[Dstenersen]

Hey Guys,

Recently my Passat has been trying to commit suicide by draining all of its oil while driving. I was first able to spot the problem when large white smoke clouds plumed from the engine bay as the oil dripped onto the hot exhaust. By the time I was able to park and take a look at what the issue was, I had already lost a considerable amount of oil and left a very definitive trail on the road. I was able to get to an oil shop where they were unable to locate the source of the leak. I mentioned the Valve Cover Gasket as a possibility and they were fairly amendment that it wasn't the issue. They let me know that in the 15 min span of driving I had lost 3 quarts of oil. They topped me off and I headed home.

This leak was completely spontaneous 100% coming from the passenger side of the engine. I haven't hit anything and I drive like a grandpa. I'm thinking it could potentially be my cam caps. All three good leak spots (VCG, Cam Caps, and CCT Gasket) have been replaced in the last 2 years. The only thing that is different about this year is the Passat has been my main mode of transportation this winter (normally it sits through the cold and snow).

Has anyone had a sudden large oil leak like this before? just looking for some advice on where to start.

It doesn't mean much but here is how much has leaked within about a minute of parking (Doesn't include what pooled on the skid plate)

 

[V6er]

Take the covers off and get in there with a flashlight and mirror.
Not too many places it could come from.

 

[ylwagon]

Leaking oil that fast tends to mean pressurized oil, but I agree with V6er; start with a mirror and light to inspect the outer edge of the valve cover, and around the back for signs of fresh oil. The only time my V6 ever had a sudden, serious oil leak was when the oil pressure switch failed, but that thing is kind of behind the front pulley.

 

[uksparky]

Recheck the black caps in the back of the head....and check the crank breather it could be plugged up...plus on the mirror

 

[PZ]

I would suspect the oil cooler since the leak appears to be from the front/left front of the engine.

 

[JayTheSnork]

I'm with Paul (PZ) on this one.

 

[Tomvw]

Another vote for oil cooler.

 

[sipes216]

4th!

if it is leaking from there, i would perform an oil filter removal to check the tightness of the center-shaft of the filter/cooler assembly.

there was a tsb a ways back about over-tightening the oil filter, and potentially bending or warping the cooler over time.

it's failure point is also a potential loss of coolant.
it's a nasty failure point, if it ever does.

 

[ylwagon]

"Oil cooler" crossed my mind too, but it is very low on the driver's side and the OP was very clear that the oil leak was on the passenger side.

 

[Dstenersen]

Oil cooler huh? I haven't had time to really dig into finding the leak with my new Job but from my initial looksee it was coming from the back of the passenger side of the engine.

I will say that I've had an engine light on for quite some time for a Charcoal canister issue. Any chance that could be related?

 

[JayTheSnork]

your check engine light is not related. I don't think a cam cap nor a valve cover can release that much oil, nor would a cam chain tensioner gasket.

the only other thing that can cause that much oil on a 2.8 would be a bad rear main seal - and if that's the case, you have a much larger problem and lots more $$$, since the transmission and flywheel would have to be pulled to fix it.

 

[Electron Man]

You probably don't have much of an o-ring left between the oil filter bracket and the oil/coolant heat exchanger. Cold oil has a tendency to "punch" these (brittle after ~10 yrs) o-rings out creating the type of leak you have. Replacing the o-ring means pulling the oil/coolant heat exchanger for access.

 

[V6er]

Did the op not say passenger side? Must have missed something.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PZ]

He did, but looking at that picture, there is more oil near the front left of the motor than anywhere else (unless the car has been moved or it's running downhill).

 

[Dstenersen]

Sorry The picture is a weird angle. I'm laying down looking basically from the Passenger side door to the front of the car. The oil is running downhill toward the back of the car because of the angled parking spot.

I can assure you that the leak is from the Passenger rear side despite what the weird pooling in the picture shows.

 

[PZ]

If you are certain it's engine oil, then either you have leaking rear main seal, a huge leak from a displaced cam cap, or the plug on the CCT has blown out and oil is pouring out through it.

 

[Dstenersen]

Cam caps and the CCT plugs are something I can confidently do but I have no experience witht he rear main seal. I wish it wasn't so cold outside or I'd do some exploring and give you guys confirmation of what's leaking. That and having a desk job now :/

 

[V6er]

If it's the main seal then sorry for your loss..
The other items are pretty simple, well if you live in Florida

 

[Hirnbeiss]

Sat and Sun look like they'll be above freezing for you to do some investigating. You need to pull the belly pan to track the source. Driving and fan wind and the belly pan can really mask where it's coming from.

 

[GrandpaBill]

Heh! I don't appreciate that Grandpa crack!