Oil Leak!!!

[Norrs2]

Dont know if it's the hot weather that's aggrevating this, but I was giving the car some beans today coming home on a nice A road and had to stop at some traffic lights about 5 miles from home. I could smell something that I initially attributed to the road being resurfaced ahead, then I noticed smoke that looked like it was coming from under my driver side front wheel arch. Then I realised it was actually an oil smell (weird smell off this oil). Had to drive home the rest of the journey quite slow behind the traffic and by the time I got home and parked up it was gone. Lifted the bonnet, no sign of the smell or the smoke. Although higher than normal, I wouldn't say the oil temp gauge was that high!

Could this be the Rocket Gasket? Is it a job I could trust to the stealer (yes, I am that distrusting)? Is just that I remember reading here somewhere that it could be another gasket that's quite tricky to get at!

Thanks to all again!

[Contigo]

Rocker gasket more than likely.

[Blue_Thunder]

Does sound like one of the gaskets has given up the ghost. The increased pressure when you're caining it tends to cause small amounts of oil to drip onto the hot turbo below.

I had exactly the same a few months ago. Only noticed it when i'd been driving with gusto.

[Jarv]

When I first got my car 3 years ago I had the same issue. Turned out to be a leaking seal on the cam tensioner located to the rear of the drivers side bank. But as folks have said, could also be a leaking cam cover gasket. I hope that it is.

[Norrs2]

When I first got my car 3 years ago I had the same issue. Turned out to be a leaking seal on the cam tensioner located to the rear of the drivers side bank. But as folks have said, could also be a leaking cam cover gasket. I hope that it is.

Thanks guys.

Jarv, if it is a leaking seal on the cam tensioner, is it a big job?

[p.binks]

Could be gearbox oil from the breather on the top of the box just under the bulkhead,you say it was a weird smell so could be hypoid gear oil,had this on my RS4 after giving it some stick but box levels were ok,oil hit the cats and exhaust and it left a quarter mile vapor trail like the red arrows had done a fly by.

[Jarv]

Jarv, if it is a leaking seal on the cam tensioner, is it a big job?

MRC did it with a cam belt change, which made it a little easier to swallow, but I think access is the real time consuming issue.