Coolant leak

[AkAudiA4]

I have an audi A4 1.8 t and it has a coolant leak. I noticed some fluid dripping from under the engine area after a journey so i put some paper under which indicated it was coolant by the colour, it only leaks for a max of 2 mins and is a slow drip? i think i can hear it drippin on something else and then the ground. it doesn't loose a great deal but i'm guessing its not meant to at all! can't see anythin in the engine bay but it is pretty cramped in there :) The car drives okay and heat temp is okay as well as cc.

Can anyone help with any tips please? or answers to what it is. btw i have no clue about this stuff :D

cheers
:beerchug:

[towcestervag]

rads are a problem

[JohnyIre]

Haven't had this issue myself, but it might be worth looking at the water pump, if it is a bit loose it's a sign its on its way out, water could be coming from there.

[rhencullen1989]

Also a place that is starting to become a common problem with coolant leaks is the plastic housing at the rear of the engine that holds the temp sensors in. It has a habbit of breaking up and starts to leak.

You don't say where the leak is, but if its towards the rear of the engine compartment check out this plastic part. P.S genuine audi replacement around £10 but pretty fiddly to do.

[AkAudiA4]

Thanks for ya reply guys, in terms of where the leak is it is more towards the front area kinda in line with where the steering rack(?) is. near a thin strip of metal which seems to do nothing under the front part of the engine area? if it drives fine is it likely to be expensive.... should i start saving now!?

[vwroyd]

I had what sounds like a very similar coolant leak and detected it by looking down by the exhaust manifold to the rear of the engine towards the bulkhead, there was a witness of coolent on a ledge of the engine block. If you can, try to get your hand around the area and see if you can locate anything?

[kite]

You sure its losing coolant and not the aircon drain ?

[AkAudiA4]

I'll try and have a look in that area and get back to you. yeah it's coolant because i have to top it up almost every other day beacuse it drops a couple of mm every few days. I do Find it weird how sometimes it leaks and sometimes it doesn't? my driving style doesn't really change :confused:

[CMD]

Also check the plastic bleed screw on the coolant tube under the plastic engine cover
when i was cleanig my engine i knocked of the head of this plastic screw leaving only
the body of the screw in the coolant tube.These screw's are prone to failing.This as also been covered on an audi forum...So check yours these screw's are about £1.70 from main dealer

[JohnyIre]

Also check the plastic bleed screw on the coolant tube under the plastic engine cover
when i was cleanig my engine i knocked of the head of this plastic screw leaving only
the body of the screw in the coolant tube.These screw's are prone to failing.This as also been covered on an audi forum...So check yours these screw's are about £1.70 from main dealer
I'm sure you can get this cheaper on eBay!

[rhencullen1989]

For the sake of £1.70 i think i would prefer to buy genuine. :approve:

[JohnyIre]

For the sake of £1.70 i think i would prefer to buy genuine. :approve:
Tongue was firmly in cheek there!:biglaugh:

[MATN]

Also check the plastic bleed screw on the coolant tube under the plastic engine cover
when i was cleanig my engine i knocked of the head of this plastic screw leaving only
the body of the screw in the coolant tube.These screw's are prone to failing.This as also been covered on an audi forum...So check yours these screw's are about £1.70 from main dealer


This is exactly what has happened to mine-how did you get the remaining 'body' of the screw out of the coolant tube please :beerchug::beerchug:

[CMD]

Just pick away at it slowly does it make sure that the last few bit's don't full into the coolant tube just keep on pumping the rad hose if any fall into metal tube.Then clear the internal thread . screw in new the one and top up colant and then bleed the system .