Is there a bleed screw for the rads ??

[Davie Bow]

Hi guys ,
i've got a bit of an issue with my main radiator , its either blocked or has an air lock in it , so before i replace it i was wondering if there was an accessible bleed screw in the system anywhere ?

Thanks
Dave

[Nobby]

Don't think there are any. The Audi workshop manual suggests attaching a bleed tool to get rid of all the air, but I've never had a problem draining and refilling. Restart the engine with the expansion cap off and all bubbles should come out.

[Davie Bow]

Don't think there are any. The Audi workshop manual suggests attaching a bleed tool to get rid of all the air, but I've never had a problem draining and refilling. Restart the engine with the expansion cap off and all bubbles should come out.

Cheers mate ,
i've tried that but had no joy , so im inclined to think i've got a blocked Rad , i might just buy a new one anyway just for my own peace of mind

[simonpoulton]

i might just buy a new one anyway just for my own peace of mind

Have you seen how expensive they are!?

What makes you think you have a blocked radiator? Is it overheating (or leaking)?

[Shoppinit]

You bleed by half pulling the heater matrix pipe at the bulkhead. Can't remember which one.

That will reveal a little bleed hole.

/also, what nobby said. I don't bother bleeding. The air works its way out OK through the expansion tank in my experience.

[Davie Bow]

The top part of the radiator isn't getting warm , its staying cold , bottom part gets warm and all fans are kicking in ,when driving around normal or cruising up the motorway the engine temps stay on 90 degrees but as soon as you boot it or go on a spirited drive the temp rises and at one point it boiled up and shot the water out the expansion over flow .
At first I <beep> myself and thought I'd done a headgasket but we've checked oil water , done a sniff test and everything is fine , no signs anywhere of gasket damage , which is leading me to think that there's some kind of blockage in the rad which so it's not able to cool sufficiently when you give it a bit of welly

[chunky79]

Sounds like thermostat. When was the last cambelt service done and who did it?

[Shoppinit]

^what he said.

[Mɐʇʇ]

There's a bleed screw on the RHS on the water pipe just behind the cylinder head. 10mm socket on a long 1/4" extension. That's for bleeding the rad & block, IIRC. The one up on the bulkhead is to get the heater matrix bled - which is higher up.

[Davie Bow]

Thanks guys ,
I check the thermostat as that does make sense and I hadn't checked it and I'll have a look at those bleed screws too .
Last cam belt was 2 years / about 25k miles ago , done by Audi Indy

[chunky79]

Thermostat is a a strip down job. Check the invoice if you have it, should really be done at same time as cambelt.

[Davie Bow]

Ok , will do thanks