audijim131

2006 A8L 190,000 miles

Purchased in 2017 with 135,000 miles

I noticed a coolant leak in summer of 2020. Sept, 2020 / 170,000 miles an independent (Audi focused) shop did the oil cooler reseal Parts (tube, seals, etc) were about $100. Labor was $650.
In the months following, I religiously eyeballed the coolant level. It never required a drop of coolant until the last couple months. I(T took cup or so ever other week or so. I only used Febi Bilstein G012A8GIG coolant. The PO also only used the same G12 coolant.

I put cardboard on the floor and never saw a drop so I took it to shop. He wasn't able to find the leak until he put a pressure tester on the system overnight. This morning he called to tell me he confirmed the oil cooler is the source of the leak.

I don't think a shop would warranty repair work two years after work was done.

The timing belt service was done by previous owner a month or so before I purchased in 2017. It will be due in the next 10,000-15,000 miles.

The car looks and runs great, I love it and hadn't planned to upgrade until next year.

I'm semi retired and don't drive much regularly.

What would you do?

* Pay $700+ to have it done again?
* Drive it and add juice?
* Try to sell it and not say anything about the leak?
* Put nasty sealant in it and hope it doesn't gum everything up?

A8bil

Can you wrench? DIY! On the 2006 and older vehicles the job is pretty easy IIRC ... I did mine in my front driveway over a weekend together with timing belt, rollers etc. the BVJ engine gets harder. Obviously, the sale with non-disclosure, etc. is not advisable, and (as an auto enthusiast) pretty not cool. I got scammed once that way and it still pisses me off.

audijim131

20 years ago when I was 58 yrs old I did the belt on a A6 Avant with a 2.8. I even fabricated my own cam holder by tracing the outline on cardboard at a shop that wouldn't loan it but let me eyeball it.

At that time I also pulled one head to retrieve a deck screw. The screw was broken in two. Part of it was stuck in the head and the other pressed into the top of a piston. Back story: I was cleaning the PVC valve port. with the throttle body removed, I was digging carbon from the port inside the manifold. A deck screw laying on my bench proved a good short "tool" to scrape it out. At some point, I lost the screw and was "sure" it had fallen down behind the engine.

Fast forward to today, 58+20= 78. way overweight, minimal flexibility, high blood pressure and shaky left hand (not Parkinsons). So yes, I "know" how to wrench and similarly, I "know" what to do in the bedroom but the body isn't wiling

A8bil

LOL...got it.