[s-cars] Coolant

[Huw Powell]

> I have a 1986 Audi Quattro, type 44, every 3 months/2,000 km. I have
> to fill in about 500 ml. of antifreeze into reservoir, the red
> warning light with thermometer symbol blinks and makes a noise at
> first, then just blinks and disappears.

I thought the red light was a high temp warning?  And low coolant is 
just an amber warning?

> When the car is idling I
> notice some steam rising from front left of car. Notice nothing
> conspicuous under hood. The car performs well.

Wherever that coolant is coming out, even if only as steam, there should 
be some crusty antifreeze residue, greenish, whitish or bluish probably. 
  It might be hard to find, of course, if it is in a place hidden by 
some other component.

One thing to keep in mind with cooling systems, when you replace one 
leaking part, the new higher internal pressure will often take out the 
next weakest link (everything being the same age).  You could find 
yourself doing the radiator, expansion tank, hoses, heater core, etc.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/