recommended engineer / machanic / garage?

[calvin]

Hi All,

Can anyone recommend a competent, not too expensive mechanic who I can totally trust to fix an oil leak on my S4 that is almost certainly going to mean having the engine out (again)? I am in Sussex, near Gatwick, no problem about travelling somewhere to get it done and in no mad rush to get it finished. With the price these cars are worth now, I am keen to keep the costs down as I just dont have the time to do it myself.

Recommendations / referrals / self praise all welcomed - I just DO NOT TRUST my local audi dealers at all with something as complex as this, and dont know any specialists well enough to know if they are any good.

I would like someone helpful, knowledgeable and not too costly. Is that too much to ask?!

Here's why:
Last summer I lost one of the turbos on my mildly remapped S4 (1998). Due to the age of the car and the anticipated cost, I decided to do the job myself. I've done plenty of mechanics (hefty stuff) in the past and a mate has built and raced cars over many years, so in we went.

We did the job and all worked fine apart from some minor electrical issues from a duff sender and broken loom wire - thats all sorted now.

Trouble is, I now have a minor oil leak from both turbos - I've had it checked over and everything is working fine but it appears that the new seals I bought (from Audi) for the turbo oil feed pipes (braided ones) are not up to the job so it is weeping from both joints. They are so far tucked away that I cannot see any way of getting to them without oiking the engine out again.

Help appreciated muchly!

cheers

 

[Blue_Thunder]

If it it the gaskets on the oil lines I think it's likely the engine will have to come out again. Although if the leak is on the oil return side, you can survive with small leaks as those lines aren't under pressure.

If you can do it yourself, why not give it another go? Now you've done the job once, it will be a much easier task this time around. One of the guys over on AudiSRS has just pulled his S4 engine for the nth time and he did it in under 3 hours (albeit out of a passat).

You won't see any change from £1200+ for an engine pull by a competant garage.

If you do decide to do it, I've read that QST down in Haywards Heath seem to have a good reputation.

 

[calvin]

Thanks, I just really dont have the time to do it right now, with business and two small people to tend to, and access to EVERYTHING was a bit of a pig to say the least (gimme my old mini to work on anytime!). I'd rather pay someone who is going to warrant it being right and get some use out of the car. Its gonna hurt to pay, but its likely to be back on the road this year! I've heard that the lump can be dropped instead of pulled and that's a lot quicker, but whatever, I need to find someone else! Will call up QST,I know of them, but was looking for referral / reassurance.

anyone else I can call up?

 

[Blue_Thunder]

You can try S4Woody over on AudiSRS. He owns a garage somewhere in London and knows his way around the S4. Plenty of forum members have been to see him for work.

 

[aragorn]

how badly is it actually leaking?

Its a gravity return feed under no pressure at all, i really cant see it leaking badly enough to cause anything other than the odd drip of oil on the drive...

And if thats all it was doing, it'd be getting left well alone if it was mine. £1200 buys you a lot of oil to top the engine up...

 

[Blue_Thunder]

how badly is it actually leaking?

Its a gravity return feed under no pressure at all, i really cant see it leaking badly enough to cause anything other than the odd drip of oil on the drive...

And if thats all it was doing, it'd be getting left well alone if it was mine. £1200 buys you a lot of oil to top the engine up...

And plenty of degreaser for your driveway! lol

 

[calvin]

true enough, but as it is, I cant really sell the car, and it is leaking a teaspoon full or so every time i leave it anywhere. doesnt sound a lot, but is embarrassing and messy... and I have a nice driveway!!

as it is i park it over some cardboard in the garage which collects the drops, but it also always smells of lightly ****** oil whenever i stop... but to be fair I hadnt realised it is only gravity fed.

maybe i'll live with it for a bit longer then, i've spoken to 2 specialists today and am awaiting a reply from a third, so will see what the costs come back as - still keen to hear of any budding (and hungry!) ex-audi technicians...

 

[Blue_Thunder]

Sorry Calvin, just read again and you did actually state 'oil feed pipes'. They are pressurised and would need sorting out sooner rather than later.

If you've still got K03's, i've read that some people have been able to get sufficient access to them by dropping the subframe, ie: no need to pull the engine. Might be worth giving that a go first and seeing if the oil feeds have somehoe managed to work slightly loose.

ps. The guy I mentioned in my earlier post (Woody) is actually in Surrey, not London. Anything south of Birmingham is London in my eyes. He used to be an Audi-Tech and owned a really nice S4. You can contact him on swoody123@aol.com.

 

[aragorn]

ye i guess it depends which pipes you mean, the oil feeds are on top of the turbos central core, the returns are underneath the core and run back to the sump.

If its the feeds then ye, i can see your requiring to get them changed, and judging by the amount of oil your talking about it might well be the feeds.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, The turbo feeds are banjo fittings with copper washers either side, the returns are bolt on flanges with gaskets. If it IS the copper washers that are leaking and assuming they are new, they might just need tightened a little more.

Can't you get to the top side of the turbo with the engine still installed? I know they are buried down the back of the bay, but i've never looked too closely at them.

 

[calvin]

thanks all - as far as I understand, its the return pipes - the think, braided ones at the bottom of the turbos. Quite why both dribble I dont quite understand as I meticulously cleaned the surfaces and replaced the compression gaskets with new Audi ones. but there you go.

I have had a couple of useful responses that I will pursue, but I also think its worth getting it into a local specialist or up on a four-post to accurately diagnose EXACTLY what the problem is, just in case the previous garage are wrong. I suppose there could just about be a way that the return pipes could be fixed without removing the whole shabang.

I just want to get my confidence back in the car, and either enjoy or sell it, knowing there is no problem!!

I will go and get a better idea of the problem and get back!

cheers - Nick