A6 Diesel mystery coolant loss

[s2driveruk]

Hi,

Looking for a bit of help (non S2 but hey you guys know your stuff!)

My Audi A6 1.9tdi seems to have developed a habbit of losing coolant over a period of about 1000miles. It did it after driving like a nutter over 3 mountain passes in the french alps back in May when the alarm came on. We took it to a local Audi garage and they tested and reported no probs - we drove back to the uk without any probs. then it started again, dropping well below the min limit but as i was checking the car frequently it didnt get low enough to set the alarm off....

There are no visible damp patches on the drive or obvious leaks visible anywhere. Guages all read well within spec, no high temps or anything...? I suspect it could be a head gasket failure but there is nothing but clean/pink coolant in the header tank so anyone got any ideas what could be causing it????? I am at a loss but have booked it in for a visual inspection at my local VAG this afternoon to see if anythings up when removing the belly pan.

Cheers

David

[caterpillar]

you may have innside leak in the head, its usual on the head,or frequently leak turbo,some mod have watercooled bearinghousing in turbo.....you need som new parts,but ......

[S2central.net]

If its not leaking it, then it must be drinking it - not what you want to hear I know... Has it been pressure tested by Audi ? Theres a handpump widget thing that attaches to the expansion tank for this purpose...

Paul

[S2 Ant]

If its not leaking it, then it must be drinking it - not what you want to hear I know... Has it been pressure tested by Audi ? Theres a handpump widget thing that attaches to the expansion tank for this purpose...

Paul

Friend of mine was using his one of these the other day! Very helpful, sadly it pointed at his head is fooked!

Pressure it up, then fire the engine up, if the pressure starts to climb more straight away it apparently shows the head is leaking in, apparently it fluctuates if its the bottom end... think thats what he said, i was doing other things as he was blabbering away lol

[s2driveruk]

Cheers guys, this is not looking good and feeling more expensive by the minute!

[caterpillar]

the engine head for the 1,9 tdi aren't expensive....only 650 euro

[twoqu]

Hi!,

Does the oil show any sign of being emulisified?
If you car has one of those water cooled oil coolers, they are known to fail.

[s2driveruk]

nope oil and coolant all look absolutely fine???

[audiman]

David, on Passats and A4's its very common for the heater matrix to fail. Is there a curry type smell in the car?? The passenger footwell area damp under the carpets??

[S2central.net]

Oh theres a dark thought...

[s2driveruk]

Cheers Tom but it doesnt smell funny - will check the carpet though. The local stealer found a couple of leaks - one on the rear of the engine some seal or other and a coolant weep from higher up. I'm not currently convinced that these are the reasons for so much fluid disappearing but who knows. Its booked in for a proper nosy about next friday - once they have diagnosed it I will probably give u a call and you can price it up if you like

[audiman]

No probs David. You know the number