audi 2.0tdi.loosing coolant

**atmos** · 17-03-2009,05:48 PM

AUDI 2.0TDI.
hi every around 700 miles warning light came on because of coolant level.i had a mechanik to look at it and first he said that is not the head gasket.the most possible cause he said is the head itself because aparantly there is 3 stopends of some sort which let go quiet often in this type of engine..first of all he said that is not an really urgent repair as long as i keep eye on the coolant level is fine.....next day he phoned me up and said that friend of his with the same problem aparantly just destroy his engine.....and repair to mine (change the head)will cost aroung £1000.
does anyone know what may be the reason for cooling to dissapear and is it really dangerous to the engine?

thank you...and Regards,

**kenney** · 17-03-2009,06:09 PM

I find it strange that a mechanic can diagnose a fault with a head on pure assumption,without even taking the head off,unless he knows something specific about the engine.What pray is a stopend?There are a few controls which can be done to check were the coolant is disappearing to.

**atmos** · 17-03-2009,06:20 PM

hi,dont know how he came up with this idea...he also said that there is only 3 leaks that are invisible in this type of engine.1.head gasket,2from air conditioning(but there carpets inside the car would be wet) and the one he told me...

**kenney** · 17-03-2009,06:30 PM

If the head was leaking,the coolant would either run into the sump,out the exhaust,OR oil would run into the coolant,so either way there will be a tell tail sign.

**atmos** · 17-03-2009,06:36 PM

hi,thank you for u replay.that exactly what he said as well that coolant is running into the sump out the exhaust.is there any visible singh that i can see if that is the problem and do you know is that any danger to the engine,despite that i keep eye on the coolant all the time?thank you.

**paul b** · 17-03-2009,07:26 PM

Originally Posted by atmos

hi,thank you for u replay.that exactly what he said as well that coolant is running into the sump out the exhaust.is there any visible singh that i can see if that is the problem and do you know is that any danger to the engine,despite that i keep eye on the coolant all the time?thank you.

Are you capable of doing an oil change?

If so, drain the oil from the sump and if its a disgusting green colour then you have water mixing with the oil.

Yes it is a danger to the engine if left too long, as water hasn't got anything like the lubricity values of oil, so your camshafts and things might not get the required protection.

Another sign (I'd still check the oil first, that's the giveaway sign) is if you take the cap of the top of the engine, if there is a lot of steam coming from the top then that is the sign that water is in the oil.

**atmos** · 17-03-2009,07:30 PM

thanks for your reply.the oil has been changed saturday i had a look at it and it was pure black and clean.and this problem is ongoing for some time now around 5000miles.the mechanik is sugesting that the coolant running into the sump out the exhaust.

**kenney** · 17-03-2009,07:49 PM

You have filled roughly 4lt coolant in the 5000 miles,had it been oil in the coolant you would have seen this.Had it been coolant in the sump,you would also have seen this.There is the possibility,of it going out the exhaust,without noticing it,depending on the exhaust fumes.However the point to my first post is,one can not say the head is cracked,without first removing the head,and checking the gasket.

**atmos** · 17-03-2009,08:03 PM

thank you kenney.point well taken.what do you think i should do next?

Regards.

**kenney** · 17-03-2009,08:18 PM

If you are 100% certain the coolant is not running into the sump,or oil running into the coolant.I would leave it for a while and see how it develops.if it is the head gasket it will get worse,and i dare say if the head is cracked,it too will get worse.Just keep your eye on the coolant level and the oil quality,and quantity.The fact,if it develops,it will make it easier to locate the fault.