djdc

I've recently had just about every gasket in the car replaced, oil pan, upper and lower, valve cover, etc etc. The only thing not done was the head gasket, but the shop checked them at the time (2 months) and all looked fine. When I checked my oil there was a significant amount of coolant in the oil and oil in the coolant. I think it might be the oil cooler gasket, but wasn't sure if that actually causes the coolant and oil to mix or just oil loss. In my last 12V when I had a bad headgasket oil was in the coolant but not the other way around. I've searched and couldn't find the exact answer. Thanks.

VAP

the heat exchangers can and do sometimes fail internally allowing crossover contamination. But it's still F-A-R more likely a head gasket. And there's no way a shop can visually "check" a head gasket without pulling heads which requires new head gaskets. No one can just look at where the heads mate to the block and say "yep, head gaskets are good!"

djdc

The only other thing that drew my attention to the oil cooler is the fact that I can clearly see that there is a small leak that drips off of the cooler.

Audi Junkie

The thing to remember also is the tragic chemistry of ethylene glycol which errodes engine bearings

VAP

sometimes there's enough excess hose to cut a 1/2" off and re-clamp. I've replaced mine for similar reasons. And if memory serves at least one of those coolant lines can be replaced with standard heater hose instead of the SPENDY Audi hose. Maybe both... I just can't remember.

Vier Glühende Ringe

You can to a cylinder leak down test and see if the coolant starts bubbling. If they can't do that at that shop then either take it somewhere that can or start with the much cheaper part, the oil cooler. I have seen 3 or 4 oil coolers do this before.

VAP

No one has said there's "no way a shop can check head gaskets."

If you'll read the post "closely" it clearly states the following:

"And there's no way a shop can visually "check" a head gasket without pulling heads which requires new head gaskets. No one can just look at where the heads mate to the block and say "yep, head gaskets are good!"

moribundman

Sounds rather medieval. ;-)

Just saying hi, Mance!

VAP

just not for long. I've always believed, and still do that they see & feel that drop since consciousness has gotta linger for at least 5-10 seconds, if not longer. Creepy way to go.

Hi right back atcha Mori! Got your own "Mori is the oil guy" site yet?

;-)

moribundman

I'm still working on getting BIGOT out of the picture. ;-)