Audi V6 Coolant leak...Any advice?

[OnTheGreen]

Was driving home today and noticed a bit of steam/smoke coming from the hood. The temp guage rose slowy, but never got past half way. At highway speeds the temp came back down to normal.

Drove home and found a small bit of coolant around the front of the engine. In the pictures my wife is pointing at the general area where the liquid is.

With the hood up, the steam is coming from the passenger side of the radiator. I can not find a leaking hose and it appears that the fins on the radiator are wet as well.

So does it sound like I need a new radiator? If so, can anyone recommend were to find one?

Thanks for any help.

Click on pics to see a full size image
http://img31.exs.cx/img31/7551/Audirad002.th.jpg (http://img31.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img31&image=Audirad002.jpg)

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/7245/Audirad001.th.jpg (http://img31.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img31&image=Audirad001.jpg)

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/2811/Audirad003.th.jpg (http://img31.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img31&image=Audirad003.jpg)

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

In the pointing picture, there appears to be a radiator hose down below, with a screw type hose clamp on it. Check the tightness of that. Based on the spray pattern, I'd say the coolant is hitting your fan. It might be coming from the backside of your radiator. You say that steam is coming from the passenger side of the radiator, so that'd be my bet. Check your coolant level. If the temp drops as you gain speed, that's usually 'cause you're low on coolant and water. You can go to a shop and have the system pressurized for a leak test. The only shop in the area that I have experience with is Encinitas German Auto Service, 841 Second Street, Encinitas, CA 92024. I highly recommend them.

[OnTheGreen]

In the pointing picture, there appears to be a radiator hose down below, with a screw type hose clamp on it. Check the tightness of that. Based on the spray pattern, I'd say the coolant is hitting your fan. It might be coming from the backside of your radiator. You say that steam is coming from the passenger side of the radiator, so that'd be my bet. Check your coolant level. If the temp drops as you gain speed, that's usually 'cause you're low on coolant and water. You can go to a shop and have the system pressurized for a leak test. The only shop in the area that I have experience with is Encinitas German Auto Service, 841 Second Street, Encinitas, CA 92024. I highly recommend them.

Thanks for the awsome advise!!!

I am going to check that clamp now.

Is there a special coolant or coolant/water mixture I should use. Or just 50/50 water?

Thanks soo much!
Bryan

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

You should use G12 coolant and distilled water in a 50/50 mix. You can get G12 at your audi/vw dealer. It's pricey, but if you use another coolant, you run the risk of the mix turning to goo. In the short term, you can top off with distilled water only, but I wouldn't leave it like that for long.

[OnTheGreen]

You should use G12 coolant and distilled water in a 50/50 mix. You can get G12 at your audi/vw dealer. It's pricey, but if you use another coolant, you run the risk of the mix turning to goo. In the short term, you can top off with distilled water only, but I wouldn't leave it like that for long.

Thanks. I did check the coolant and it is just below the MIN. line. And the hose clamps are tight.

When coolant dries, is it that white cooler, sort of chalky residue?

I will head to the dealer tommorrow or Thursday..

And apon closer inpection of the hoses surrounding the radiator, I did not find any that were worn or loose. It appears the coolant is coming from somewhere inside the radiator.. and thus hitting the fan like you said

Thanks

[OnTheGreen]

You should use G12 coolant and distilled water in a 50/50 mix. You can get G12 at your audi/vw dealer. It's pricey, but if you use another coolant, you run the risk of the mix turning to goo. In the short term, you can top off with distilled water only, but I wouldn't leave it like that for long.

So I tested the fans to make sure they work, and they do.

I filled the tank to spec level and ran the car for 30 min.
It took 14 min. for steam to appear from the passenger side of the radiator.
It tool 26 minutes for the cooling fan to come on, when it did, a tad more coolant leaked out and the amount of steam increase.
The temp. guage on the car never passed half way.

I could see coolant pumping through the tank as well.

So it looks like there is a leak in the radiator for sure.

Where do I located the bets deal on one?

Seems at Impex, etc they are around $370 for the automatic tanny models.


Thanks, Bryan

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

Good troubleshooting procedures, you should be pleased with your work. I don't know where the best place is to get a radiator, you might try some of the online places like ECS Tuning and Clair Parts as well. Good luck.