Sump leak issue

[Fatbloke]

Hi All

My car was in to a dealer a few weeks ago to get a crankshaft oil seal replaced as there was an oil weep.

Was putting my winter wheels on yesterday and had a spy through the hole in the bottom engine cover to check it was fixed. There was oil all over the sump.

I removed the cover to get a better look and theres oil everywhere on the sump and pipes next to it. Theres also white sealant squeezed out around the top of the sump where it mates onto the engine. Never noticed that before as it sticks out like a sore thumb. They also managed to to refit my mudflap incorrectly and lost one of the clips.

Should the sump be refitted with sealant or a gasket? The work was done under warranty but it's now run out 3 weeks ago.

I will contact the dealer tomorrow. I am seriously disappointed with this.

 

[MikeParkin]

They may have used a gasket paste or equivalent but its a dealer and generally there service is s**t. I’d have it looked at personally.

 

[J99AYYA3]

If it is the sump thats leaking then its a gasket that can be bought cheaply even at the main dealer.
Mine was weeping in one corner so I replaced it last weekend as well as carrying out an oil change.
Drop the under shield, disconnect the sump sensor and then undo the many T30 torx. Gently tap with a rubber mallet or pry gently to remove the sump. Replace the gasket and do the above in reverse. Obviously the oil should have been drained before carrying this out!

Hope this helps!

 

[MikeParkin]

If your doing that then I would replace the sump with a new metal sump as the plastic ones are prone to smash.

I’m currently working toward doing this but I have lots of other mods to purchase. The aluminium once’s can get pricey but I think £50 or so for a metal one.

 

[AlS3BE]

Am I reading this right.. plastic sump? As in then sump for engine oil?
Never had a car with plastic sump. Doesn’t make sense. A small accident like slipping into a small ditch could result in a £10k engine going kaput instead of a few panels needing painted/replaced.
Cost cutting?

 

[J99AYYA3]

Yes you are correct. All to do with cost and it actually weight saves. Another factor of many as to why in standard forms the S3 is a very quick car and keeps it one step ahead of the Golf R.

 

[MikeParkin]

Golf 7R. S3 8V
The s3 has a bigger under tray to the Golf 7R and I know that some have had damaged sumps. The bigger under tray offers a lot more protection against damage etc.

Like I’ve said I will be changing mine most definitely.

 

[AlS3BE]

It’s not just accidental damage. I’ve seen so many mechanics/apprentice over tighten the sump plug and screw the thread on metal sumps. There’s no going back if that happens on plastic as the whole thing will probably crack.

 

[MikeParkin]

You can only tighten the sump plug a quarter turn or slightly more and that’s it. I do my own servicing etc and it’s literally just in and turn.

This is basically the new sump.

My pricing was slightly out, there are more expensive ones but I’d say this was better than plastic.

 

[Fatbloke]

It's a metal sump on mine. I spoke to the dealer that caused the issue. It's going into another dealer for warranty work (started before the warranty expired) and they said to get that dealer to check the sump and call them.
I am seriously unimpressed that it went in with a slight crankshaft oil seal weep and came out with a much worse leak from the sump.
Hopefully it's all sorted properly soon.

 

[AlS3BE]

You can only tighten the sump plug a quarter turn or slightly more and that’s it. I do my own servicing etc and it’s literally just in and turn.
View attachment 193950
This is basically the new sump.
View attachment 193951
My pricing was slightly out, there are more expensive ones but I’d say this was better than plastic.

I’m sure I can find a ham fisted grease monkey to screw that sump plug up probably me inclusive.

 

[MikeParkin]

I think the plastic sump is just on the S3 but I may be wrong.

 

[J99AYYA3]

Audi Techs usually pump the oil from the top to avoid going anywhere near the plastic sump. If you do over tighten the sump bung it will most likely destroy the plug itself. There is a special tool to remove the plug but I used a screwdriver. Again being too heavy handed with the screwdriver can destroy the plug in seconds. The plastic sump in itself is actually pretty sturdy which could be helped by a honeycomb pattern.

 

[MikeParkin]

I watched something on YouTube where they changed the engine mounts and actually jacked/supported the engine by the sump. Obviously they used sponge and something to spread the weight but it was fine.

 

[J99AYYA3]

Ive seen this be done but personally Its not something I did as it literally scared the living hell out of me haha. I know most of the lads that start running bigger power numbers convert over to a metal oil sump but thats more for heat reasons.

 

[AlS3BE]

I watched something on YouTube where they changed the engine mounts and actually jacked/supported the engine by the sump. Obviously they used sponge and something to spread the weight but it was fine.

don't like doing that with a metal sump let alone a plastic one. Some sumps have baffle plates and stuff inside and a slight bend somewhere the oil could get trapped and starve the engine. Maybe just me being paranoid. Don’t see why take the risks, there’s engine cranes and all sorts of tools to lift the engine why take the risk also means they don’t have the tools for the job.

 

[Fatbloke]

Dealer checked the sump. Oil everywhere but they couldn't find a leak. They have seemingly cleaned the area so I will monitor it over the next couple of weeks. Fob off comes to mind.

 

[MikeParkin]

Dealer checked the sump. Oil everywhere but they couldn't find a leak. They have seemingly cleaned the area so I will monitor it over the next couple of weeks. Fob off comes to mind.

No ******* useless !!!! Comes to mind.

 

[AlS3BE]

Dealer checked the sump. Oil everywhere but they couldn't find a leak. They have seemingly cleaned the area so I will monitor it over the next couple of weeks. Fob off comes to mind.

What really happened was apprentice told to mop up mess and then told you to come back if it happens again.

 

[S32B]

What really happened was apprentice told to mop up mess and then told you to come back if it happens again.

My nephew did an apprenticeship at Citroen, he was left to do oil changes, brake changes and other small jobs on his own! Nobody even checked his work before it went back to the customer!!! He was sacked 6 months short of completing his 3 year course after a customer came back with oil all over his engine and none in it because the job hadn't been done correctly. He'd already had a warning because something else had gone wrong and a customer had complained.

 

[pburv]

What really happened was apprentice told to mop up mess and then told you to come back if it happens again.

Standard OP.....

 

[Fatbloke]

Just been checking pictures I took of the sump before it went into the dealer to get the crank shaft oil seal fixed. It had a thick padded cover on it. Now it's gone. Not too pleased that every time it goes into that dealer, they virtually never find anything wrong or the remove and lose something so it comes out worse than it went in. Yet another phone call to be fobbed off. A seriously cowboy setup.