Oil in coolant/dealer wants replace turbo heater core or trade for new car

[James N. Friedman]

97 A4 Quattro manual 1.8T 83k miles USA (Maryland)

 Oil got into the coolant. Apparently a lot of it.
 The dealer is saying what's in the coolant system is so thick it won't drain,
and flushing it won't fix it.

 They say that what's required is to replace the oil cooler (they think that is
where the leak was) the turbo, the heater core, the
 radiator, coolant bottle and all the hoses.

 I don't have a precise estimate yet, but it sounds like I'm looking at a
decision to spend something around 5 - 6
thousand dollars on a not-quite 4 year old car with 83K miles vs. whatever I can
work out with the dealership to trade it on a 2001  A4 Quattro 1.8T.

 Anybody have experience with this sort of problem?

Are they correct that the heater core can't be flushed out,  has to be replaced?

Dealer service writer said they tried the usual head gasket leak test, but are
uncertain of the results since the
 thick stuff gets in the way of seeing coolant wherever it is they look for it.
 He said it probably isn't the head gasket, but not certain.

 But can the oil cooler leak enough oil to clog up the heater core so badly it
stops making heat and needs to be
 replaced? Why would the heater core have to be replaced rather than flushed?

 I had the temp at HI to try to keep the car from overheating even worse as I
limped it to the dealer. It had been
 blowing hot air but began blowing cold air in the last 2 miles of the trip to
the dealer.

Anyone have experience with Audi Client Relations on such a situation,
indicating whether they would absorb some of that cost? I'm leaning toward
trading the car as is.  Does anyone have experience with how helpful Audi Client
Relations would be in improving the economics of that trade in?



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Jim Friedman