My GF has a 99 A4 V6. She used her remote start yesterday and came outside to a nice oil puddle and it was flowing pretty well she said. Smartly she turned it off right away. I crawled under there, figured the gasket went bad on the oil pan or maybe the actual oil filter cracked or something... being it has been around -20 for a couple weeks in MN. I had her turn it on for just a second to see where it was spraying out of. It was coming out of the part that holds the oil filter on... see the arrow in the attached pic. Any ideas what this would be? All help is greatly appreciated.

 

That is your oil cooler. Costs about $75 to replace and you will want to change both the oil and the coolant when you do it.

 

Ok thanks. Is that something that comes off pretty easy? I change my own oil and light maintenance but thats about it.

 

Yes. The hose connections, and when you unscrew the oil filter, there's a nut on the same stud that it was on, and removing that will break loose the cooler. Sometimes the gasket between the cooler and the block goes. Might not need a new cooler.

 

haha this is funny, this just happened to me last week. dont panic its a easy fix. here are the steps to follow

1) order the new oil cooler
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B5_A4-...oler/ES258432/
2) order a new o ring because your old one will be ****
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B5_A4-...Cooler/ES2776/
3) follow this guide for a painless install guide
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116585
4) drain remaining oil
5) fill car up with 4 quarts of mobile syn 1 5w-30
5) be happy and drive away

Good luck!

 

Cool! Thanks for all the help.

 

also if you u get confused abt that guide its off of a 1.8t engine but just compermise and you will get it

 

Ya, I have an 02 Passat 1.8t so i recognized everything in the write up... her Audi looked a lot easier to work on being the filter is right at the bottom of the motor. I haven't found a good way to get the filter off my 1.8t without getting oil on the hoses below! Still seems like an odd spot to get at. Well its suppose to get up to like 30 tomorrow so hopefully i can work on it Gotta love MN.

 

yea when you take off the hoses that connect to your oil filter, coolant will come out. make sure you have a bucket underneath the car of a cup right along side with you to catch the liquiq

 

yeah the vw is easy to work on just like the audi just take off all the plastic and it becomes a easy car to work on