A6 2.7T AUX Water pump leak and fix
11-17-2010, 08:43 AM
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A6 2.7T AUX Water pump leak and fix
I had a mystery coolant leak recently. The symptom was that coolant would start leaking AFTER I parked the car. i would come out after work to a small puddle on the ground.
I thought it was a cracked hose or main water pump and it looked like it was coming down the front of my engine between the V of the V-6.
The AUX water pump feeds coolant to the turbos after you turn off the car. it is an idiot assist for those who don't let their car idle a while after flogging it. The AUX pump takes the heat out of your turbos so the oil doesn't bake (coke) in there.
Since I had a leak in the line after the pump, the flow of coolant started when the pump engaged and didn't stop until the temp was low enough or I ran out of coolant. I was constantly re-filling the overflow tank to keep from running hot.
These pictures show the repair.
First I took off the y-pipe air intake. If you want to do it quickly, you can just loosen the bolts holding the lower part of the pipe. They are located on the front just below the valve covers. If you take these off, then the three bolts holding down the y-pipe, then loosen the hose clamp that connects to MAF sensor and two hose clamps by the bypass valves... wha-lah. The whole bastard will just lift right out.
Your next step should be to gently stuff rags in the turbo pipe openings or you might drop a screw right in there. It is positioned perfectly to guide a dropped screw right to the intake port of your turbo.
I know because I did it. Lucky I had a magnet on a flexible stick. Very lucky because your regular magnet on a stick won't reach that far back. Neither will my ham fists on stocky arms.
Then remove fuel rails. Be careful to ease off fuel lines to avoid spraying gas everywhere. You also might want some spare injector o-rings in case you screw yours up.
Next unbolt the air intake plenum. The AUX water pump is under there.
You might also want to put rags gently in the now exposed cylinder air intakes to keep junk from falling in your valve gear.
My problem was with the drain plug. Don't ask me how but the o-ring was leaking. I could see a bead of coolant coming from it. The trail of coolant was 'pissing down a rope' and actually dripping from the hose making it look like a busted hose.
When I tried to replace the drain plug, the soft metal stripped around the allen head whole. It rounded way too easy. I made the repair by buying a similar sized bolt from ace hardware. I used my dremel to slice the length of the bolt to exactly match the drain plug length. Then I put on a new o-ring and carefully installed the bolt. It worked great.
After cleaning up the coolant, I put it all back together. Took out the rags and carefully put back the fuel rail.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5594479...7625286452429/
Had I known the hose was fine and the pump was fine, I actually could have accessed the drain plug from above without taking the plenum off. But these pics might help if your leak is actually with the hoses or pump.
I thought it was a cracked hose or main water pump and it looked like it was coming down the front of my engine between the V of the V-6.
The AUX water pump feeds coolant to the turbos after you turn off the car. it is an idiot assist for those who don't let their car idle a while after flogging it. The AUX pump takes the heat out of your turbos so the oil doesn't bake (coke) in there.
Since I had a leak in the line after the pump, the flow of coolant started when the pump engaged and didn't stop until the temp was low enough or I ran out of coolant. I was constantly re-filling the overflow tank to keep from running hot.
These pictures show the repair.
First I took off the y-pipe air intake. If you want to do it quickly, you can just loosen the bolts holding the lower part of the pipe. They are located on the front just below the valve covers. If you take these off, then the three bolts holding down the y-pipe, then loosen the hose clamp that connects to MAF sensor and two hose clamps by the bypass valves... wha-lah. The whole bastard will just lift right out.
Your next step should be to gently stuff rags in the turbo pipe openings or you might drop a screw right in there. It is positioned perfectly to guide a dropped screw right to the intake port of your turbo.
I know because I did it. Lucky I had a magnet on a flexible stick. Very lucky because your regular magnet on a stick won't reach that far back. Neither will my ham fists on stocky arms.
Then remove fuel rails. Be careful to ease off fuel lines to avoid spraying gas everywhere. You also might want some spare injector o-rings in case you screw yours up.
Next unbolt the air intake plenum. The AUX water pump is under there.
You might also want to put rags gently in the now exposed cylinder air intakes to keep junk from falling in your valve gear.
My problem was with the drain plug. Don't ask me how but the o-ring was leaking. I could see a bead of coolant coming from it. The trail of coolant was 'pissing down a rope' and actually dripping from the hose making it look like a busted hose.
When I tried to replace the drain plug, the soft metal stripped around the allen head whole. It rounded way too easy. I made the repair by buying a similar sized bolt from ace hardware. I used my dremel to slice the length of the bolt to exactly match the drain plug length. Then I put on a new o-ring and carefully installed the bolt. It worked great.
After cleaning up the coolant, I put it all back together. Took out the rags and carefully put back the fuel rail.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5594479...7625286452429/
Had I known the hose was fine and the pump was fine, I actually could have accessed the drain plug from above without taking the plenum off. But these pics might help if your leak is actually with the hoses or pump.
11-17-2010, 09:16 AM
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seriously dave stop blowing up the boards with information everyone here already knows, or has been posted to the DIY tech atricle, also that green coolant is slowly killing your engine.
11-17-2010, 09:46 AM
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green coolant seriously
wow, what kind of idiot would use green coolant.
maybe the kind that had run out of the right kind and didn't want to burn up his engine. I used what was on my shelf to keep the level up until I could get time to repair it.
Maybe I didn't feel like pouring liquid gold down a hole until after I fixed the continual leak!
maybe the kind that had run out of the right kind and didn't want to burn up his engine. I used what was on my shelf to keep the level up until I could get time to repair it.
Maybe I didn't feel like pouring liquid gold down a hole until after I fixed the continual leak!
11-17-2010, 09:49 AM
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I'm outta here
okay that does it.
I'm outta here.
I had used this forum for info before but found some things misleading or not completely helpful. I've also read tech articles posted here but didn't see great details on some of these.
If everybody here already knows all this stuff then why the hell do they visit the forum?
Pardon the hell out of me for trying to be helpful. I just thought I would share my experiences in case some other DIY-ers found the information useful.
I'll stop posting. Seriously. Since ya'll all know everything anyway.
What's the point in a goddam forum if we can't talk about stuff and ask questions? L8TR
I'm outta here.
I had used this forum for info before but found some things misleading or not completely helpful. I've also read tech articles posted here but didn't see great details on some of these.
If everybody here already knows all this stuff then why the hell do they visit the forum?
Pardon the hell out of me for trying to be helpful. I just thought I would share my experiences in case some other DIY-ers found the information useful.
I'll stop posting. Seriously. Since ya'll all know everything anyway.
What's the point in a goddam forum if we can't talk about stuff and ask questions? L8TR
11-17-2010, 10:02 AM
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the point is your blowing up the forum and pushing other posts to the bottom that are more important. all the stuff you posted has write ups and walk thrus in the tech section. your postings are superfluous and dont add anything. your beating a dead horse with every one of your topics. not that i wouldnt mind having a discussion but your not having a discussion, your posting several paragraphs that are half your thoughts and half regurgitating information
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11-18-2010, 08:37 AM
#8
I thought Dave4roma's initial post added value and would like to see more of these from members who actually figured out something. How many times do we wonder how a problem was solved and never hear the outcome?
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DerBiologe (10-06-2020)
11-18-2010, 10:29 AM
#10
AudiWorld Member
Agree with what Just Me and johnkk said. I think new members should be welcomed, not shut down by inappropriate comments.
There is always room for new posts and new perspectives from newcomers. Yes, sometimes we haven't searched the forums enough, but that does not warrant rude behavior by anyone and only reflects poorly on that individual.
Post on, Dave!
There is always room for new posts and new perspectives from newcomers. Yes, sometimes we haven't searched the forums enough, but that does not warrant rude behavior by anyone and only reflects poorly on that individual.
Post on, Dave!
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DerBiologe (10-06-2020)