2008 4.2 A6 potential blown head gasket, need urgent help
01-07-2019, 08:18 PM
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2008 4.2 A6 potential blown head gasket, need urgent help
Good day all,
I own a 2008 Audi A6 with the 4.2 V8 that has 152k miles on it and I've been experiencing some odd problems. Around 1.5 months ago I noticed that both my coolant and oil levels began depleting, and I noticed a small hole in the bottom of the oil pan that was causing a leak. The liquid coming out seemed to be oil mixed with a little bit of coolant, but I'm not exactly sure. It only smelled like oil though. I patched this leak tonight but am still worried about how both my oil and coolant began depleting at the same time and am wondering if this has the potential to be a bad head gasket. I have noticed no froth on the oil cap, no water on the dipstick which I believe means no water is entering the crankcase, and no white smoke emitting from my exhaust, but the car does idle a tiny bit rough once warmed up, barely noticeable though. The car runs great otherwise though and I've never noticed any hesitation or lack of power when accelerating. Any idea what this issue may be? I have not noticed any other separate leaks.
Every response is greatly appreciated, have an awesome day y'all.
I own a 2008 Audi A6 with the 4.2 V8 that has 152k miles on it and I've been experiencing some odd problems. Around 1.5 months ago I noticed that both my coolant and oil levels began depleting, and I noticed a small hole in the bottom of the oil pan that was causing a leak. The liquid coming out seemed to be oil mixed with a little bit of coolant, but I'm not exactly sure. It only smelled like oil though. I patched this leak tonight but am still worried about how both my oil and coolant began depleting at the same time and am wondering if this has the potential to be a bad head gasket. I have noticed no froth on the oil cap, no water on the dipstick which I believe means no water is entering the crankcase, and no white smoke emitting from my exhaust, but the car does idle a tiny bit rough once warmed up, barely noticeable though. The car runs great otherwise though and I've never noticed any hesitation or lack of power when accelerating. Any idea what this issue may be? I have not noticed any other separate leaks.
Every response is greatly appreciated, have an awesome day y'all.
01-08-2019, 02:22 AM
#2
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Do a compression test on the cylinders and pressure check the cooling system. I’d also do an oil change and inspect your oil. A blown head gasket can be different depend on where the gasket gives way, but if you are losing coolant and oil and can’t find any external leaks then it’s a good chance you have a blown head gasket. Another thing you can do is pull your spark plugs and inspect them. If one is really oil/ carbon fowled up then you have oil leaking into that cylinder. If you have a plug that looks brand new almost like it was steamed clean , then coolant was leaking into the cylinder.
Typically a head gasket won’t blow unless the car was overheated really bad, or if is had a really bad designed head gasket (cough 90s Volvos cough).
Typically a head gasket won’t blow unless the car was overheated really bad, or if is had a really bad designed head gasket (cough 90s Volvos cough).
01-08-2019, 05:57 AM
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01-08-2019, 05:58 AM
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Do a compression test on the cylinders and pressure check the cooling system. I’d also do an oil change and inspect your oil. A blown head gasket can be different depend on where the gasket gives way, but if you are losing coolant and oil and can’t find any external leaks then it’s a good chance you have a blown head gasket. Another thing you can do is pull your spark plugs and inspect them. If one is really oil/ carbon fowled up then you have oil leaking into that cylinder. If you have a plug that looks brand new almost like it was steamed clean , then coolant was leaking into the cylinder.
Typically a head gasket won’t blow unless the car was overheated really bad, or if is had a really bad designed head gasket (cough 90s Volvos cough).
Typically a head gasket won’t blow unless the car was overheated really bad, or if is had a really bad designed head gasket (cough 90s Volvos cough).
I was planning on doing the plugs soon so I'll for sure do that now and I'll run a compression test as soon as the materials become available to me.
Could it be possible that the coolant is leaking onto a hot part of the engine and evaporating into steam? I have seen steam while driving the car before but only in the first 5-10 minutes of the engine running.
01-08-2019, 07:13 AM
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Okay sure! Is it still as much of an issue if I'm not finding coolant in the oil pan or crankshaft?
I was planning on doing the plugs soon so I'll for sure do that now and I'll run a compression test as soon as the materials become available to me.
Could it be possible that the coolant is leaking onto a hot part of the engine and evaporating into steam? I have seen steam while driving the car before but only in the first 5-10 minutes of the engine running.
I was planning on doing the plugs soon so I'll for sure do that now and I'll run a compression test as soon as the materials become available to me.
Could it be possible that the coolant is leaking onto a hot part of the engine and evaporating into steam? I have seen steam while driving the car before but only in the first 5-10 minutes of the engine running.
evaporated coolant will leave a white residue, if it is leaking on the motor and burning off.
01-09-2019, 08:50 AM
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They may be two separate issues since the leak from the oil pan is just oil.
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01-09-2019, 08:59 AM
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Pressure check the cooling system and see if it can hold pressure, if not then look for coolant leaking out. If your losing coolant and you can’t see where it’s coming from it’s probably internal. A cyclinder compression test can tell you what cylinder the coolant is leaking into. It would be odd to have a blown head gasket without a engine overheat to cause it, not unheard of though. It’s a shame you are in Dallas, I have all the stuff to check your cyclinder compression and cooling system.
I don’t know how mechanical you are but a head job wouldn’t be that hard to do, if you have mechanical experience. It would be a weekend project if your head isn’t warped.
I don’t know how mechanical you are but a head job wouldn’t be that hard to do, if you have mechanical experience. It would be a weekend project if your head isn’t warped.
01-10-2019, 06:55 AM
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