Technical Service Bulletin
10 Oil leak between engine and gearbox
10 16 13 2044546/1 June 14, 2016.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A6, A7, A8,
Q5, Q7

2013 - 2016

All

TDI engine

Condition
Evidence of oil loss, leaks, or drips on underbody (Figure 1).
Evidence of oil loss may appear in any of the following
areas:
• Side on upper oil sump in area of long bolts.
• Sealing flange securing bolts to upper oil sump.
• Thread in crankshaft to attachment of drive
plate/flywheel.
• Oil seal of crankshaft (gearbox side) leaks.

Figure 1. Underbody without undertray showing
evidence of oil loss.

Technical Background
The evidence of oil loss is due to engine oil leaks between engine and gearbox.

Production Solution
Not applicable.

Service
Note:
Perform all work according to the Elsa repair manual.

© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 1 of 5

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
Before proceeding, confirm that the location of the oil loss can be precisely located. If the location cannot be
determined, it may be necessary to clean the engine and perform a test drive, then check again.
Area of oil loss:
• If oil loss marks are visible on the lateral long bolts
and between the sealing surface of the upper oil
sump to the cylinder block (Figure 2, B):
• The upper oil sump must be sealed again.

• If oil loss marks are visible only on the sealing flange
(Figure 2, A and C) (Figure 3, D):
• The sealing flange must be sealed.
• This leak is caused when oil leaks from the
illustrated areas (Figure 2, A and C) (Figure 3, D)
over the rubber seals (Figure 4). The oil seeps
from position C, over the parting line to position A
and D.
• Note that there is an optimized sealant track in
the area of the rubber seals (Figure 4, hatched
area).

Figure 2. Location of oil marks.

• If oil loss marks are visible in the area of the
securing bolts when the drive plate/flywheel is
removed:
• Install new securing bolts as shown (Figure 5).
Note that replacing the oil seal will not fix this
problem.
• Clean the threads in the crankshaft flange so that
they are completely free of grease. Loctite 7061
(which is commercially available) can be used to
clean the threads.
• Seal the new securing bolts for the drive
plate/two-mass flywheel (Figure 6), on the
crankshaft flange with Loctite 648 (part number D
154100A1, or commercially available).
The area marked in red (Figure 6) must be
cleaned and be completely free of grease. Apply
the Loctite 648 completely around on
approximately five thread turns behind the
existing solid sealer on the new securing bolts for
the drive plate/flywheel.
© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 2 of 5

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
• For new generation bolts with microencapsulation
(from December 2015), proceed according to the
repair manual when removing/replacing this bolt.
Observe the cleaning guidelines for the threaded
hole in the crankshaft.
• The bolts must be tightened with a hand ratchet
wrench, as the speed of a pneumatic impact
wrench is too high and the sealant will not
correctly cover the threads. Torque the bolts
down to specification according to repair manual.

• If the oil loss marks clearly show that the oil passes
over the sealing lips:
• Replace the oil seal.

Figure 3. Location of oil marks.

Figure 4. Rubber seals (black outlines). New sealant
track (hatched area).

© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 3 of 5

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin

Figure 5. Fix the new securing bolts as shown.

Figure 6. New securing bolts for the drive plate/twomass flywheel (short bolt part number: N 90539801, long
bolt part number: N 90929401 (M10x1x27))

© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 4 of 5

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin

Figure 7. New generation bolt (part number WHT007991
(M10x1x27))

Warranty
TSB is for information only. Follow Elsa repair manual for specific repair instructions.

Required Parts and Tools
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

D 154100A1

Loctite 648

As needed

N 90539801

Short bolt

As needed

N 90929401

Long bolt

As needed

WHT007991

Bolt with polygon socket head

As needed

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2044546) are subject to change and/or removal. Always
check with your Parts Department and service manuals for the latest information.

© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 5 of 5

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.