TRANS fluid leak

[Whitey33]

Hi all, I just bought a 2003 rs6 with issues, the worst one is its losing trans fluid, dripping off the bottom of the radiator n/side, it's not p/s fluid, the levels not dropping, before I start to strip the engine, are there any known weak points in the oil cooler circuit in this area? ( I'm hoping there's a quick fix) the engine light came on yesterday, I haven't used it since. Cheers. Chris.

[Whitey33]

Scratch that, it's the union into the bottom of the cooler, just in front of the p/s pump? Looking at past posts it looks like a common problem

[chunky79]

FON.
Welcome along.
Full marks for using the search function, going by most new members I thought it didn't work!

[sweegie]

That cooler is a c0ck to work on and an £800 part.... Mine took an oxy acetylene gas axe to persuade the hoses to part company with it.

Was an utterly job to do!

[Ecxoes]

£840 inc vat i need one haven't decided what do do yet, I'm still waiting on my gearbox back as theres a genuine part on back order from germany , think i may go down the aftermarket cooler route because I'm in need of pipes too

[pete62]

FON.
Welcome along.
Full marks for using the search function, going by most new members I thought it didn't work!

OUCH !

[chunky79]

FON.
Welcome along.
Full marks for using the search function, going by most new members I thought it didn't work!

OUCH !

Ha, ha.

[Whitey33]

Cheers for the welcome guys, it seems my ally oil cooler has crumbled where the hoses enter, ( common fault? ) I also need cam chain adjusters ( rattle on cold start) so I will get them all done at once when I'm ready, my question is how important is the cooler? I'm going to by pass it where the hoses cross the sump, just so I can move the car. Cheers.

[chunky79]

You can bypass it, but I wouldn't be 'using' the car, if you knows what I mean. I would only do it to get it say on a flat bed or positioning it to be worked on, which is what I think you mean.
Chain tensioners noisy? Not really had many of those come through here, not on this engine anyhoo.

[Shoppinit]

^What he said. Except that the chain tensioners are a common problem. Most people just live with it. You can test to see if you're getting full dephasing. Or just go ahead and change them if the noise bothers you.

[chunky79]

If you want noisy tensioners, should have heard the s4 I had when running thin oil!!
Can't say my RS6 makes much of a rattle on start up.

[Ross_T_Boss]

You said the fluid is dripping from the bottom of the radiator - be aware that the gearbox oil goes into a union at the bottom of the radiator, out of a union at the top of the radiator, and then into a union on the oil cooler.

It should be pretty clear if you get the tray off and get underneath - I thought my oil cooler was dud but ended up replacing the radiator, which was an utter bitch of a job and I recommend not doing it on your drive...