dbdubb

So I picked up my first Supercharged Audi A6 3.0L 2 weeks ago. Ended up getting a great deal on it with only 38k miles. I pull into my office this morning and notice a significant amount of fluid draining from the front passenger side area onto the pavement. I knew it didn't look right, but I didn't see anything going on under the hood (no fluid leak).

Then I'm heading home, drove about 25 miles and on pops the low coolant alert. Luckily I was 1 mile from home and made it with no issues. I look under the car in that area and confirm that it's leaking.

What to do now? I'm fairly handy and don't mind turning my own wrenches, for the most part. Do I jack it up and see if I can figure out where it's coming from? Or do I just bring it to the dealer? Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Dave

r1racer

I had the same problem and it was the water pump. Unless you have a lift, the service manual and proper tools it's always easier to take it in...won't hurt to look around before you take it in though...could be a something as simple as a loose hose although unlikely.

dbdubb

Thank you for the tip. I'm used to changing water pumps around the time timing belts get changed, well after 40k miles. Hard to believe one would go this early. I wonder if Audi might cover it....

tenspeed

One possible source of a coolant leak is the supercharger inter-cooler. It's located in the front and low behind the grill. Rocks hit it if there is no guard.

Here's a picture - it's below the bumper

dbdubb

Thanks for the input. I did a visual inspection on the intercooler and everything else in the area and I wasn't able to pinpoint where the leak is coming from. Looks like a trip to the shop is in my future.

dbdubb

Just wanted to update the thread for future reference. The shop called a couple of hours ago (it's an independent shop in Tampa that knows VW's pretty well) and Tenspeed was spot on. A rock pierced the intercooler.
They told me the replacement model has a guard that comes with it, so it shouldn't happen again.

Seems like a flaw that Audi corrected and hopefully wont happen again to me.
Thank You All.

DanfZX14

Does anyone know if Audi incorporated the protective intercooler grill cover during assembly at the factory on later model years, say 2015 forward, described in the thread linked below to prevent this type of damage from occuring?


https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a6-...grill-2863643/

tenspeed

I read about expensive repairs to the inter cooler and a look at the "guard" that Audi uses. If a rock smacks it, I don't think it would give much protection.

I knew I could make something for less cash and get better protection. Here's a link to the thread - https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a7-...guard-2906257/

gk1

I had a 2012 S4 that did not have it but the 2013's did, so I believe that is when it became "standard" for the 3.0T cars. Both my 2014 SQ5 and 2015 S6 have it from the factory.