Strange one - S2 using water

[Cottis]

Thanks Alex, that is very kind but I am not sure I will get it in time for Tuesday. The chap who works on my car is manic busy (all the good ones are) and I booked it in nearly 3 weeks ago. Hoping he can source a new one for me. If he struggles, I will take your kind offer though but I would insist on at least arming you with the funds to find a decent bottle of red or a case of beer for your troubles.

[Thecrispynoodle]

And the prize goes to TheCrispynoodle for his suggestion about the radiator return line spigot. I had checked the pipes around the area and could not see anything untoward initially. The clip was tight as a nuns ***** and it did not seem to be leaking when I checked. Today however, I let it get up to temp and could see small bubbles and fluid dripping out slightly from the rad return pipe. Let everything cool down, gave it a wiggle and the whole lot came off in my hand. It looks like the side of the header tank has cracked around the spigot, which has come clean off and is still firmly clipped in the rubber pipe. A rough cracked hole remains in the side of the header tank.

So, it will go in on Tuesday to have a new header tank I presume and have new coolant added and bled through etc. Great news, so happy it isnt the head. Should soon be rocking and rolling again.

Last question, I know Rikki offered me one but not sure it would get here in time for Tuesday. Are new header tanks still available from motor factors or shall I hunt for one myself. Cost is not an issue as such, I just want it sorted asap. I also recall someone recently mentioning a fleabay seller who was doing them for less than 20quid. I have a working cap, so just the header tank itself needed.

Cheers guys.

Very common for them to fail there. Worth getting a genuine one from Audi, have heard of aftermarket ones lasting less than 6 months. I think mine was £30-40 quid from the stealership.

[quattrowex]

coolant loss

I had an interesting water loss problem ,, The MFTS had become faulty and was leaking water through it , collecting in the big rubber insulation boot .

It caused a secondary issue in that fuse 12 would sometimes blow knocking out all guages ,, There is a 12v feed to the MFTS from fuse 12 .

Might be worth a look.

[Cottis]

All sorted. New VAG bottle fitted and everything cleaned up around the area where coolant had been gradually leaking onto stuff. Makes you realise how dirty the old header tanks get. Never seen such pink coolant ha ha. Anyhow, purring again beautifully, so seemed only right to dust 30quid of super this afternoon without actually managing to leave the county. I love this car.

[newsh]

Header tank on my 3B failed in the same way many years ago couldn't work out where the water was going to.

[Cottis]

Header tank on my 3B failed in the same way many years ago couldn't work out where the water was going to.

Yep, it was doing my head in also. Water loss wasn't savage but consistent. I suspected the head gasket was on the way out. Thankfully 35quid and some labour sorted it out and all is well again. Nice to have a nice easy fix.