oil in water coolant

**nigel seals** · 01-03-2008,11:24 PM

audi 1.9tdi 2003 27000 miles just discovered oil in water coolant would be most gateful for any remedys.thought it may be fault on oil cooler but i am complete novice

**kenney** · 02-03-2008,10:15 AM

Hi The oil cooler would be the first thing i would check

**nigel seals** · 02-03-2008,08:05 PM

Originally Posted by kenney

Hi The oil cooler would be the first thing i would check

cheers kenney any ideas on how difficult to change most grateful for any advice cheers nigel

**kenney** · 02-03-2008,08:37 PM

Hi Plain sailing

**paul b** · 02-03-2008,09:47 PM

I would have thought that it is more likely to be a cylinder head gasket problem or a cracked cylinder head. I have had this problem on previous cars but not Audis. I can't understand how water would come into contact with the oil cooler.

Paul

**revo_20vt** · 03-03-2008,11:17 AM

I agree with you there paul b, ive had problems with oil in the coolant with previous cars (not Audi) and it has allways been down to the head gasket.

**kenney** · 03-03-2008,11:38 AM

Originally Posted by paul b

I would have thought that it is more likely to be a cylinder head gasket problem or a cracked cylinder head. I have had this problem on previous cars but not Audis. I can't understand how water would come into contact with the oil cooler.

Paul

Hi There is always the possibility what you say is true,however the oil cooler has been an issue,and when there is a choice of 2 alternitives then you go for the cheapest first. The oil circulates through the cooler,the oil pressure is greater then the water pressure,oil floats,hence oil in water

**neil w** · 03-03-2008,11:40 AM

I've know of three TDi motors recently with similar problems and all of them were due to failure of the oil cooler

**paul b** · 03-03-2008,07:52 PM

Originally Posted by kenney

Hi There is always the possibility what you say is true,however the oil cooler has been an issue,and when there is a choice of 2 alternitives then you go for the cheapest first. The oil circulates through the cooler,the oil pressure is greater then the water pressure,oil floats,hence oil in water

I didn't think the oil cooler would come into contact with water. My understanding was that it was air-cooled. However, if it cures it I stand corrected!
It would be worth checking whether any water pipes are connected to the engine oil cooler, if they don't I highly doubt that the oil cooler is your problem.
Paul

**kenney** · 03-03-2008,08:23 PM

Hi Paul Yes this has been an issue on many TDI engines,I could never really understand why they call it an oil cooler,when you have water circulating through the cooler with a temp of 90degrees.I remember one job i had (oil in water) took the oil cooler off and pressure tested it,couldnt find anything wrong with it,so we took the head off and replaced the head gasket and in good faith delivered the car thinking we had repaired the fault. A month later the car was back again with the same fault,replaced the oil cooler,which was the culprit.So i said to mysef,never again,as they say once bitten twice shy.