Hello,
Unfortunately, my 07 R56 S has developed a coolant leak AND an oil leak within a few weeks of each other. The coolant leak has been slow and I've been topping it off until I have time to investigate it.

Today, I had a few minutes so I wanted to check the thermostat and water pump. I noticed there are a dozen or so oil stains on my driveway that are the size of just a few drops of oil each. There was nothing leaking at the time, so I cranked the car up and the oil started dripping. I guess I don't have the car running very long in the driveway so it was easy to miss up until now.

The dripping is coming down just to the passenger side of the flexible coupling at the bottom of the downpipe. So it's in front of the motor, near the middle. The banjo fittings on the turbo seem to be leak free.

So what are the possible culprits?

Oh yeah, also what is the easiest way to lay my eyes on that water pump to see if it is leaking? Take the front passenger tire off and remove the wheel well liner? Or is there an easier way?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

Have any photos or more specific details of the oil leak?
The location of the drip doesn't raise any red-flags as the common oil leak places are on the backside of the engine.

- Erik

 

Hey Erik,
Without either putting the front on jack stands and/or removing the turbo heat shields, I just can't see in there. I even tried using one of those "keychain spy cameras" and a flashlight and still couldn't hunt it down. Tomorrow I'll pick up an O2 sensor socket and get in there to see where it's coming from. There are zero drips whatsoever unless the motor is running, but then we are talking about 2 or 3 drops per second.

I got distracted by the oil leak a few days ago, so I never did diagnose the coolant leak. I took a closer look at it last night and it's definitely the thermostat. So that will be easy enough to resolve, but it's still a bummer.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

Whoa, that's a heavy amount. Have you checked the oil filter housing, and the oil feed lines?
Something has a pin-hole in it that making it leak.

- Erik