TWO Oil leaks under engine at 51k miles Is this common?

[greenjetta]

2005 Passat Wagon 2.0 TDI 51,863. miles. I took the car in for its 50,000 service. (The dealership is 60 miles away so schedules service when I could aford the time off).

This is the first service at the dealership since I return from Germany. The dealership identified 2 Oil leaks. Both have been documented before but the German service center just noted it and did not finish the work. (Stationed there with US Army).

Now at 51.8K miles the US service center in Ga. stated tuff this is not under warranty.

Now $1,200.00 to repair. This is the second time I have been burned by VW service. HAS ANYONE HAD THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE?

1. OIL LEAK AT RETURN PIPE FOR TURBO, $370.00 TO REPAIR.
2. OIL LEAK AT PCV VALVE ENTERING THE ENGINE. $830.00 TO REPAIR.

First time I was burned by VW is when I purchased my first VW Jetta TDI in 2001 I purchased the extended warranty. The extended warranty is not honored by the contract company when the service is completed in Germany. So $1,300.00 wasted.

 

[bigtex]

I don't think it's common, but some people have had problems with the seals on the hoses failing. I think the seals have been improved with a new part number. Those prices seem really high unless they are replacing the hoses and not just the seals.

 

[Sloppy Snood]

The extended warranty is not honored by the contract company when the service is completed in Germany. So $1,300.00 wasted.

 

[festivus]

Sorry to hear your story. I brought mine in before 50000 miles multiple times for a limp mode issue. They eventually replaced some vacuum lines and an actuator but the problem occurred again within days. By this time the cay was past 50000, and they thought replacing the EGR would fix it, but guess what, no warranty, even though it had the same problem. Not only did I question the diagnosis (the mechanic was clearly guessing), but I wasn't about to pay him to randomly replace parts, especially one that I could clean on my own. The whole experience soured me to the point that I sold the car (search for that thread elsewhere) and I am now the happy owner of a 2007 Infiniti M35. I'll certainly miss my Pssat everytime I fill up, but from every other perspective (acceleration, NVH, transmission shift quality, comfort, convenience and rear wheel drive handling), it's no contest.

Hopefully, this isn't a harbinger of things to come with your car. Just keep in mind that I got 90% of MSRP on my 2004 GL after almost 3.5 years.

 

[oilhammer]

I only regulary service 4 B5 TDIs, including my own, and none of them have had this problem. Mine has 65k+, the other three are higher. Some minor seeping around the charge air tubes is kinda normal and no cause for concern, but it should not be dripping anywhere.

People overfill the crankcase on these almost every time it seems. The B5 holds LESS oil than the A4 cars do, due to the oil pan shape to accomodate the crossmember. I wonder if overfilled oil could be causing some issues? Like I said, all the ones I see (which is admittedly very few as these are pretty rare) are 100% squeaky clean and dry.

 

[Dick_Larimore]

I have two 2005 Passat TDIs and both had a leaky oil return line from the Turbo. Both were fixed correctly under warranty. My 2005 Beetle TDI also had the turbo return leak which I fixed because the connection was easy to get to. The Passat return line is really hard to reach.

 

[greenjetta]

Thank you all:

I have debated this issue with VWoA Customer Svc. but will take the car in on Friday for the work. This is the wife and kids car and do not want to worry about leaving them stranded. I am very dissatisfied with VWofA not admitting the obvious. They need to work hard on building there client base when they have a unique product. Let that product be the spearhead of quality and Customer service.

 

[festivus]

Sorry to hear your tale. Between VWOA screwing me over and some really incompetent dealer diagnosis and service, I lost a lot of confidence in my Passat, or at least my confidence in a relatively pleasant ownership experience over the long term.

 

[greenjetta]

Does anyone know why my oil leak issues are not covered on the engine and drive train warranty of 60,000 miles.

To FESTIVUS: DITTO That Honda is looking good.

 

[StarTechMB]

Does anyone know why my oil leak issues are not covered on the engine and drive train warranty of 60,000 miles.

To FESTIVUS: DITTO That Honda is looking good.

I do know seepage is not covered.
If you have an active leak that forms a drop and goes on the ground/belly pan, it is a different story.