dreaded coolant pipes

[rs6_sid]

hi guys just been doing my front discs and pads this evening and i noticed that my coolant pipes are getting scabby

this had lead my to thinking i may be daft but has anyone tried using something along the lines of a AN fitting and stainless hose to make a repair pipe or something along them lines to repair the issue?

just trying to think of a way to stop it happening again and trying not to remove the engine in the process , as i cant justify putting a new pipe in again that will just go rusty again ! seems like a bit of a design issue !

id need to get callipers out and check sizes ect but i cant see any issues with running a large bore braided stainless hose as long as i can get the correct size fittings.

[Jim Haseltine]

I've been idly thinking along much the same lines - the main thought being that flexible hoses might make fitting the things a bit easier. I'd planned to give our cars a going over this holiday and take a close look at the pipes at the same time but unless this weather clears up that's not on.

[rs6_sid]

at least it's not just me that thinks this , I didn't get chance to take my arch lining off but what I could do with is if anyone has access to the technical drawings I could see how much I can change in one go.

I just feel it's a lot of work to remove the engine to replace the part that's not fit for purpose with the same part again !

If I can get a AN fitting the same size as the steel we should be good , some hoses are good for 500c and upto 500psi without going down the crimped route. Also the stainless pipe is weather resistant so you won't have the issue again.

My only fear was would the next owner see it as a bodge or an improvement

[don0301]

I had mine replaced/repaired this year.

The small pipe can be replaced in situ.

The larger one, my mechanic cut and made/fitted a replacement part, and also fitted a cover to protect. He used a flexible reinforced pipe with the same bore.

The pipes aren't in the main pressurized circuit, but still my mechanic double clamped the joins.

He feels the "repair" will last the life of the car

I felt like you, didn't warrant an engine out, especially to replace like with like

[rs6_sid]

I had mine replaced/repaired this year.

The small pipe can be replaced in situ.

The larger one, my mechanic cut and made/fitted a replacement part, and also fitted a cover to protect. He used a flexible reinforced pipe with the same bore.

The pipes aren't in the main pressurized circuit, but still my mechanic double clamped the joins.

He feels the "repair" will last the life of the car

I felt like you, didn't warrant an engine out, especially to replace like with like

The coolant system is under 14 psi max as that's what the cap blows off at , most of the stsyten still only has Epdm hose and spring clips so a compression fitting onto the steel would be better and stronger than any other part of the coolant system.

Just trying to see if I can make a proper repair that others can easily follow and be a fit and forget part.

[don0301]

Not sure where you're located

I'm in Essex if you want to inspect mine

My mechanic did a top job in my view

Be aware the small pipe was a 10 day order from the factory in germany when I ordered mine

Good luck anyway

[longman h]

This could be an interesting and far cheaper alternative to dropping the engine. Have you got any photos please?

[rs6_sid]

I'm going to be under taking this in the new year , by my looking at it I should be able to make full repair pipes cheaper than buying the 2 pipes from Audi the only bit it should leave you with is the last part that'you can't get off without dropping the engine

I just need to size it all up and see how I go about fixing the pipe if I can get a fitting the right size

[adamfraser]

Will be interesting what you come up with. I've just got mine back with a sizeable bill for the coolant pipes, oil seal etc. Only had to remove the engine to do the pipes, but it's the other things we found when the engine was out that made it a worthwhile job.






They didn't look too bad until you removed the liner, yet they completely crumbled as soon as they came off. Would try limit using the car as much as you can!!

[rs6_sid]

Mine don't look to bad but I know they need doing doing , yeah it should be quite a slick install as I may end up getting some fittings custom machined

[adamfraser]

Definitely.

I had thought about braided hose similar to what we use in the rally car with some Aeroquip ends but just ended up pulling it out to do rocker cover gaskets, a few other coolant pipes that caused concern, rocker cover gaskets etc.

[IanH755]

Great post with some awful looking pipes in those pictures Adam! I've book-marked it for the next "coolant Line" thread!

[adamfraser]

No bother Ian.

It's going back to the garage on Wednesday for a final inspection to make sure all is ok after a decent bit of road testing over Christmas. The lads that done the work are going to give me copies of all parts receipts etc to show what has been changed, so once I get that i'll stick a thread up with all the information on what they found. They took it right back, replaced lots of seals, strainers, had the sump off, oil pump stripped and it was interesting what they found. But they have done a superb job, stonechipped all the inner arches and waxoyled everything, so i'm going to keep on top of it.

Have plenty of pictures too, so will stick them up at the same time as well. To be fair, mine is one of the very early ones, 2008 on 82k miles, one of the first 500 according to the VIN. So hopefully my misfortune will be a good warning to others whose cars are a bit further down the line age wise!

[pcorpe]

Thinking about this issue some more... thankfully MRC checked my lines out whilst in for the stage II, and all seemed fine. However I know this issues is going to get me sooner or later, and with the salt on the roads at the mo, i'd assume sooner.

I also ride a 2 wheeler (for my sins) and the salt concern got me thinking, for those that don't have a problem yet, and are looking to prolong the life of the lines etc, there are a few options. MRC kindly applied a liberal coating of wax/grease, but in the motorbike world the whole engine can often be exposed to the same conditions as the coolant lines, and as such they have a few products designed to help minimise damage, one is by this firm www.acf-50.co.uk, and the other this www.scottoiler.com/uk/products/scottoiler-fs-365.html (I'm not affiliated with either company) the former gets the better reviews http://f2mcltd.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/w ... 65-or.html

Dunno, just a thought as a temp approach to prolong, though personally I'd prefer to have some nice purpose built replacement pipes to stop the problem in the first place, though with the current salt on the roads I'm tempted to get some of the ACF stuff in until the dreaded day comes.

[Trups]

Thanks for the Info, I had New lines done back in July and have only covered 900 miles since which I don't think was in the rain so am looking for something like this. I was also thinking could the under seal work but unsure if it can take the heat from the pipes.