Coolant Loss

[tommchowat]

Hi all,

During a nice leisurely drive I noticed steam coming out the left hand side of the bonnet and an odd smell. Parked up and left it running, car was pissing coolant all over my drive way. It's dripping off the undertray and gathering on the ground slightly to the passenger side of centre, about in line with the wheels.

Coolant level is way down, doesn't leak when the car is off though. Garage looking at it Saturday. Any thoughts on what to expect?

Cheers

Tom

[Surrey Sam]

Aux rad.

[tommchowat]

Thought so, seems about time. What sort of cost are we looking at? Do you think it would be worth getting both of them done at the same time, or only fix when broken?

[Pistolpete2543]

I think a new aux rad is about £200. Need to remove front bumper to get access, but otherwise straightforward job. I don’t see the point changing both if only one is leaking, but it’s up to you.

[tommchowat]

Well long term I wanted to get rid of the driver side one and do an MRC cold air feed, so maybe I'll fix this one and leave the other.

Meanwhile, is there any way to make the car driveable from now until it gets fixed?

[a1topdog]

Top the coolant up and drive it. The aux rads only kick in when the car is really hot, eg in traffic etc, so should be fine for normal driving.

[tommchowat]

Okay. I was stuck in traffic for ages just before it let go come to think of it. If I could pick up another radiator tomorrow I could have the car fixed by Saturday and not have to pull a sicky at work Monday.

Thanks for all the help.

[MikeFish]

Top the coolant up and drive it. The aux rads only kick in when the car is really hot, eg in traffic etc, so should be fine for normal driving.

This. Don't let it get too hot and it won't lose any coolant. Other than that keep it topped up until you fix it.

[a1topdog]

No one makes pattern rads, it genuine Audi only. If you have a TPS near you try there. They normally have them in stock.

[MikeFish]

You could use the good one from the drivers side on the passenger side then put a cold air feed in.

[Pistolpete2543]

OEM only.
Edited post as I was getting confused with oil cooler!!

[tommchowat]

Thanks - I really need the car back on the road by Monday though so I'm gonna see if Audi have got one I can pick up.

[tommchowat]

Guys,

You're not gonna believe this.

Radiators all pressure tested and fine. I mentioned I saw air bubbles going through the coolant expansion tank as the coolant was leaking.

Did a test while it was running, air coming up and liquid changing colour. <beep> head gasket has gone. On a 68k mile car. Just as my warranty ran out too.

Livid.

[Covkiller]

Still go to Audi they may do it under good will.

[tommchowat]

Absolutely fuming about this. How could the car have such a catastrophic failure at 68k miles?!

With my M3 I sort of expected it. 2003, 95k miles, fine. But this...

Second performance car, second head gasket. I must be the unluckiest owner ever.