Possible coolant issue

[jaysrs4]

Bit of a weird one this. I've noticed my car using a small amount of coolant, however its a garage queen so only gets out at weekends and fine days to the office so may be using more than I think.

Anyway, it's not dropping any liquid at all and appears dry everywhere and isn't steamy from the exhausts. However I'm sure when its hot I can smell coolant sometimes, it's got to be going somewhere. Any suggestions?

[Reevesy]

Auxiliary rads leaking? Classic symptoms

[MikeFish]

Auxiliary radiators are the most common culprits. Only kick in when the engine gets really hot so you don't lose coolant all the time. Wet leaves etc collect in the air scoops which prematurely ages them. Start her up and let her get really hot and look for steam from the auxiliary rad air scoops.
If it's the drivers side that's gone, bin it and fit a cold air feed in its place.

[pDkALO]

Auxiliary rads leaking? Classic symptoms

+1

because they only kick in at temp of 100c (IIRC) and then shut off again below that, chances are you're unlikely to see any fluid dropped overnight. I had similar - occasional whiff of coolant and tiny fluid loss but could never see anything and I was always scratching my head. finally spotted waft of steam when sitting queueing on the docks late evening waiting for the LM ferry last year - torch out and spotted small leak in both, so they got replaced when I got back to Blightly

[manual_daniel]

Auxiliary rads leaking? Classic symptoms

+2

I had the same thing, losing coolant slowly over time. Shine a flashlight on the aux rads and you may notice one looks wet all the time. Mine never dripped onto the garage floor, just the rad face was wet. One morning I noticed the steam in the sunlight. I ended up replacing both rads because it was an Audi bumper-off job to replace them, and the rads themselves are not that expensive. All fine now and coolant temps and oil temps seem to come down a little quicker.

[jaysrs4]

Damn you fellas, you're too good!! Thanks for that, will check them out - really appreciate it thanks

[Audi Pardner]

Jay - I got a replacement aux rad from Aberdeen Audi much cheaper than my local stealer.

[TonyHayers]

Hopefully it's your driver side one and you can delete it and do CAF

[Iain_S4]

I got a replacement aux rad from Aberdeen Audi much cheaper than my local stealer

. . . things you never thought you'd hear

[steveyb]

Did mine this weekend, simple to do but time consuming if you've not done it before. I bought from Aberdeen Audi too.
Remember to look at your oil cooler lines too while you have the bumper off.

[Drags]

My car has a similar issue, but luckily there was some evidence of the leak. There is a metal pipe on the n/s inner wing that has a bracket, can see small bubbles coming out and the smell of coolant is obvious as it drips on the manifold. Give the car a bit stick and pop the bonnet...if it's the same as mine you'll see it. I ordered the pipe from Audi and they had no stock, 5-10 day wait....looks like a pig to fit. One side is easy, the other is hidden under heatshields and the bulkhead where the battery would normally be