'95 90 / 12v -

I've noticed that in stop and go driving, my temp guage goes a bit higher than I'd like it to, one bar hotter than the thick 'normal' bar. The thermostat has ~40k miles on it and is about 3 years old. The coolant is Dexcool which I did about 2 months ago (70/30), although that replaced green coolant. The guy I bought it from was running green, apparently, b/c he didn't know any better. At any rate, ever since I changed it, the engine SEEMS to run hotter. I did a radiator flush (10 minute flush) since I recall reading that doing a flush in between is best; was this not the right thing to do?

Yes, I believe my guages are right-on.

Also, I don't think I've ever heard the cooling fans cycle on w/o the a/c running. Is there a switch or something that usually goes bad to kick the fans on at high temps?

I drained the Dexcool out of it this evening and filled it with Super Cleaner, the type of radiator cleaner you leave in for a few operating hours. I was (unless told to do otherwise) going to drive it a bit tomorrow morning with the cleaner cycling, then drain it in the afternoon, replace the t-stat, then fill it back up with Dexcool.

*A switch for cycling the fans- do these go out, and if so, where can I find it, and or, how can I test it?

*T-stat- where is it, is it hard to change, with only 40k should the old be changed?

*Isn't Dexcool the same as Audi's recommended coolant?

*If you had a gallon of coolant, how much would you pour-in before adding water, with the 12v?

Thanks!

Matt

 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/6607/coolpic.jpg"></center><p>&gt;(70/30)????

70% Distilled water, 30% coolant?


&gt;a radiator flush (10 minute flush) since I recall reading that doing a flush in between is best&gt;

The V6 engine block "cannot" be drained by draining the rad. You must "drain" the system completly, by, 1 draining the radiator, 2 draining the engine block. The block has a drain, on the bottom near the trans/gearbox.
This is the "best" and complete way to drain old coolant.

&gt;Yes, I believe my guages are right-on.

Audi instruments leave much to be desired......

&gt;I don't think I've ever heard the cooling fans cycle on w/o the a/c running. Is there a switch or something that usually goes bad to kick the fans on at high temps?

Yes there is a switch. Located in the radiator, passenger side bottom. There's also a relay.


&gt;I drained the Dexcool out of it this evening and filled it with Super Cleaner, the type of radiator cleaner you leave in for a few operating hours. I was (unless told to do otherwise) going to drive it a bit tomorrow morning with the cleaner cycling, then drain it in the afternoon, replace the t-stat, then fill it back up with Dexcool.

"follow the directions on the bottle!"



*A switch for cycling the fans- do these go out, and if so, where can I find it, and or, how can I test it?

Best thing to do, if its suspected bad, replace it.

*T-stat- where is it, is it hard to change, with only 40k should the old be changed?

Depends on the brand of t-stat which was installed? Who installed it, and if its installed correctly?

*Isn't Dexcool the same as Audi's recommended coolant?

"Any" anti-freeze which is "phosphate-free" you can run in your Audi. Any color, as long as its "phosphate-free".

*If you had a gallon of coolant, how much would you pour-in before adding water, with the 12v?

You mix the distilled water, and coolant, before you pour it in your car. Its recommended to mix 50/50. Or 60/40, with 60 being the distilled water.

Another thing to make sure, is to bleed the air from the system. V6's are bad on retaining air. Thats why Audi installed 2 bleed screws. Air does not transfer heat! It must be bled from the system, or can cause all sorts of problems! ;O)