$5000 oil leaks? 1992 100S

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <3.0.32.19970418143305.0098e890@haas.berkeley.edu> Debu Purohit writes:

> I have a 1992 100S with about 59K miles.  Over the last
> few months, I've noticed a few oil drops on the street around where
> I park.  I mentioned that to my mechanic when I went for an 
> oil change.  This guy changed the oil and noted that there
> must be a leak because it was wet back there.  But after 
> changing the oil and running it for half an hour, they
> couldn't see any leaks.

> A week later I thought I'd try the dealer and took my car over.  They
> hoisted it
> and 20 mintes later told me I had five leaks - valley pan,  intake manifold, 
> valve cover gaskets, oil pump gasket-head gasket,
> oil pan gasket-flywheel seal.  Estimated cost to repair was $5,000!

It sounds like you have a dealer with cash-flow problems.

The symptom of "always a few drops, never more" is very often the valve cover.  
And very often, it's because it hasn't been tightened down correctly.
 
It's your risk - but what _I_ would do is to remove the valve cover and check 
that the gasket is correctly seated around the studs.  They have little 
"shoulders" that aren't immediately obvious if the workshop lighting is not 
wonderful, and the gasket has to seat correctly around these shoulders.  In 
theory, if it's a cork gasket, you're supposed to replace it every time you 
take the valve cover (which most refer to as the "cam cover", BTW) off the
engine.  Replace it, and torque it back gently - 20Nm, or about 15-16 lb ft.
 
I'm a little bemused by the "inlet manifold" leaking oil, since there isn't any 
in there!  Also, although the flywheel seal _might_ be worn (it's a bit early) 
the main symptom is air going _in_, not oil coming _out_!
 
--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club