[s-cars] Assistance Please -- 94 S4

[Kent McLean]

b1biker at aol.com wrote:
 > Background -- left to go skiing this am and car ran a little rough
 > for the first 2-3 miles then cleared up and ran fine. On the way home
 > the roughness returned and I thought that I might have a bad plug or
 > plug wire. Just before I got home I noticed smoke from the exhaust on
 > a long downhill stretch. After arriving at home I opened the hood and
 > found the firewall coated with oil in the area directly behind the
 > engine. The oil coats the firewall almost to the top of the engine
 > compartment. I also found engine oil to be down by 1 1/2 qts. in less
 > than 60 miles. I added oil and started the engine but could not find
 > any visible oil leak. The engine is still running rough and there is
 > significant oil smoke from the exhaust.
 >
 > Any thoughts on where the oil  is coming from and why the engine is
 > suddenly running rough and smoking would be greatly appreciated.

There could be a few places.  A likely place is the oil cooler or a
line to the oil cooler. The smoke may also be caused by fluid spraying
from the hydraulic (power steering, power brakes) system; the pump is
in front.

I'd clean the engine compartment (Simple Green and a garden hose will
do; cover the electronics), sprinkle talcum powder around, then start
it up for a few seconds to see where the leak is coming from.

I've CC'd the S-Car list; they'll know more about the S4.

-- 
Kent McLean
1999 A4 Avant, V6 Tiptronic
1990 200 Avant mit V8 conversion
gone: too many to count, including my first, "Bad Puppy"