Help! Strange coolant leak!
03-11-2008, 01:50 PM
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Help! Strange coolant leak!
I have developed a strange coolant in my 1998 2.8 30V A4. It does not seem to leak when running or right after I park it. If I take it to the shop, no leaky. However, after it sits a while, it started leaking from above the oil pan and down around the oil pan in the middle of the car. I can't see anything from above. I caught it doing it once and removed the reservor cap to relieve the system pressure and it seemed to stop. Water pump was replaced only a year ago. Is that what this is? Nothing is dripping from the radiator area.
Thanks!
Thanks!
03-11-2008, 07:19 PM
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The pump was fine, only a year old...
reinstalled with a new gasket and some Hylomar sealant. Leak was probably coming from the thermostat o-ring, IMO, but I couldn't tell for sure.
03-12-2008, 10:11 AM
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How many miles since the previous water pump service?
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/143622/dcp_2075_old.jpg"></center><p>Mine needed replacing at 40k, then again at 80k.
When the water pump pulley bearings/seal goes, the pump will often make a gritty sound(can become a grinding sound eventually) that you may hear while standing near the front of the engine, but not necessarily from the cab.
If the gasket is leaking, then there is a good chance it wasn't tightened correctly or they didn't cover the gasket with RTV Blue.
It doesn't really matter whether it's a leaking cover or the pump at this point. It needs to be serviced real, real soon.
Sure it stops leaking when you remove the pressure from the system...but the pressure is needed at normal op temps.
It won't get better and should be looked at quick, since it shares a drive belt with your cams. If it freezes, all hell breaks loose.
The pic is the leak at 40k. Rather than running down the front, it ran back and thru the body molding and made a big mess all over the bottom of the car before I caught it. The 80k leak flowed down the front and over the oil pan like you describe.
When the water pump pulley bearings/seal goes, the pump will often make a gritty sound(can become a grinding sound eventually) that you may hear while standing near the front of the engine, but not necessarily from the cab.
If the gasket is leaking, then there is a good chance it wasn't tightened correctly or they didn't cover the gasket with RTV Blue.
It doesn't really matter whether it's a leaking cover or the pump at this point. It needs to be serviced real, real soon.
Sure it stops leaking when you remove the pressure from the system...but the pressure is needed at normal op temps.
It won't get better and should be looked at quick, since it shares a drive belt with your cams. If it freezes, all hell breaks loose.
The pic is the leak at 40k. Rather than running down the front, it ran back and thru the body molding and made a big mess all over the bottom of the car before I caught it. The 80k leak flowed down the front and over the oil pan like you describe.
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03-12-2008, 02:42 PM
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Hmmm, mechanic can't get to it for 2 weeks, maybe I should break out the summer ride?
2005 Porsche Boxster S (987), waiting under its cover next to the A4. I was trying to wait until April, but this is an emergency right?
Then I could fix the water pump myself in my spare time, I just did the clutch in Nov.
Then I could fix the water pump myself in my spare time, I just did the clutch in Nov.