Need help in diagnosing a motor problem in my 03 a4 quattro 1.8 turbo.

Asked by jerryalong03 Jan 01, 2015 at 01:22 PM about the 2003 Audi A4 1.8T quattro Sedan AWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

One afternoon while checking the oil in my wife's 03 a4 Quattro 1.8 turbo I noticed that the water reseviour was full of dark fluid appearing to be engine oil. When I checked the oil there was barely any on the dip stick. I had high hopes that after allowing our daughter to use the car that she might have added oil to the wrong place. But unfornately there appears to be bigger problems at hand. Normally the car doesn't use any oil and as of now it still runs great, but after adding some oil to the engine and running it for a few minutes there is water in the engine oil as well. I done a compression test and all cylinders still have over a 170psi. Like I said the car still runs great but this oil exchange is not right. I'm wondering if someone else has maybe had the same problems and could give me some advice in witch direction I should go in diagnosing the problem. I would hate to pull the head and that not be the problem.

4 Answers

103,035

Look at the oil cooler first, second would be seal on the turbo. Your compression test looks good. My bet would be oil cooler leaking into the radiator.

KenF , thanks for the advice on the oil cooler. Any suggestions on where to look for a diagram of the motor components?

103,035

I'm not very familiar with your make of car, I'd try some of the specialized Audi forums around, they'll be able to give you specific information. Your symptoms are a classic sign of a leaky cooler, however. If you rev the engine and see bubbles in the radiator or in the reservoir, then you might want to look at an intake or head gasket. There is a type of test that can look for exhaust gas (spent carbon) in the radiator fluid as another proof of a bad head gasket, but I'd start with ruling out the oil cooler first.

1 people found this helpful.
45,815

go to the vw dealer and head to the parts counter. ask for a schematic of the oil cooler and they will print it and the part number sheets out for you for free.

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