is this the sign of a gasket failure

[s2driveruk]

...the header tank of my A6 has an ever so slight almost vapour like oily residue above the coolant in the header tank- just stuck to the sides. The coolant inself is clean and clear and likewise the oil is fine too. However after spending a good 90mins searching for any potential leaks its the only way to explain coolant loss I've been experiencing on long runs.

Any ideas?
David

[iain1067]

Only way to find out is to get the coolant tested for gasses, and get the system pressure tested. Coolant is a little greasy though might be worth changing it, cleaning the headrer tank properly and seeing if it comes back. What does the exhaust smell like??? acrid glcol smell would indicate it's burning some.


Iain

[s2driveruk]

it was pressure tested twice and it shows fine.....?

[Bibby]

Had this problem with the S2.

New header tank and cap sorted it.

[s2driveruk]

hmmm i did wonder about the cap myself......on a long run the car can chew 750ml of coolant in 250 miles

[S2central.net]

There is a simple test for the cap. Needs a VAG tool though. For the price of getting it tested at a dealership you may as well just buy a new one.

Funny you mention A6 problems... Our AR starting playing up with a really dopey gremlin. I think the indicator relay is going crazy as it gets into a tizzy of tinkering noises sometimes after a lane change or a junction. The sound comes from near the radio/cd player. I actually thought it was the CD mechanism chewing on something at first, but the indicator relay must be in there somewhere. Lord knows where though...

Cars heh...

Off topic though but I still love the A6AR - used the ride height system to good effect this week when I arrived at an overflowing hospital car park. Just cruised thru a kerbside gap onto a grassy knoll. Parked it, locked it, fupped off...

Said kerbside gap was blocked when I returned so I just drove off the other side of hill, down another couple of kerbs and onto the road. Fantastic - I even restrained myself from attempting a Tiptronic donut on the grass

[Corey]

There is a simple test for the cap. Needs a VAG tool though. For the price of getting it tested at a dealership you may as well just buy a new one.

9 times out of ten the test fook's the cap anyway, just buy a new one (although I have seen new ones fail the test also)

Said kerbside gap was blocked when I returned so I just drove off the other side of hill, down another couple of kerbs and onto the road. Fantastic - I even restrained myself from attempting a Tiptronic donut on the grass

Go on you know you wanted too

[peteV6TDI]

Funny you mention A6 problems... Our AR starting playing up with a really dopey gremlin. I think the indicator relay is going crazy as it gets into a tizzy of tinkering noises sometimes after a lane change or a junction. The sound comes from near the radio/cd player. I actually thought it was the CD mechanism chewing on something at first, but the indicator relay must be in there somewhere. Lord knows where though...

Cars heh...

the relay is part of the hazard light switch (common fault on golfs,passats and a4's)

[S2central.net]

Hey cool - glad to hear that cos it sure sounds like its from there. Drives you nuts after a while. Brilliant - cheers.

I wish there was an equivalent of this forum for AllRoad owners. Ain't found anything close yet... I'd offer to set it up, but I've got enough on my plate.


Paul

[s2driveruk]

so after an official complaint to Audi about there lack of diagnostic skills and an admission from camberley audi that they don't know whats causing it we move on to stage 2....

Audi are having the car for 4 days to work with Audi UK to investigate the issue in more detail and in return we have the following to use - an 06 a4 Avant 2.0tdi S-line

if they can't find a fix I'll just suggest we keep it