A6 Loosing Coolant

[JimC64]

Any updates or anything to add here?

Jim

[NickPicks]

Any updates or anything to add here?

Jim

I don't think so.

[JimC64]

Ok nickpick, maybe you haven't had this problem. However, I wanna keep this alive as I do and I believe also others have to see what if anything develops outta this.

Jim

[a8 tech]

If it helps b7 A4 suffers as well as A3,of the top of my head its most likely with engine code Bkd

[JimC64]

Thanks A8.....your responses and time valued as always


Jim

[Lynlea]

Jim,

It sounds very much like the problem is the same as mine, I also had the problem of starting after being stood and had the RAC out a number of times to get the car started from what appeared like a failing battery, but they found nothing wrong with the battery or the alternator and simply recharged the battery and all was fine for a period, apart from loosing coolant.

I cannot understand why you are unsure on your approach to the dealer, your car is still under warranty and as such they should fix it for you fully, i.e. replace the head which will cure the problem. You should not have to contribute at all, you have paid for the dealers warranty and are perfectly entitled to claim against it. I have approached the dealer and have no hesitation in telling them what I think the problem is.

I think it is important to tell the dealer what you believe the problem is as your engine has actually failed now, under warranty and you need to record this in writing preferably by email so that you can prove it failed under warranty later. Your RAC information will also assist your case, I have got them to send me a letter indicating when they come out and for what reason; they are quite happy to do this.

Regards,

John.

[JimC64]

Jim,
It sounds very much like the problem is the same as mine, I also had the problem of starting after being stood and had the RAC out a number of times to get the car started from what appeared like a failing battery, but they found nothing wrong with the battery or the alternator and simply recharged the battery and all was fine for a period, apart from loosing coolant.
I cannot understand why you are unsure on your approach to the dealer, your car is still under warranty and as such they should fix it for you fully, i.e. replace the head which will cure the problem. You should not have to contribute at all, you have paid for the dealers warranty and are perfectly entitled to claim against it. I have approached the dealer and have no hesitation in telling them what I think the problem is.
I think it is important to tell the dealer what you believe the problem is as your engine has actually failed now, under warranty and you need to record this in writing preferably by email so that you can prove it failed under warranty later. Your RAC information will also assist your case, I have got them to send me a letter indicating when they come out and for what reason; they are quite happy to do this.
Regards,
John.

Hey John, are you sure you're not my brotha from anotha motha??....lol
Your advice is sound and exactly what I intend to do. In fact so much so that I spent 20 minutes or so on the phone to the RAC yesterday and they are sending me out a letter as they have to you....great minds think alike huh?
I pretty much have every document relating to every visit to the dealer for anything they have done. I'm going to contact them though and ask if they can give me a printout of all service work / warranty work carried out on the vehicle....no reason why they shouldn't be able to give me this, but we'll see.
pm me when you can please John..or send me a mail at jim@campbellraith.freeserve.co.uk

Thanks
Jim

[gazza57]

You should be able to get your coolant checked for exhaust gas byproducts, this is a simple test in which a Carbon Monoxide sniffer is connected to the header tank to detect CO which is a combustion byproduct and will be present in the coolant in large concentrations if you have water getting into the cylinder bores and also just as PeterD said you will also get appreciable back pressure which will blow coolant out of your header. This test should help to confirm if that is your problem.
Hope this helps
Gazza57

[a8 tech]

The above suggestion would be worthless in this case as Audi already no how to check for the leaks and the best way is actually cylinder leakage test where applicable.Most modern diesels lose coolant via EGR coolers or internal defects,cylinder head gasket failure is very unlikely with the new metal type gaskets so my suggestion is to leave it to those who no the product and discard cheap monoxide indicators,as for back pressure this i take you mean combustion pressure increase from water in the cylinders,again i have given a Known repair instruction in this thread and as i have worked for Audi for 20 years its experience that tells me the complaint symptoms are related to internal stress on the cylinder head water jackets from a certain batch of 2.0 diesel heads.The only true way to identify the cracks is by Xray of the removed cylinder head and as no dealership has this kind of facility then a 48 hour constant pressure of 1 bar to the coolant header tank should highlight a drop in pressure and visual inspection into the manifolds should show coolant around the ports or looking into the EGR cooler or removing the injectors to peer inside the chambers with a endoscope.Thinks have moved on from inaccurate monoxide sniffers.
Regards A8

[gazza57]

The above suggestion would be worthless in this case as Audi already no how to check for the leaks and the best way is actually cylinder leakage test where applicable.Most modern diesels lose coolant via EGR coolers or internal defects,cylinder head gasket failure is very unlikely with the new metal type gaskets so my suggestion is to leave it to those who no the product and discard cheap monoxide indicators,as for back pressure this i take you mean combustion pressure increase from water in the cylinders,again i have given a Known repair instruction in this thread and as i have worked for Audi for 20 years its experience that tells me the complaint symptoms are related to internal stress on the cylinder head water jackets from a certain batch of 2.0 diesel heads.The only true way to identify the cracks is by Xray of the removed cylinder head and as no dealership has this kind of facility then a 48 hour constant pressure of 1 bar to the coolant header tank should highlight a drop in pressure and visual inspection into the manifolds should show coolant around the ports or looking into the EGR cooler or removing the injectors to peer inside the chambers with a endoscope.Thinks have moved on from inaccurate monoxide sniffers.
Regards A8

Thanks A8,
Obviously you are much more au fait with current diagnostic procedures than my good self. The suggestion was made basically as an additional test based on previous experiences with my own cars and as a suggestion to help this guy out.
I'm sure he's far more likely to take your advice as somebody who has worked for Audi for more than 20 years than mine.
Merely trying to help buddy!
Regards
Gazza57