Oil leak on the DSG and Engine - Source? [Golf MK6 GTI]

[JasonGTI]

Hey guys. Hoping someone may have experienced these issues before and can point me in the right direction. So while servicing my car, I have noticed signs of leak on my engine. I have attached the photos.

Would you guys have an idea where it could come from? Is there any possibility the oil at the bottom of the DSG is from an engine leak?

I suspect the leak on the engine side is from the turbo oil feed, the turbo itself or higher up. I dont really mind the engine side leak but the DSG one has me more concerned.

I checked the DSG oil filter housing and cooler, it's all dry there, the rear main seal is fine as well. I first suspected the mechatronic pan but I read that the electrical connector for the mechatronic could be a possible culprit?

DSG side:


Engine side:

[Lucas_R]

Definitely looks like your DSG mechatronics cover (the black stamped metal part on the gearbox) is leaking. Either that or possibly the DSG oil filter housing which is on top of the gearbox and its leaking down.

As for the engine leak, it could be various things of course, but check cam cover as these do leak after a while. Also check the PCV hose on the driver side back corner of the cam cover as those can leak/crack. Or it could be as you mentioned the turbo oil feed or drain.

Id buy a couple of cans of brake cleaner, give it all a good clean up and then check it again in a few weeks to see if you can get a clearer idea of where the leak is coming from.

[amunra]

best bet is to wipe down all messed up oil leak with a rag first......... then use some carb cleaner spray or brake cleaner (whatever handy)to clean the rest off superficial areas such as ur dsg area and engine oil pan area (things that are covered in it immediately to ur eye).... and instead of waiting weeks to come back to it.. go under ur car with a torch while the engine is running or has just run and see where it is dripping or streaming to..

you might even need to clean it all off and immediately do a lap of the block and go under.. but usually giving it a an hour or so of standing then check again is a good way to see where it dripping or u can find the route of the oil.. also check above the area of ur oil pan to see if its leaking down from the engine bay as it might just be ur oil pan.

unfortunately after driving ur car with a leak the oil is literally going to go everywhere and hard to know exactly where its dripping from.... something as insignicant as a failed oil pan gasket can cause a major leak (common issue)... only takes 1 corner or a couple of screws dripping to look like a major leak

[Lucas_R]

something as insignificant as a failed oil pan gasket can cause a major leak (common issue)... only takes 1 corner or a couple of screws dripping to look like a major leak

Not saying it doesnt happen, but oil pan leaks on the Mk5 and Mk6 are much less common than on the Mk7, as the Mk7 uses a cheap plastic oil pan with a rubber gasket that perishes over time. The Mk5 and Mk6 use a alloy (Mk5 GTI and Mk6 R) and pressed steel (Mk6 GTI) oil pan with a silicone sealant.

Looking at this photo, the oil pan looks perfectly dry. The oil definitely seems like its coming from above and leaking down.

The pipe you can see (charge pipe from turbo outlet to the intercooler) is pretty wet so im thinking it might be leaking from the turbo itself.

[amunra]

Not saying it doesnt happen, but oil pan leaks on the Mk5 and Mk6 are much less common than on the Mk7, as the Mk7 uses a cheap plastic oil pan with a rubber gasket that perishes over time. The Mk5 and Mk6 use a alloy (Mk5 GTI and Mk6 R) and pressed steel (Mk6 GTI) oil pan with a silicone sealant.

Looking at this photo, the oil pan looks perfectly dry. The oil definitely seems like its coming from above and leaking down.

The pipe you can see (charge pipe from turbo outlet to the intercooler) is pretty wet so im thinking it might be leaking from the turbo itself.

could be. best to wipe down then spray / wipe everywhere u can see or reach that has oil on it... and then run or drive the engine for a bit then stop and see.. then come back to it after 30 - 60 mins and see again.....

u wanna see if its the oil from the engine bay / turbo / oil pan , dsg or both..

personally................ i have cracked 1 plastic oem oil pan and it leaked / sprayed everywhere under the bay like shown when driving... and i replaced it with an aftermarket metal pan with sillicone ... which is now leaking from the same area as the last one because i used "less" sealant and need to redo it.. it was clean for a few weeks and started leaking again so it happens with all gaskets and could very well be on a nearly 10 - 15 year old car.

[max9753]

Did you eventually find the leak?

[JasonGTI]

Did you eventually find the leak?

I've seen your post and we seem to have the exact same issue. I didn't find the exact source yet but I suspect the black pan gasket leak or it's leaking from the mechatronic connector. I'll prob try to tighten the pan bolts next time.