[s-cars] coolant leak from front of engine

[Keith Franchetti]

Hey JR-

I had a very similar leak in my 2001 A6 2.7T.  I figured it was a
pinhole in a hose somewhere.  Bad assumption!!!  Turned out to be the
waterpump going on me--after only about 35k miles from last T-belt
service.  Came VERY close to breaking the belt.  Was on the highway,
when coolant light came on.  I figured that trickle had just lowered
the level to where it tripped the light.  But no.  The pump was
failing catastrophically and I was dumping ALL the coolant.  Luckily I
noticed the temp. was going up.  I killed the motor and rolled about 2
miles down hill (very lucky) to the next exit in NH, and rolled into a
service station.  Chris Semple was about 30 minutes away.  He came and
towed me on a Sunday.  Feel really lucky to have saved that motor.
Anyway, your issue sounds very similar.  Might want to rule out the
water pump ASAP!!!  Hope this helps.

Keith Franchetti

1995.5 S6 Avant (Bill's car)
2001 A6 2.7T
2002 TT Amulet Red (for sale)

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:00:01 -0500
From: J R <audiurs4 at gmail.com>
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: [s-cars] Coolant leak from the front of the engine
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I have a coolant leak that is coming from somewhere near the front of the
engine.  I can't see where it is coming from, but it is running down and
onto the front or front/passenger's side corner of the oil pan and dripping
off of the oil pan onto the ground.  I can't see any leaks from any hoses
and none of them that I can reach are wet.  Anyone have any idea where this
leak might be coming from?

Thanks,

JR