Catastrophic oil leak

4.2 V8 40v biturbo - 450 bhp
4.2 V8 40v biturbo - 480 bhp (plus)
User avatar
Human Joist
3rd Gear
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:04 pm

Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Human Joist » Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:04 pm

1E714777-E09E-4FFF-8010-23B19EB148ED.jpeg
59F7F0F3-B83F-478A-B7E3-452DC6A96F62.jpeg
Well having just got the car back on the road from the after run pump and knock sensor fault. All running smoothly. It expired on the dual carriageway yesterday in mega smoke. Dumped all the oil at around 100mph. Got oil level/pressure warning so switched to neutral and engine off and coasted to a lay-by. All oil running out the bottom drivers corner coated the entire side and rear of the car in oil spray. All in the wheels etc etc. Got it recovered home and will look at it tomorrow. But have a feeling it may be oil cooler related. Looking inside the engine bay it appears dry all on the top so this reinforces this idea. You can all chuckle at my misfortune 🙈 the oil thankfully didn’t come out the exhaust which lends to the idea it’s an external dumping. At least it under sealed the bottom of the car as it’s literally dripping from everywhere

steve2003rs6
Top Gear
Posts: 2404
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:43 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by steve2003rs6 » Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:24 pm

Looks like your week is as crap as mine. So sorry mate. Hope it is a non expensive easy fix.
Mine is in garage on Tuesday for a tiny oil leak. But nothing like yours.
Hope all goes well for you.

Ajc
4th Gear
Posts: 765
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 7:27 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Ajc » Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:45 pm

I’m riding that same crap week train boys , though old Helga has sh*t her coolant everywhere . I reckon it’s the lines too your cooler by the look of where it’s coming from . Or you lost your filter 😂. Hope it’s and easy and cheap one for ya though .
Look on the bright side , it’s free rust protection for you
Cheers Al

04 c5 rs6 , Ebony Black, Bare shell repaint , Milltek's, PSS9's,Hotchkis Arb's,Gutted precats, hybrid turbos, Bosch 044 ,And an annoying EML light

Mɐʇʇ
Cruising
Posts: 2680
Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:30 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Mɐʇʇ » Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:25 pm

Yeah, most likely a union on a oil cooler line let go.
As long as you got it into neutral and unloaded quickish, motor will likely be fine.
"not a professional engineer, mechanic and mechanist"

User avatar
Nobby
Top Gear
Posts: 1962
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:31 pm
Location: Oxon

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Nobby » Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:09 am

Must be cooler, oil filter or hose from that area of the engine bay.

Random story but a long time ago I managed to pop a coolant hose doing over a ton on a dual carriageway. It was Christmas Eve and I managed to stick her in neutral and coast for over a mile as I knew there was a garage at the end of the straight road. I cut out the split section near a joiner and refitted then pipe and had to fill up with Evian water then drive home 😉
Daytona RS6 Avant
Rule #36 - At least one gear shall be dropped for every tunnel travelled

** NOW AVAILABLE ** C5 RS6 Cambelt Tool kit rental (also fits other models 3.7/4.2 V8 engines)

User avatar
IchBautAuto
4th Gear
Posts: 618
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2014 11:23 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by IchBautAuto » Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:34 am

Nobby wrote:
Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:09 am
....................... had to fill up with Evian water then drive home 😉
It's an AUDI, drinks nothing less.
C5 RS6, Milltek and Wagners: B5 RS4 450 + HP: A4 1.8 GP TQS original: 1963 UNIMOG 404:

User avatar
IchBautAuto
4th Gear
Posts: 618
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2014 11:23 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by IchBautAuto » Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:36 am

Lets hope new owner R6_OTLW isn't reading this after the glowing recommendations..................
C5 RS6, Milltek and Wagners: B5 RS4 450 + HP: A4 1.8 GP TQS original: 1963 UNIMOG 404:

User avatar
Human Joist
3rd Gear
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:04 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Human Joist » Sat Sep 12, 2020 1:09 am

Cheers guys. Will jack it up tomorrow and have a gander. The engine was turned off ASAP and it sounded fine when I killed the power

User avatar
Human Joist
3rd Gear
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:04 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Human Joist » Sat Sep 12, 2020 4:40 pm

Found the problem straight away. One of the oil cooler pipes had popped off. Looking at this picture I presume it’s supposed to be braided on both lines and possibly a previous repair of pipe with aftermarket that hadn’t held up to the pressure ?? Anyone shed any lights for me please.

Kind of looks like a pipe has been let in to replace the previous braded one with a high pressure section and two jubilee clips to secure it. I presume this isn’t strong enough to hold it ???
C9171F8E-D673-4C6D-8153-FB1668883A58.jpeg
On a side note as I mentioned above I have finally gotten rid of. Knock sensor issue That’s been on the car since I got it 18 months ago so it’s back to full power. I wonder if that’s why it failed 4 days after that

Steveo
3rd Gear
Posts: 322
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:50 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Steveo » Sat Sep 12, 2020 5:51 pm

Looks like someone bodged it before!
I’m sure you’re aware there’s been plenty of talk on here recently about those hoses and unions corroding. There are a couple of different fitments/OE part numbers so make sure you order the correct one for yours

I’d say the oil cooler unions/hoses are the No.1 issue that everyone should be aware of now. If yours haven’t been done, then they will fail.
RS6 C5, MTM

User avatar
Human Joist
3rd Gear
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:04 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Human Joist » Sat Sep 12, 2020 6:20 pm

Agreed. My plan as it stands is to remove both sections of hose from the oil filter all the way through to the cooler. Then go to a local hydraulic company which there will be loads and have two sections of braded hose made up to go the entire length from the filter housing to the cooler getting away from all unions. I think this is probably the easiest. Quickest and cheapest option to rule out future failure. Or I could look to make it up myself this knowing I have the correct length for cooler end fitting

steve2003rs6
Top Gear
Posts: 2404
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:43 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by steve2003rs6 » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:11 pm

Pleased it was a cheap and easy fix.
Will be checking mine at earliest opportunity.
In fact mine in garage on Tuesday next week for a gearbox oil and filter change plus a small oil leak at the front near side. Will ask them to check for this.

Steveo
3rd Gear
Posts: 322
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:50 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Steveo » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:28 pm

Human Joist wrote:
Sat Sep 12, 2020 6:20 pm
Agreed. My plan as it stands is to remove both sections of hose from the oil filter all the way through to the cooler. Then go to a local hydraulic company which there will be loads and have two sections of braded hose made up to go the entire length from the filter housing to the cooler getting away from all unions. I think this is probably the easiest. Quickest and cheapest option to rule out future failure. Or I could look to make it up myself this knowing I have the correct length for cooler end fitting
The easiest option is to buy the OE ones, but as usual they aren’t cheap. There are 2 to replace, flow and return obviously, and I think they are circa £120 & £180, depending on which ones you have. I have a spare one somewhere as I bought the wrong one. I’ll check the part number on it and see if it matches your ones. “Chunky” also had a spare one a while back, different part number again. Pm him and you may be lucky,
RS6 C5, MTM

User avatar
Human Joist
3rd Gear
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:04 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Human Joist » Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:57 pm

Ok. I get that. But I can probably replace the entire length on both hoses from cooler to filter for circa £60-70 giving satisfaction the lot is done. The reason for a new braided from end to end is to rule out all other connections. Anyone know what size the connection thread is at the oil filter end ?

Also the other end of the previous bodge has cut the hard line to the cooler and joined it half way as you can see.
644D302A-E791-4C3D-88CC-F886EB40DACF.jpeg

Mɐʇʇ
Cruising
Posts: 2680
Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:30 pm

Re: Catastrophic oil leak

Post by Mɐʇʇ » Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:37 pm

The DIY gives you all the bits you need to replace the shorter hose that goes into the NS cooler fitting - including thread sizes on the oil cooler and filter ends, I think.
"not a professional engineer, mechanic and mechanist"

Post Reply

Return to “RS6 / RS6 plus (C5 Typ 4B) 2002-2004”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 433 guests