A burning oil smell from the turbocharger area of your 2019 Audi Q5 indicates oil is leaking and contacting the extremely hot turbo housing. The turbocharger on the 2.0T engine operates at very high temperatures, and any oil that contacts it vaporizes immediately, creating noticeable burning smell and potentially smoke.
How Turbo Oil Systems Work
Turbochargers require constant oil flow to lubricate bearings spinning at up to 150,000 RPM. Pressurized oil enters through feed lines, lubricates the bearings, and exits through drain lines back to the oil pan. Seals within the turbo prevent oil from entering the intake (compressor side) or exhaust (turbine side).
Common Turbo-Related Oil Leak Sources
Oil burning smell near the turbo can result from turbo oil feed line connections leaking, turbo oil drain line failures, internal turbo seals failing and leaking oil externally, turbo center section gasket leaks, and oil dripping from other engine areas onto the hot turbo. Not all turbo-area burning smell is from turbo failure itself.
Turbo Seal Failure Symptoms
Internal turbo seal failure shows specific symptoms: blue smoke from exhaust indicates oil burning in combustion, oil consumption without visible external leaks, residue in the intake piping or intercooler, and turbo whine or noise changes. External leaks show as oil residue on the turbo housing that burns off.
Diagnostic Approach
Inspect oil feed and drain line connections for seepage. Clean the turbo area and check for fresh oil after running. Check intake piping for oil residue suggesting compressor seal failure. Monitor oil consumption. Blue smoke on acceleration or deceleration suggests turbo seal problems. Boost pressure testing can reveal seal performance issues.
Repair Considerations
Feed or drain line leaks are straightforward repairs with new seals or lines. Internal turbo seal failure typically requires turbo replacement or rebuild. If turbo seals are failing, investigate cause - restricted drain lines or excessive crankcase pressure can cause premature seal failure. Address root causes to prevent repeat failure.