Audi A5 Forum & Audi S5 Forum banner

Milky oil

2150 Views 24 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  SimonRoma
Hi guys,
I have an A5 2.0 TFSI B8 for about 3 years now, done 170k miles, 50k just on the last 3 years. Apart from topping up oil every 1k miles and I had to change once the water pump, I didn’t had any mechanical issues until now.
On 1st of December I had the service done. Oil, all filters and spark plugs.
I drive 20 minutes to work and back, mostly motorway, sometimes I push down on gas pedal.
One night, coming back from work, I felt a strong smell, like clutch smell, I don’t know if it has anything to do with the problem itself, at that time I thought it’s from outside.
At the last oil change, old oil was fine, no water in it, coolant level was between min and max and the mechanic add some more stating that if it’s too much, will go out anyway.
After 2 months now, I was just checking the alternator belt, to see if I could change it myself, and I had a look at the deep stick (I bought that deep stick when I noticed that the oil level goes down quite often), and I could see the milky oil.
The coolant level is between min and max again.
I called the mechanic and he told me it’s pretty much f..up, that the gasket it’s gone.
The mf even offered to buy the car for £800…
There is no smoke when I drive it around, not more then usual when it’s cold outside and you can see the vape on your mirrors.
I know it’s vague, but I know for sure that the car is not worth £800, especially in London now.

Attachments

See less See more
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
How long routes do you drive most often? If you've only been driving short distances recently, the oil may not have warmed up to operating temperature, especially in winter. Emulsifiers bind water and cause the deposition of discolored goo. This is the general and simplest cause. How often do you change the engine oil and what is the specification?
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Unfortunately yes it does look like the head gasket. Not a cheap job, probably about £1000 to £1500 to fix, then there is the reason why it has gone, so possibly more money.

The car will only emit excess white smoke when the head gasket is gone, when the cylinder gasket rings are gone and it's coolant getting into the cylinders that cause the excess white smoke. In the winter the car will produce white steam especially when idling, if just off the motorway, there may be no smoke.

What year is your car?
  • Like
Reactions: 2
How long routes do you drive most often? If you've only been driving short distances recently, the oil may not have warmed up to operating temperature, especially in winter. Emulsifiers bind water and cause the deposition of discolored goo. This is the general and simplest cause. How often do you change the engine oil and what is the specification?
I do 14 miles each way, twice a day, 5 days a week, and yes, most of the time it’s midnight when I go back home, and it was quite cold. I change the oil every 10k miles, last time when I changed it was normal used oil, around 1 December 2022. I use 5w30 Castrol synthetic. At the moment I’m not using the car anymore. I will change the oil and the oil filter, and see what will do after. The thing is that coolant has dropped a little bit
  • Like
Reactions: 1
How long routes do you drive most often? If you've only been driving short distances recently, the oil may not have warmed up to operating temperature, especially in winter. Emulsifiers bind water and cause the deposition of discolored goo. This is the general and simplest cause. How often do you change the engine oil and what is the specification?
I drive 14 miles each way, mostly motorway, 5 times a week, when I go home it’s midnight most of the time, and it was quite cold recently. I change the oil every 10k miles, and I only use 5w30 Castrol synthetic. Last time when I changed, 01.12.2022, it was a normal colour.
Also, usually I use a Mann oil filter, but last time I used TJ oil filter, just wondering if it could be this a problem aswell…
I will do a oil and oil filter change, I haven’t used the car this week, and I will not use it for now
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Unfortunately yes it does look like the head gasket. Not a cheap job, probably about £1000 to £1500 to fix, then there is the reason why it has gone, so possibly more money.

The car will only emit excess white smoke when the head gasket is gone, when the cylinder gasket rings are gone and it's coolant getting into the cylinders that cause the excess white smoke. In the winter the car will produce white steam especially when idling, if just off the motorway, there may be no smoke.

What year is your car?
It’s a 2011, so there is no excessive white smoke, I’ve seen cars with excessive white smoke, and this is nothing like that. Will do some smoke when Iddling, but I thought that is “normal” since the oil consumption, some smoke I mean not much
Yeah, it shouldn't get 'mayo', that much, even on short runs. The 14 miles you do should warm the oil to normal temperatures. The mayo you get from short journeys tends to be on the underneath of the oil cap, not that much on the dip stick.

Yes most cars will emit white smoke, well it's steam. you need to worry when it's excessive white smoke and when the exhaust is fully warm like after being on the motorway and blue smoke which is oil burning.

Draining the oil will also reveal if it is just moisture in the oil from short journeys and the oil not warming up properly. Have you taken it to the garage?
  • Like
Reactions: 3
Yeah, it shouldn't get 'mayo', that much, even on short runs. The 14 miles you do should warm the oil to normal temperatures. The mayo you get from short journeys tends to be on the underneath of the oil cap, not that much on the dip stick.

Yes most cars will emit white smoke, well it's steam. you need to worry when it's excessive white smoke and when the exhaust is fully warm like after being on the motorway and blue smoke which is oil burning.

Draining the oil will also reveal if it is just moisture in the oil from short journeys and the oil not warming up properly. Have you taken it to the garage?
I discovered the mayo more by mistake, and no, I haven’t, the garage that I usually take the car to is a moron. I sent them the picture and he said it’s head gasket, and he said it’s a big job, and he offered to buy the car for £800…
I’m home for the next 3 months, I don’t need to use the car, so I will do an oil change, take the pan off and clean it, and then will see
Ha ha, yeah you need to get the car looked at in more details, possible pressure testing etc to find the cause of the mayo. But unfortunately it does look like head gasket, probably between the coolant and oil passages. There are products that will re seal the gasket, and some have good results, but they can introduce other issues like blocked coolant passages. I've used in the past on old cars and they seem fine, but whether you want to try that approach on a nice car is up to you. Depends on your budget etc. :)
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Hi guys,
I have an A5 2.0 TFSI B8 for about 3 years now, done 170k miles, 50k just on the last 3 years. Apart from topping up oil every 1k miles and I had to change once the water pump, I didn’t had any mechanical issues until now.
On 1st of December I had the service done. Oil, all filters and spark plugs.
I drive 20 minutes to work and back, mostly motorway, sometimes I push down on gas pedal.
One night, coming back from work, I felt a strong smell, like clutch smell, I don’t know if it has anything to do with the problem itself, at that time I thought it’s from outside.
At the last oil change, old oil was fine, no water in it, coolant level was between min and max and the mechanic add some more stating that if it’s too much, will go out anyway.
After 2 months now, I was just checking the alternator belt, to see if I could change it myself, and I had a look at the deep stick (I bought that deep stick when I noticed that the oil level goes down quite often), and I could see the milky oil.
The coolant level is between min and max again.
I called the mechanic and he told me it’s pretty much f..up, that the gasket it’s gone.
The mf even offered to buy the car for £800…
There is no smoke when I drive it around, not more then usual when it’s cold outside and you can see the vape on your mirrors.
We are caught up in many unhealthy games and forget about the classic games that were once very popular. But recently there are many good signs that cuphead is the classic game combining shooting and moving that is being loved by players around the world again.
I know it’s vague, but I know for sure that the car is not worth £800, especially in London now.
I apologize if my question may bother you. But I'm really having a big problem with my car when I put the wrong petrol and diesel. Now what should I do. I still leave the car at home because I'm really confused.
I apologize if my question may bother you. But I'm really having a big problem with my car when I put the wrong petrol and diesel. Now what should I do. I still leave the car at home because I'm really confused.
Check on google, there should be guys who can come and take all the fuel out, and put the right one. They will help you out.
Iulian. Mate I am not convinced about the head gasket cos in my experience you would have loads of steam behind the car. I suggest that you take the car for a proper drive say 100km to get her REALLY warm. The short journeys that you normally make PLUS the current really cold weather may just be the problem. GOOD LUCK mate and dont sell it to that b******d for 800 notes!!!
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I wouldn’t ever do that, this is my baby!
I’m Going to change the oil and oil filter, and take it for a road trip and see what’s goin on!
Thank you!!
  • Like
Reactions: 1
7
Hi guys,
I have an A5 2.0 TFSI B8 for about 3 years now, done 170k miles, 50k just on the last 3 years. Apart from topping up oil every 1k miles and I had to change once the water pump, I didn’t had any mechanical issues until now.
On 1st of December I had the service done. Oil, all filters and spark plugs.
I drive 20 minutes to work and back, mostly motorway, sometimes I push down on gas pedal.
One night, coming back from work, I felt a strong smell, like clutch smell, I don’t know if it has anything to do with the problem itself, at that time I thought it’s from outside.
At the last oil change, old oil was fine, no water in it, coolant level was between min and max and the mechanic add some more stating that if it’s too much, will go out anyway.
After 2 months now, I was just checking the alternator belt, to see if I could change it myself, and I had a look at the deep stick (I bought that deep stick when I noticed that the oil level goes down quite often), and I could see the milky oil.
The coolant level is between min and max again.
I called the mechanic and he told me it’s pretty much f..up, that the gasket it’s gone.
The mf even offered to buy the car for £800…
There is no smoke when I drive it around, not more then usual when it’s cold outside and you can see the vape on your mirrors.
I know it’s vague, but I know for sure that the car is not worth £800, especially in London now.
Edit
It’s been almost 2 weeks since I last started the car, I had a closer look under the hood and I saw a coolant leak around the water pump. Is there a way to leak water in oil around the water pump?
Water dropped even if I didn’t use the car and also I could see a wet spot on the ground.
Water pomp has been changed around 10.000 miles ago.
Automotive tire Vehicle Motor vehicle Fender Gas
Automotive design Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Gas
Automotive tire Bumper Gas Rim Audio equipment
Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Rim Auto part
Road surface Bedrock Asphalt Soil Concrete
Automotive fuel system Hood Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior
Automotive fuel system Hood Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior

Attachments

See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
s there a way to leak water in oil around the water pump
Depends on where your Water pump ist located and how it's being driven. I will change the water pump on my S5 for the first time in a couple of weeks so I don't know much about it atm. But generally yes, it is possible for coolant to go into oil through a faulty water pump.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Iulian. Mate I am not convinced about the head gasket cos in my experience you would have loads of steam behind the car.
This only if the coolant galleries are leaking into the cylinders, basically burning the coolant. And usually quite an amount. :)

In Yulian's case, if it is coolant in the oil causing the milky oil, then that's the seam between oil and coolant, but when cold, the oil is under more pressure than the coolant so would pass into the coolant. Once warmed up the coolant pressure will be around 0.5 to 1 bar so possibly enough for coolant to pass into the oil.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Fortunately, that oil doesn't look that bad, when it's a definite leak the oil looks like brown mayo!

It does look like a leaky water pump, again! pump can only last 10k miles, even my S5 had a new water pump at 10k miles from new! Do you know what brand of pump was used in the replacement?

My S5 only likes to be just above Min when cold as when hot, it is at Max. So when at Max when cold, when it gets hot, it just squirts it out through the tank cap. I even bought a new cap as it didn't look like the coolant got to a proper pressure. The pressure keeps the coolant level down.

I would change the coolant pump if that leak is around it and change the oil, if it's older than 4k miles. and see how it goes! :)
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Is there a way to leak water in oil around the water pump?
No, the coolant and oil are totally separate systems.

The oil and water can mix in other areas like head gasket, oil cooler (if coolant cooled), PCV, again if coolant cooled.
My S5 only likes to be just above Min when cold as when hot, it is at Max. So when at Max when cold, when it gets hot, it just squirts it out through the tank cap. I even bought a new cap as it didn't look like the coolant got to a proper pressure. The pressure keeps the coolant level down.
I don't understand why ours would be different. Following the recall work I got into the habit of checking my levels in case the dealer tech had left a leak. No leak and now I have a clear pencil mark where the cold level is, and the hot level is at max. I'd need to check but I think that pencil mark is about 1/3 down from the max level.
I don't understand why ours would be different. Following the recall work I got into the habit of checking my levels in case the dealer tech had left a leak. No leak and now I have a clear pencil mark where the cold level is, and the hot level is at max. I'd need to check but I think that pencil mark is about 1/3 down from the max level.
I have had mine on Max when cold, but not long after driving a few times it always seems to go down and sit at a bit above Min mark when cold. When hot it sits just below Max. At first I thought I had a coolant leak somewhere, but since I left it at just above Min when cold, it hasn't gone down anymore, so I leave it and it's been like that for well over 12 months, possibly 2 years. :)
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
Top