Mystery coolant loss, then overheating with no heat inside.
01-03-2008, 02:16 PM
#1
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Mystery coolant loss, then overheating with no heat inside.
Since I've owned my a8 it's been losing about a quart of coolant a week. I've been keeping on top of it, but only with water. I could not find evidence of oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil, and no sign of either being burned.
Today it was sub-zero, and although the car drove fine, it overheated in about 4 miles. There was zero heat in the car from startup. The coolant tank was holding good pressure even with the engine off. I checked the oil, and still no evidence of coolant, the heads still appeared sealed. I did not check the radiator for warmth.
Water pump?
Thermostat?
frozen radiator?
Today it was sub-zero, and although the car drove fine, it overheated in about 4 miles. There was zero heat in the car from startup. The coolant tank was holding good pressure even with the engine off. I checked the oil, and still no evidence of coolant, the heads still appeared sealed. I did not check the radiator for warmth.
Water pump?
Thermostat?
frozen radiator?
01-03-2008, 05:24 PM
#7
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I don't understand how you could loose a quart a week and not know where it is going.
Have you seen any pink residue anywhere?
When you change it, you need to open the block drains and drain everything. I would then put in a 60% mix of coolant to water to get a proper 50/50 mixture because you won't get all the water out.
You also need to vent the high points. See audipages timing belt replacement for block drains and high point vents.
Where do you live?
Have you seen any pink residue anywhere?
When you change it, you need to open the block drains and drain everything. I would then put in a 60% mix of coolant to water to get a proper 50/50 mixture because you won't get all the water out.
You also need to vent the high points. See audipages timing belt replacement for block drains and high point vents.
Where do you live?
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01-03-2008, 06:13 PM
#8
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Sounds like oil cooler leak to me
Find wherever it is.
Check heater hoses under the plenum cover too.
Don't run out of coolant or you'll also have opportunity to change water pump, TB when you get a new radiator.<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/enginemechanical/oilcoolerremovalreinstall.html">DIY fix if U R up to it</a></li></ul>
Check heater hoses under the plenum cover too.
Don't run out of coolant or you'll also have opportunity to change water pump, TB when you get a new radiator.<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/enginemechanical/oilcoolerremovalreinstall.html">DIY fix if U R up to it</a></li></ul>
01-04-2008, 04:28 AM
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You may not have frozen it - when my oil cooler was loosing the same amount of coolant...
...a week I'd only add it when it got really low, and one time I'd not added it quickly enough and noted the gauge starting to rise and also that I suddenly had NO HEAT. This was prior to freezing temps. Added water, all was good.
However, you added only water and now it's in the single digits. You very well may have froze. Hope you didn't pop anything. I too added only water as the sound of f'n Pento$in coolant hitting the ground didn't sound like "drip drip", rather, the sound of coins hitting the ground. BUT, I was careful to ensure pink stuff in there when the freeze came, doesn't sound like you were - d'oh.
Like Paul said, how you could be loosing a qt / wk and not notice where is odd. Oil cooler will loose it just to the right of the front / center of the motor.
HTH, good luck. I finally got mine fixed via warranty and am basking in the leakless wonder of it all!
However, you added only water and now it's in the single digits. You very well may have froze. Hope you didn't pop anything. I too added only water as the sound of f'n Pento$in coolant hitting the ground didn't sound like "drip drip", rather, the sound of coins hitting the ground. BUT, I was careful to ensure pink stuff in there when the freeze came, doesn't sound like you were - d'oh.
Like Paul said, how you could be loosing a qt / wk and not notice where is odd. Oil cooler will loose it just to the right of the front / center of the motor.
HTH, good luck. I finally got mine fixed via warranty and am basking in the leakless wonder of it all!