[s-cars] coolant leak from front of engine

[Peter Golledge]

I've found Coolant Dye a very handy tool for finding pesky leaks... a 
lot easier to spot.  All that is needed is a UV flashlight and dark 
garage (or night).  Your local NAPA will have the dye.  You get a funky 
looking coolant as the dye is typically orange mixing with the Audi blue 
but it sure beats a major failure.

Adding UV underhood lighting to get a ricer look with a glowing coolant 
tank is optional. :-)

On 11/1/2011 9:40 AM, Tom Green wrote:
> The advice here is loud and clear-do not mess around with a coolant 
> leak on these engines.
>
> The front of the AAN engine also has the turbo return line and the 
> thermostat housing on the
> front that can leak coolant down into that area.  It would be worth a 
> careful look before tearing
> the front end apart.  : > )  The problem with many leaks is that they 
> only appear when the cooling
> system is pressurized and hot so you can't get body parts too close to 
> the engine.  These leaks
> will evaporate from the engine heat after shutdown before you can see 
> any wet area.  With the
> engine running, the heat and rotating parts keep you at bay.  With a 
> lot less work than replacing
> the water pump (and timing belt), you can remove the timing belt cover 
> and observe the water
> pump for any leaks.
>
> If you are using Audi coolant or its German replacement, the leak will 
> leave a telltale white
> streak that just about anyone can trace to the source.
>
>   Tom '95 S6
>          '95.5 S6 avant
> Knoxville, TN
>
> On Tuesday November 1, 2011, at 9:57 AM, Keith Franchetti 
> <skidfranc at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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
>> Message-ID:
>> <CAHZrXk-XiKa76z-XzQUu3SQ4ZnkkMPcPqr9S-=ny2bG5uD316A at mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> 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
>
>
>
>
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