I have a '95 2 litre Audi A6 (like the old Audi 100). It is loosing coolant such that it needs topping up every couple of days, however, I can't see where it is going. The oil looks clean, so I don't think it's going there. Anyone got any ideas ?
head gasket
White 'smoke' from the exhaust (i.e. steam)?
If so, then def. head gasket.
I'll have a look for steam in the exhaust.
Are there any other ways of confirming that it is a head gasket problem (I don't want to take the head off and then not fix the problem)
Try bunging some radweld in it. I had meany old cars in the distance past and it invariably fixed small leaks
A lot of modern cars have very fine cooling passages that don't like Radweld - worst case is the Honda V6 one tin and and the engine is
history.
There are a couple of test that can be done first is a simple pressure test in which the system pumped to about 20 psi when cold --- must be
cold because small coolant leaks flash off instantly to invisible steam when the system is hot.
The other is a chemical test in which a sample of coolant is drawn off and tested for for exhaust gasses.
headgasket common prob on those audis
quote:
headgasket common prob on those audis
Check front footwells for leaking heater matrix - ten years and they start leaking, especially if antifreeze not changed as frequently as
recommended.
If it is leaking, use K seal and sell the car - otherwise, if like the earlier 100 turbo I had, you have to take out half the dash!
Also check the water pipe that links the back of the head to the water pump - my car had tiny jet of steam coming out from here that didn't show
unless pipe was twisted!
[Edited on 4/5/06 by jimmyjoebob]
Although the VAG reputation is still to a large extent based on the 1980s models they are a lot better than most.
I watch a trade only forum - Fiat, Renault, Vaxhall-Opel cause a lot of head scratching in the trade Peugeot-Ctreon come next.
The Ford -- mainly problems with 95 to 98 models.
In spite of having made 10% of the cars on UK roads when they folded Rover don't get many posts except for alarm faults on the 90s cars.
then
VW/Skoda/Seat/Audi ---
BMW get a steady flow of post but not vast numbers.
The Toyota, SAAB and Merc areas get virtually no posts, Mazda get zero post while Honda don't even have an area to themselves.
I
[Edited on 5/5/06 by britishtrident]
We also have a Toyota Starlet.
I hate this car (though the engine is sweet).
But in the last seven years, all that has gone wrong is the radiator leaked and it needed a new wheel bearing.
quote:
Originally posted by JonBowden
But in the last seven years, all that has gone wrong is the radiator leaked and it needed a new wheel bearing.
Toyotas are a bit odd that way
I once change the thermostat in a Rover 820 and that (almost) cured the well known M16/T16 oil leak.