aux rad removal guide

[freakytate]

Hi, it sounds beneficial to remove aux rad especially as mine is royally knackered. I have done a search but couldn't find my answer.

Is there a guide or can anyone give me the sequence for removing the aux rad please?
Do i need to remove the bumper? and slam panel etc? is rad bolted down or just sat in bungs?

i am short on time when i get to unit so any help to reduce how long it takes me would be good

[Bowie69]

Beneficial in what way?

I still run one on my 7A, by choice

[Greg_S]

The rad is held by two fixings on the bottom and two on the front slam panel. Removing the read you will just need to put bungs in the two feed hoses. Don't join then as this will short circuit the cooling system

[Michael S2]

Aux rad removal yes or no?

Pros to removal: Better airflow over engine when moving; more room in engine bay; cooler temps when moving?
Cons to removal: Main rad fan operates a lot more when stationary; higher coolant temps when stationary

Personally i'd pay £100 to have it recored and just refit. Saying that i don't run one on my car

[Error404]

Removing it certainly makes the car a load easier to work on. IMHO it's not necessary in our UK climate.

[Cottis]

My old Aux rad was knackered and I recently found an original new for £170, so bought it and put it in. Tis how Audi designed the car, so makes sense to leave it as it was designed. I can imagine air does flow better without it when on the move but in my experience, the engine cools beautifully when on the move with aux rad installed, so I am more concerned with how the cooling system functions when sat in traffic. These engines produce a lot of heat when stationary, so why reduce the cars cooling capacity if you have a choice?

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

totally with the above statement.Summers here are getting hotter than ever so aux rad and aircon more relevant than ever.

[fish]

The rad is held by two fixings on the bottom and two on the front slam panel. Removing the read you will just need to put bungs in the two feed hoses. Don't join then as this will short circuit the cooling system

How will it short circuit the system? Joining them should be the same as having the rad in place bar the cooling capacity? Or am i wrong in thinking this?

As mine is knackered i am looking at removing it some time soon and still wanting the car to function, thats why i ask.

[Error404]

The coolant will predominantly flow through the joined loop as the path of least resistance, so the rad doesn't see much of the coolant flow

[freakytate]

thanks for the advice however I have already decided its coming off. I would prefer to run without it and prefer the access to engine.
Greg_s I have seen the bungs and fixings, are the bolted up from underneath and behind slam panel. How do you access the bolts, do you need to remove bumper etc? it looks virtually impossible to get at without. is it a big job?

join or bung, I presumed you joined as it is in series with the main rad & it would flow just as though the rad was there. I guess if you can bung the ends it must be paralleled with main rad?

[Rikki Kitto]

Don't remove it, I've got a short type rad you can have for postage costs I you want a replacement until you find a full length one worked fine on my S2 until I got one, only about six inches shorter but pipes are in the same position so fits fine

[freakytate]

thats very kind of you, I shall let you know once I get it off. haha let me know how it remove it if you know please? bumper off jobbie or can it be done as is?

[Michael S2]

You can access the bolts lying underneath (remove the undertray if you have one) without removing bumper. If i remember correct 1 of them is a pig to reach though.

[freakytate]

cool, cheers, its looks real cluttered underneath and its right up tight against the cam gear cover il be able to work it out just wanted a heads up on best way to remove it

[Rikki Kitto]

3 bolts 2 bottom 1 top I released the top cross panel to make it easy to get it out