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I have a 2008 Audi RS4 with a slow oil leak from the oil drain plug. I have added about 1 qt/1000 miles lately to give you an idea of how much is leaking. I have been told by a repair shop that the leak is because the oil drain plug / crush washer and the oil pan have some kind of warping and the crush washer will not seal like it should anymore. They are recommending replacing the (lower) oil pan. (The RS4 has an upper and lower oil pan. According to the shop, only the lower needs to be replaced.)

Does the explanation that was given to me make sense? Is this really how the oil pan seals? Do I really need to replace the lower oil pan?

Thanks in advance!

Matt
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3 Answers3

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A new plug and washer, then remove the pan and grind and polish the mating surface flat if a new one is too expensive is a possibility.

Solar Mike
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It's possible. I could be wrong, but I've never heard of an oil pan warping on it's own. A more likely cause would be hitting something like a rock and denting it in an unlucky spot.

I would check the oil pan to see if you can spot any damage. A cynical person might suspect that someone overtightened it and damaged the threads.

raydowe
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It sounds fishy that the oil pan would warp. The crush washer is intended to "crush" down and fill in any gaps between your oil plug and the oil pan. I'd try simply replacing the crush washer first to see if it stops the leak. Crush washers should be replaced regularly. Some recommend replacing them with every oil change.

rviertel
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