Consuming G12 (Coolant)

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Apr 13, 2011 | 04:15 AM

redrocker55

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From: St Louis

Consuming G12 (Coolant)

I have read that a few of us have experienced the disappearing coolant problem. My car has done the same thing. Each time I bring it in for service the dealership tops off the fluid. I've never had a car before that eats coolant.

I have the aluminum water pump and I was not included in any of the campaigns to have the pump replaced.

I was wondering if there is any way the thermostat could contribute to disappearing coolant??

We have not heard of many thermostats going bad...certainly not to the level of issues we have seen with the water pumps... My dealership has not had any thermostat replacements other than the campaign.

Could the disappearing coolant be the issue Audi is addressing with the thermostat recall?

Apr 13, 2011 | 04:19 AM

ryan_qttro

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Somehow they do seem to consume coolant, I top off coolant most every Audi on every service with no leaks found. If you had a sticking closed thermostat, that would cause the coolant to be dumped out the expansion tank (which you would smell). As long as you don't find any leaks, its normal.

Apr 13, 2011 | 05:33 AM

no cell

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I'm hoping the thermostat has something to with it as well, although I'm not known for my optimism. I took my car (aluminium pump,3/10 build)to the dealer @ 2,700 miles when I noticed the tank was below min when cold. They of course said no leaks and topped it off. At my 5k service, it was again below min. They topped off and said the same again. I'm now at 11,400 and the "drop down rate" has slowed considerably - about 3/4 inch above min when cold, but is still dropping as they had it filled to right around max level @ 5k. Going for thermostat tomorrow so will see what happens.

Apr 13, 2011 | 06:57 AM

Muray

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From: Queens, NY

Hmmm I noticed my coolant was at minimum level at cold too. But my car has only about 480 miles. May be just an Audi trait?

Apr 13, 2011 | 12:17 PM

Chris

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Both my 2004 (B6) S4 and my current 2010 (B8) S4 "drank" what seemed like an excess of coolant early on in ownership. I'm not auto mechanic, but anecdotal experience, and what I've heard from others, seems to indicate that it's not uncommon for these cars to consume a bit of coolant during break-in.

Apr 13, 2011 | 12:30 PM

redrocker55

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From: St Louis

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Hey Chris...I hear ya...but I'm at 35,000 miles and I'm still drinking coolant at a rate of about a 1/2 an overflow tank every 10,000 miles.

When the dealership replaced my thermostat a couple days ago they filled up my overflow to the top. When it's cool it's at the "hot" mark.

(sorry to hear you lost your pump this week...crazy timing of that one man.)