09/04/2026 12:56 am
Topic starter
Notifications
Clear all
Audi Forum
2
Posts
3
Users
0
Reactions
89
Views
0
Ive handled valve cover jobs for years but my B8 A4 has a mystery drip near the firewall.
- $200 max budget
- fix by Friday
- Portland area
Is there a common sensor or seal back there I’m missing, or is this definitely a rear main seal job? I really dont want to pull the trans...
2 Answers
12
09/04/2026 1:20 am
Just saw this thread and wanted to chime in. Before you buy anything, is there oil actually sitting on the shelf of the block or is it just a slow drip from the bottom? I've seen plenty of these B8s over the years and there are two other likely spots besides that pump seal.
- PCV Oil Separator:
Pros: Super easy to swap, usually fixes high oil consumption too. Cons: Pricier than a simple gasket. Product: Hengst PCV Valve Oil Separator 06H103495AE
- Upper Timing Cover Gasket:
Pros: Very cheap parts, usually the actual source of mystery drips. Cons: Incredibly tight space against that firewall. Product: Elring Timing Cover Gasket 06H103483D Honestly, if the PCV is original, its probably blown anyway and causing pressure issues that force oil out of the gaskets. Let me know if you see any fresh wetness near the very top of the head or if its lower down tho.
5
09/04/2026 12:56 am
Dont panic yet! Its almost definitely the vacuum pump seal back there. Had the same thing on my A4 and it looked way worse than it was. Seriously, its a fantastic cheap fix compared to pulling a trans! I love it when the repair is actually easy.
- Grab a Victor Reinz 06H103121J Vacuum Pump Gasket
- Swap it out in 20 mins Youll save amazing amounts of cash and definitely be done by Friday!