I had my A4 1.8T timing belt changed by an independent garage, along with water pump, accessory belts, etc. about 5000 miles ago. Almost immediately afterward, I noticed what appeared to be a an oil spray all over the front of the engine compartment. The spray and associated smell disappeared after a couple hundred miles, and engine fluids looked okay, so I didn't worry about it.
However, oil is still leaking from somewhere in the engine compartment sufficiently enough to drip from just about every surface on the underside of the engine, onto the belly pan, and from there onto the garage floor. I changed the engine oil a couple days ago, and wiped up the underside of the engine pretty well, cleaned the belly pan, and after a couple hundred miles the oil is again leaking sufficiently to coat the underside of the engine and drip from the belly pan onto the garage floor. This leak was not present prior to the timing belt change or, if it was, it certainly wasn't severe enough to be this noticeable.
The oil appears to be motor oil, though I haven't noticed a drop in the crankcase oil level. I am perplexed as to the source, and wonder if it could have been caused or aggravated by the shop in the course of changing the timing belt. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks, JKG