quarter size oil spot on garage floor...

[Bigglezworth]

Hello all,

I guess i should of posted earlier about my 2003 RS6 when i first started lurking around this site a few month back, but i guess i will start with a problem, hopefully minor. I picked up my RS6 last September and i love this car. It has 82,000 miles on the clock, and everything needed done on the car was completed right before i picked it up, including timing belt replacement just to name a main one, every receipts included. I do not drive this car daily.

I noticed a quarter size oil drop on the garage floor, driver side, front of the engine. this is the second time it has happened. I removed the covers and did a visual inspection from where it could be and could not see anything anywhere. Obviously, i am sure i can't see everywhere and could be missing it, any ideas from anyone? anyone ever dealt with that? The interesting part is that when the car just sits in the garage for a week or two, no sign of oil anywhere, but when i use it for a day or two and park it, that's when it occurs.

It could be nothing much at all but i would like to address it ahead of a possible bigger issue.
Thanks for your time!

Impossible to diagnose via description above. This will require additional visual confirmation or 'taste' test. It's my observation that there are at least 5 items that could produce what you are possibly seeing:
1. Engine oil leak from a valve cover, crank seal, or oil pan drain plug.
2. Transmission oil leak from radiator cooler, or from front mount cooler/hoses.
3. Power steering fluid leak from pump or resevoir.
4. Engine oil leaking from lower intercooler hose, or from intercooler body.
5. Coolant leak from radiator, water pump, or auxilary radiator coolers.

Any one of these items can produce a percieved leak as they can leak anywhere along the front of the engine bay, drip down on to the inspection cover, and then travel over to the low point where it drips out of a hole. We really need to see a top photo (engine side) of the inspection cover to help. Snap one and post it. Also, a 'taste' of the fluid will tell you whether or not it's engine oil, transmission gear fluid, power steering fluid, or coolant fluid. I realize this isn't for everyone, and someone who hasn't done it the past will likely not know how to differentiate, but the taste test is always bang on IMO.

That aside, a quarter size leak is peanuts. I currently have a leaking intercooler (due to failing turbo), leaking PS pump/resvoir/hose, leaking water pump, and leaking oil cooler..... Time to overhaul a bunch of things

[rah]

Impossible to diagnose via description above. This will require additional visual confirmation or 'taste' test. It's my observation that there are at least 5 items that could produce what you are possibly seeing:
1. Engine oil leak from a valve cover, crank seal, or oil pan drain plug.
2. Transmission oil leak from radiator cooler, or from front mount cooler/hoses.
3. Power steering fluid leak from pump or resevoir.
4. Engine oil leaking from lower intercooler hose, or from intercooler body.
5. Coolant leak from radiator, water pump, or auxilary radiator coolers.

Any one of these items can produce a percieved leak as they can leak anywhere along the front of the engine bay, drip down on to the inspection cover, and then travel over to the low point where it drips out of a hole. We really need to see a top photo (engine side) of the inspection cover to help. Snap one and post it. Also, a 'taste' of the fluid will tell you whether or not it's engine oil, transmission gear fluid, power steering fluid, or coolant fluid. I realize this isn't for everyone, and someone who hasn't done it the past will likely not know how to differentiate, but the taste test is always bang on IMO.

That aside, a quarter size leak is peanuts. I currently have a leaking intercooler (due to failing turbo), leaking PS pump/resvoir/hose, leaking water pump, and leaking oil cooler..... Time to overhaul a bunch of things

I will try to take a picture soon for you guys to show it. do you want top covers removed for better visibility? I think it is motor oil but next drive i will check it again (cleaned up the spot already) and go from there. Valve covers is what i was wondering but i thing that was also what they adressed before i purchased the car. I will go thru my paperwork soon to see what they all did to try to see what all was done and list that.

Thank you all for your responces!

[lswing]

I will try to take a picture soon for you guys to show it. do you want top covers removed for better visibility? I think it is motor oil but next drive i will check it again (cleaned up the spot already) and go from there. Valve covers is what i was wondering but i thing that was also what they adressed before i purchased the car. I will go thru my paperwork soon to see what they all did to try to see what all was done and list that.

Thank you all for your responces!

Belly pan, remove the belly pan, if you have one...need that done to specify proximate location.

[rah]

Belly pan, remove the belly pan, if you have one...need that done to specify proximate location.

I unfortunately do not have a belly pan, one of the thing missing when i purchased the car, so it wont be an issue when i take the picture. I got to find one.

[Bigglezworth]

I unfortunately do not have a belly pan, one of the thing missing when i purchased the car, so it wont be an issue when i take the picture. I got to find one.

Look up for the wet part. Should be relatively easy to spot if there is only a few drops on the floor.

[rah]

Look up for the wet part. Should be relatively easy to spot if there is only a few drops on the floor.

I will, hopefully Sunday. I have been busy at work and helping a friend with his C5 S6 suspension upgrades. I will post as soon as i get a look at it. Thank you guys for all your help so far