laurenB5

So basically after jacking up the car, what I'm seeing is the downpipe is getting wet from the joint to the turbo... AND the heat shield on the right side of the downpipe is covered with fresh oil. The turbo is dry, and the oil lines look good. the area after the turbo in the cat area is clean, its all after the cat that is wet. The back of the engine is dry, the lower right corner of the valve cover is a little wet, but there's no way it could be the valve cover because it is not wet directly below at all (cat area) it is much farther back.

It does not leak at idle or revving in park, only after driving around the block does it start leaking. I don't see any oil lines that far back, so the only thing I can think is that the oil starts spraying out from somewhere after driving or under boost.
I took the intercooler hose off, but there wasnt any oil as if the turbo seals were leaking, and the engine doesnt smoke out the tail pipe.

laurenB5

So I really am baffled at what happened and why it looked like oil and why my engine oil was low. But it was the steering rack..... Im guessing the power steering was leaking on to a dirty part of the engine making it look like oil???? so $800 bucks later the A4 is back on the road with me Thank you all for your help.

dorsal900

Keep an eye on the oil level! The bottom of the dipstick is not exactly "bone dry", but it is significantly low. Audis are notorious for springing oil leaks, especially the "oil cooler" O-ring and the camshaft seals.