Oil cooler and pipes under warranty?

[GrantRS4]

I came home from work to find some spots of oil on my driveway under the drivers side fog light. I'm pretty sure this can only mean the oil cooler pipes.

Has anyone managed a successful warranty claim for the oil cooler and pipes, either from Audi (as goodwill) or from the likes of Warranty Direct or Scotsure?

[PJC]

Had mine replaced under the Inchcape Audi warranty last year.

[bravoit]

On my last service it was noted the pipes were showing signs of corossion. Is there any maintenance you can do to the pipes ie cover in hammerite or the like or will this cause more harm than good?

[WillRS]

mine were heavily corroded when I had them checked. Had the cooler and pipes replaced (couldn't get the pipes off the cooler so had to replace cooler too) and was told that it would not be covered under warranty due to corrosion.

Mine weren't leaking (yet) but having kept the parts, most of the steel collar on one of the pipes fell off when I prodded it so I guess it was only a matter of time. I took it up with Audi UK but got nowhere at all with it.

[bravoit]

A warranty I have used over the years is the AA vehicle repair warranty to cover wear and tear items. You just have to call the AA out to your vehicle. Call them out and as long as it would be unsafe to continue or start your journey they pay out. My parents just got the oil seal on the bottom of their 1 series gearbox paid for under this warranty as there were drips of oil on their drive. It only costs about £70 in addition to AA membership.

[spikeyboy101]

intersting on the AA cover - although it only pays out upto £500 inc vat per claim with max 4 claims a year

[adsgreen]

intersting on the AA cover - although it only pays out upto £500 inc vat per claim with max 4 claims a year

and only on breakdown

[adsgreen]

also cost is dependant on vehicle and age. RS4 is more than 70 quid

[bravoit]

Agreed it states breakdown but unlike other warranty companies they have over the years been very flexible on this. Its the call out thats important. Like I say my parents got their car repaired having called the AA out to look at the car on their drive and I did exactly the same for a very similar oil leak on a 530 BMW I had. Once the AA patrol state the car cannot be fixed by them but it must be repaired, like I say they have paid out. I've used this policy on numerous occasions and only once was unable to continue my journey.

[murph7355]

I've done a cursory search on here (will do more later) but has anyone put in alternative pipes and coolers?

Iirc the issue is the different materials used leading to bi-metallic corrosion? I guess they are also in an exposed location.

Pretty sure mine don't need doing, but it does seem a matter of when not if. And I'd rather put a more robust solution in (when they need doing) than have to do it regularly bearing in mind the car will be used in all weathers.

I had some work done by Pace on a different car so am sure something could be made. Just wondering if people have already done this.

[adsgreen]

theres' two parts to this.

-ali cooler + steel fittings
Ali + steel + water + salt = corrosion. The only way to mitigate this is to make sure the joint is properly sealed with the appropriate jointing compound. There's plenty out there and if done properly there shouldn't be any issue. I wouldn't use anything like ptfe tape as this disintigrates in contact with oil.
Alternatively you could use ali fittings but these have their own problems.
The other option is to simply remove the electrolyte from the equation - if you wrap/protect the joint after fitting with something that prevents water getting into the joint then no corrosion can occur.
Finally depending on room you could fit a stainless steel adapter to the oil cooler and accept that it's going to seize and never come off. This shouldn't be a problem as the steel lines would be connected to the steel adapter making it easy to remove the cooler lines.

- steel fittings.
The OEM pipe fittings are (or appear to be) unprotected steel. Exposed to salt and water they can (and do) rust.
Protecting with something like hammerite is one option or replacing the fittings with stainless steel items can help.

[GrantRS4]

As suspected, Scotsure warranty wouldn't entertain it because it is classed as an oil leak.

Audi's initial "goodwill" offer was to discount the full RRP price of the oil cooler and oil cooler pipes by 30%.

After numerous discussion with my the local dealer (Aberdeen Audi) and Audi UK, the price came down to £815 all in.

[PJC]

Ouch, at least you got some goodwill.