2000 A4 Avant Quattro Engine running Hot.

[Werner Raschdorf]

Hi Everyone,

After finally getting my exhaust system completely installed, I have a new
problem. The engine seems to be running very hot. After short drives I can
see heat coming off the exhaust pipes under the car and when I open the
hood there is a smell of extreme heat as if something was burning. The top
of the engine is soo hot it is almost impossible to touch without getting
burnt. None of this existed before the exhaust job. (or at least I never
noticed).
Here's what was done: New Cats and downpipes from the exhaust manifolds and
a Miltek Cat back exhaust system. This is the 2.8 V6. New O2 sensors
Downstream right and upstream left.
VagCom shows no faults and CEL is not on. Ran a readiness sequence on
VagCom and everything checked out fine. The car starts and drives fine and
produces normal power. Oil level is normal, Oil Temp Gauge reads normal
while driving also. Antifreeze and water levels are fine.
Replaced Waterpump and Thermostat at 80K mi. when timing belt was replaced.
Car has 85K mi. on it now. Replaced spark plugs with Bosch Super Platinum
4's after the exhaust job. It's almost like the engine is getting too much
fuel and sending pure fire out the exhaust manifold. How do you check for
that?
Any thoughts? Are these smells and heat levels normal after replacing a
whole exhaust system? Maybe I'm getting overly paranoid or losing my mind
or both!

Thanks
Werner