MajorCommonFluid Leaks

Volkswagen Touareg: 3.0 V6 TDI oil leaks (timing-cover/sump sealant) and EGR-cooler coolant leak

3.0 V6 TDI oil leaks (timing-cover/sump sealant) and EGR-cooler coolant leak is a common fluid leaks fault on the Volkswagen Touareg on the 2011–2018 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 19 documented faults on the Volkswagen Touareg.

Vehicle: Volkswagen Touareg
Engine: 3.0L
Years: 2011–2018
Fuel: diesel
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Volkswagen Touareg as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Volkswagen Touareg faults19 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the EGR valve yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 3.0 V6 TDI in the 7P is known for oil leaks that appear from around 100,000 km, traced to a timing-chain cover plate and sump sealed with a silicone bead rather than a proper gasket - the sealant perishes and weeps oil, and because the timing chain is at the back of the engine (gearbox end) the repair is huge on labour. Alongside this the EGR cooler cracks and leaks coolant, sometimes losing oil and coolant together. Both are well documented on owner forums for this engine.

What you would notice

Oil drips or a coating of oil under the engine
Coolant loss and a sweet smell (EGR cooler)
Oil and coolant both dropping
Burning-oil smell after a drive
Low-coolant warnings

How to check it

Where to look. Timing-chain cover and sump at the rear (gearbox end) of the engine; EGR cooler on the engine

Look under the engine and at the back of it (gearbox end) for oil weeping and wet build-up.
Check the coolant level and for any mixing/loss.
Ask whether the timing-cover/sump sealing or EGR cooler has been done - these are known, documented jobs.
Because the timing chain is at the rear, factor big labour if work is due.

Parts involved: EGR valve.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Are there any oil or coolant leaks, and has sealing/EGR work been done?”
“Is the coolant level stable?”
“Any burning-oil smell after driving?”

Now check the Volkswagen Touareg you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Club Touareg 'V6 TDI oil leak from rear of engine' threads
Club Touareg 'coolant leak, oil cooler and EGR 3.0 TDI Gen 2' thread
mytreg.com V6 TDI oil/coolant leak discussions

Volkswagen Touareg buyer questions

Is 3.0 v6 tdi oil leaks (timing-cover/sump sealant) and egr-cooler coolant leak serious on a Volkswagen Touareg?

We rate it major and common on the Volkswagen Touareg. The 3.0 V6 TDI in the 7P is known for oil leaks that appear from around 100,000 km, traced to a timing-chain cover plate and sump sealed with a silicone bead rather than a proper gasket - the sealant perishes and weeps oil, and because the timing chain is at the back of the engine (gearbox end) the repair is huge on labour. Alongside this the EGR cooler cracks and leaks coolant, sometimes losing oil and coolant together. Both are well documented on owner forums for this engine.

How much does it cost to fix on a Volkswagen Touareg?

$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Volkswagen Touareg years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2018 Volkswagen Touareg. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Look under the engine and at the back of it (gearbox end) for oil weeping and wet build-up. Check the coolant level and for any mixing/loss. Ask whether the timing-cover/sump sealing or EGR cooler has been done - these are known, documented jobs. Because the timing chain is at the rear, factor big labour if work is due. Look here: Timing-chain cover and sump at the rear (gearbox end) of the engine; EGR cooler on the engine