Hey guys,

I've got a 1999 A4 2.8 Automatic. I have a nasty oil leak and I have done some minor maintenance and spent some money with a mechanic. I don't really want to spend a lot of money if I can find some experienced people to offer ideas or help.

FYI, I don't know s*** about cars. lol

 

look and try to find where the leak is coming from. if it's coming from the oil pan (metal box looking thing underneath the plastic cover on the front underside of your car) i know some people have had problems because their oil pan gasket wasnt put in place properly and that would cause an oil leak

 

Well for the life of me I can't seem to find a solid leak from the oil pan, doesn't mean it's not from the upper. However there is SO much oil around the whole bottom of the car I can't tell.
I do see a drip coming from consistent areas.

 

I would get an old towel and starting at the highest point on the engine where you have oil start wiping. As you are cleaning off the oil check to see if anything is obviously damaged, loose, hose split, etc. You did not say if it is leaking all of the time or mostly when the engine is ran. For an oil leak like you describe, I would suspect engine oil cooler and filter area, or loose oil drain plug. I know you say you don't know s*** about cars, but are you changing your own oil or taking it in? If you take it in for an oil change, they will usually tell you what/where it is leaking. How much oil is it leaking? How often and how much are you adding?

 

Well I have done that. I do have a constant drip from somewhere above and or behind the oil pan.