# 2007 Audi a4 - Smoking left side engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 3, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878 "2025-07-03T19:39:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Consistentone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Consistentone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Consistentone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/1 "2025-07-03T19:39:11Z")
Hello everyone, I am in a bind and I’m hoping someone can point me the right direction! My audi has been parked for about a year. Prior to that the only issue wrong was it had a major oil leak (faulty oil filter housing). Last year I ran into a brick wall when I couldn’t get the stripped oil filter housing bolts out. I gave it another shot recently and was able to successfully remove the old oil filter housing - then install a brand new one. Yay for me. ​​​​​​I was incredibly excited when the car started to see there was no more oil leak, after this project has given me so much trouble. However I noticed that the left side of the engine was smoking quite a bit. Initially I thought it was just burning off gunk and residue. Then I realized that this whole area seemed to be getting really really hot. I’m pretty sure I didn’t see the engine temp gauge go up on the dash, but I can’t say for certain. I only ran the car for maybe 2 minutes, and towards the end the engine started idling quieter so I was getting worried . Could it be possible coolant isn’t getting where it needs to go? Do I need to bleed the coolant system? ​​​​ Any ideas? Any help much appreciated. I’ll see if I can post these pics I have of the area but with the car off. Those two metal pipes in the Pic were smoking and got really hot really quick. I think one is the manifold. ![IMG_20250703_140300423_HDR](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/7/6/7625b4bf22e11625e8c9457f523bf6fb527da41a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/2 "2025-07-03T19:45:23Z")
when it’s smoking . . . do you see engine oil dripping? can you smell engine oil dripping? have you verified it’s not a leaking engine oil pressure sensor or a valve cover gasket? I’m assuming you have a jack and jack stands . . . there may be no substitute for getting under the car while it’s running and physically verifying what’s leaking and/or smoking ---
**Author:** ![Consistentone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Consistentone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Consistentone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/3 "2025-07-03T19:53:13Z")
I have verified that no oil is leaking. It seems the manifold(?) above the turbo on left side of engine is smoking considerably. The car has been sitting about a year. I am just worried that maybe it is getting hotter that it’s supposed to. Not sure why manifold would be smoking from being so hot. ![IMG_20250703_140244608_HDR](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/7/9/798c4559aa325a951a2c3cb66074e99b56357f1e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/4 "2025-07-03T20:00:45Z")
Can you feel and/or hear an exhaust leak from that area? Maybe that manifold has a hairline crack or maybe a gasket us no longer sealing? What does this smoke smell like? Smells like exhaust? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/5 "2025-07-03T20:22:03Z")
> [@Consistentone](#): > > I realized that this whole area seemed to be getting really really hot. I’m pretty sure I didn’t see the engine temp gauge go up on the dash, but I can’t say for certain. I only ran the car for maybe 2 minutes The exhaust pipe and catalytic converter can reach 500 degrees in a few minutes, 2000 degrees while driving, that is normal. The smoke was from the oil seepage during the past year from the valve cover, don’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/6 "2025-07-03T20:30:00Z")
Is that a crack I see in the exhaust manifold? ![crack](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/1/a12c436d53e51166c9dbe676f897e19bac7899f2.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/7 "2025-07-03T20:51:30Z")
It looks like a crack to me. On a side note… When changing the oil filter and installing the new filter seal(s) in the oil filter housing, special attention is required. : Be aware that this seal can be installed inside-out, which must be avoided to prevent oil leaks. [Circular](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2013/MC-10123884-9999.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Consistentone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Consistentone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Consistentone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/8 "2025-07-03T20:59:18Z")
No smoke at all coming from exhaust pipe. Just turned the car on for a few more minutes. Engine temp gauge did not even heat up to normal running temp before it started smoking near exhaust manifold again. Got so hot on manifold/exhaust pipes it’s now tinted black. The new housing is in on opposite side of smoke/manifold and not leaking at all . Pics are of left side of engine bay where the smoke is coming from. Starts after car has idled for about 1-2 mins. The oil filter housing is on the right side of the engine at the bottom, I got the new one in and it is not leaking. Seems I’m dealing with a separate issue at this point. I do not see any cracks, I believe that is just the angle of the picture. ![17515763250808129061821216335441](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/2/e20dc5b07270be8d225396386bf76825cd4ce836.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/9 "2025-07-03T21:22:44Z")
Can you hear and/or feel exhaust leaks? ---
**Author:** ![Consistentone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Consistentone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Consistentone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/10 "2025-07-03T21:24:21Z")
I will check for those next! Thanks to all of you guys. I appreciate the input! ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-audi-a4-smoking-left-side-engine/200878/11 "2025-07-03T21:26:10Z")
Could be running super rich for some reason. > [@Consistentone](#): > > Got so hot on manifold/exhaust pipes it’s now tinted black.