I have noticed oil seeping from the large rubber pipe (part of the air intake after the intercooler i think) on the near side front where it meets the metal crossmember, there are clips which hold the pipe in place and the sealing arrangement is a green rubber/synthetic washer. I noticed this leaking the last time i did an oil change and got a new washer from main dealer, however 5k miles later there is a lot of oil on the undertray which has come from the pipe seal. Has anyone else had a similar leak, and is there a way of stopping it ? Thanks in advance.

This is absolutely normal for a VAG diesel. If they don't leak a bit, the intercooler fills up with oil and there is a risk of engine runaway.

Check that the oil level in the engine is not too high - preferably not above the hash section and definitely not above the top bend and check also that the air cleaner element is clean. This last point is very important as an engine with forced aspiration and the crankcase vented to the compressor inlet will pull the oil out if the air cleaner is blocked. The VAG air cleaner change intervals are insane.

rotodiesel.

is this oil leakage due to the oil in engine being filled past the max mark? or is it due to having a good oil pump, thus forcing it up into the rocker cover hence being sucked into the chamber?....regards andy

Thanks roto and skodanut, will check the air filter as it`s due a looking at soon for a service, also i try to fill up to below the `hash` mark on the dipstick. I can also see the runaway engine problem developing if there was no way to vent the oil, it`s just that eventually it drops on the drive and requires cleaning off !! Anyway undertray off soon and put an empty margerine container under the pipe - the wonders of modern engine technology !!! I used to do a similar thing with crankcase breather pipes on race fourstoke motorbikes, but had`nt envisaged a similar scenario with a TDI engine.