15 Oil leak from the cylinder head - 2.9 and 3.0TFSI only
15 21 36 2053278/5 January 29, 2021. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 15 number 20-35 dated
October 8, 2020 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A4, Q5

2018 - 2020

All

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

Q5, SQ5

2021

000001 - 044156

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

A4

2021

000001 - 019775

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

A6, A7, S6,
S7, A8, S8,
and Q8

2019 - 2020

All

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

A6, A7, S6,
and S7

2021

000001 - 028126

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

Q7, SQ7,
and SQ8

2020

All

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

A8, S8

2021

000001 – 008158

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

Q8, SQ8

2021

000001 – 013958

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

Q7, SQ7

2021

000001 – 017837

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

RS 5, RS 5
Cabriolet,
and RS 5
Sportback

2019

All

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

RS 5, RS 5
Cabriolet,
and RS 5
Sportback

2021

900001 - 900620

2.9 and 3.0 TFSI

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

5

-

Revised header (Added VIN break)
Revised Service (Revised DOC-IT note)

4

10/08/2020

Revised header (Added engines)

3

04/28/2020

Revised header (Corrected Elsa display issue)

Page 1 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.

Revised Service (Added DOC-IT note)
Customer states:
 Oil loss in the area around the engine compartment, front end, and underbody.
 Oil level warning (too low).
 There is a smell coming from the engine compartment.
Workshop findings:
 There is a Leak in the area around the cylinder head cover, valve cover, and cylinder head.
 There is a Leak in the area around the injector.
 There is a Leak in the area around the Audi valvelift system actuator.

Technical Background
Metal shavings produced during manufacture in sealing groove between cylinder head cover and the cylinder
head.

Production Solution
Improved production processes.

Service
As the oil loss in the area of the cylinder head cover may involve two different issues, proceed as follows
to clearly determine the source of the leak.
1. Remove the engine compartment cover and the heat shield below it.

Page 2 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.

2. Remove the upper noise
insulation of the affected cylinder
bank (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Removing the upper noise insulation.
3. Remove the Audi valvelift system
actuator of the affected cylinder.
A. If there is a substantial quantity
of oil below the Audi valvelift
system actuator (illustration), the
cause of the leak is the O ring of
the Audi valvelift system actuator.
Note:
Please take photos of the oil
under the Audi valve lift system
actuator as shown in Figure 2.
Then upload them into DOC-IT
with the repair order. Photos
should:
 Have a date stamp and VIN
reference.
 Be taken in focus and with
sufficient light.
Figure 2. Oil in the Audi valve lift system.

Page 3 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.

Replace the Audi valvelift system
actuator with an O ring, clean the
engine compartment, and if
necessary replace the noise
insulation (if it is soaked in oil)
(Figure 2).
B. If there is no substantial
quantity of oil below the Audi
valvelift system actuator continue
with Step 4!
4. Remove the lower noise insulation.
5. Locate the affected cylinder. Oil
should have gathered in the area
of the injector (Figure 3) and the
noise insulation should also be
soaked in oil.

Figure 3. Locating the affected cylinder.
6. Remove the cylinder head cover
and the seal (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Remove the cylinder head cover and gasket.

Page 4 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.

7. Inspect the gasket groove in the
cylinder head cover and remove
any casting residues with a
suitable tool. (Figure 5). The
residues can be removed with a
small flat screwdriver (Figure 6).
Note:
Make sure not to damage the seal
groove!

Figure 5. Before the repair.

Page 5 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.

Figure 6. After the repair.
8. Install a new seal, re-assemble the camshaft cover, clean the engine compartment, and if necessary
replace the noise insulation (if it is full of oil).
Note:
Do not replace the Audi valvelift system actuator(s) with an O-ring seal when the leak has
been determined to be around the area of the injector(s).

Warranty
Claim Type:

 110 up to 48 Months/50,000 Miles.
 G10 for CPO Covered Vehicles – Verify Owner.


Service Number:

If the vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is informational
only.

 1580 (Leak on injector)
 1551 (Leak on Audi valvelift system actuator)

Damage Code:

 0050 (1580 only)
 0010 (1551 only)

Labor Operations:

For 3.0L engines

Page 6 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.

Adjusting mechanism for Valvelift system
remove + reinstall (if AVS leak location)

1551 2043 (left)

Camshaft adjusters remove + reinstall (if
injector leak location)

1584 1943 (left)

1551 2044 (right)

See SRT with
associated
operations

1584 1944 (right)

See SRT with
associated
operations

Camshaft housing remove + reinstall (if injector 1503 1993 (left)
leak location)
1503 1994 (right)

See SRT with
associated
operations

Clean engine cover, heat shield, upper and
engine

1083 9999

40 TU

Radar sensor adjust (if applicable)

9163 1650

See SRT with
associated
operations

Or
9163 1550
Preparation Driver Assist Calibration (if
applicable)

9092 0050

See SRT with
associated
operations

Vehicle front + rear check (if applicable)

4495 0100

See SRT with
associated
operations

Overhead view camera adjusted (if applicable) 9083 1500

See SRT with
associated
operations

For 2.9L engines (RS models)
Adjusting mechanism for Valvelift system
remove + reinstall (if AVS leak location)

1551 1945 (left)

Front bumper cover remove + reinstall (if
injector leak location)

6329 1900

See SRT with
associated
operations

Front bumper remove + reinstall (if injector
leak location)

6310 1950

See SRT with
associated
operations

1551 1946 (right)

See SRT with
associated
operations

Page 7 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.

Diagnostic Time:

Claim Comment:

Radiator remove + reinstall (if injector leak
location)

1970 1995

See SRT with
associated
operations

Camshaft adjusters remove + reinstall (if
injector leak location)

1584 1995 (left)
1584 1996 (right)

See SRT with
associated
operations

Camshaft housing remove + reinstall (if injector 1503 1995 (left)
leak location)
1503 1996 (right)

See SRT with
associated
operations

Clean engine cover, heat shield, upper and
engine

40 TU

1083 9999

Overhead view camera adjusted (if applicable) 9083 1500

See SRT with
associated
operations

Radar sensor adjust (if applicable)

9163 1650

See SRT with
associated
operations

Preparation Driver Assist Calibration (if
applicable)

9092 0050

See SRT with
associated
operations

Vehicle front + rear check (if applicable)

4495 0100

See SRT with
associated
operations

GFF (if applicable)

0150 0000

Time stated on
the diagnostic
protocol (Max 50
TU)

Road test prior to service procedure

No allowance

0 TU

Road test after service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

As per TSB #2053278/5

All warranty claims submitted for payment must be in accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures
Manual. Claims are subject to review or audit by Audi Warranty.

Page 8 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.

Required Parts and Tools
Always check with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins.
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

See ETKA

Fasteners, Bolts, Nuts, and Screws as needed per the
Repair Manual

See ETKA/ELSA

06M906048F

Solenoid valve (if applicable)

01

06M103650D

Gasket Cylinders 1-3 (if applicable)

01

06M103649D

Gasket Cylinders 4-6 (if applicable)

01

G 12E100M2

Coolant concentrate 1.5L (if applicable)

04

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2053278) are subject to change and/or removal.
©2021 Audi of America, Inc. 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.

Page 9 of 9
© 2021 Audi of America, Inc.
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.