.... kinda dumb to spend all that time and not do everything... but whatever.

I've already a couple of these, one I did a thread about:

2014 CNRB reseal | TDIClub Forums
 

Liamfm

New member
Joined
Jun 26, 2024
Location
United States
TDI
Q7
Well first, it would be almost impossible to say if it was the timer cover or the oil pan leaking, since they are both sealed against each other, and the block, all at the same location and you cannot really see in there.

Second, there is a KNOWN issue with the leak at the oil pan, not the timing case. But it doesn't matter, because it all has to come apart anyway. If I had to guess, I'd say once the inner timing cover is off, you're probably only another few hours away from also resealing the oil pan.... kinda dumb to spend all that time and not do everything... but whatever.

I've already a couple of these, one I did a thread about:

2014 CNRB reseal | TDIClub Forums
Thanks for the quick response. I just looked at your thread. Now I see why the mechanic doesn't want to do the job!

In your opinion, is it better to do this job, or just let it leak? Or should I try to get it covered, but then wait quite a long time before having the work done (if that's even possible to do). Like "yeah, you should do it, but try to get it done at 100k when other stuff is going to be bad vs now at 46k"?
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
If it is leaking to the point where it is making a mess of things, and dripping on the ground, then it really needs to be fixed. Given the nature of the engine, and the general complexity of the design, I would not lose any sleep over a slight seepage.

I wouldn't want to do the job for half pay, either.
 
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