HELP!!! A4 2.0TDi 143bhp '09 Using lots of coolant & now smoke coming from exhaust!

[J7-AUDIA3]

Hi all,

Need some input if possible.

2 nights ago I was driving on the motorway and I got a warning to stop the engine and the check the coolant, it had very little. Luckily I stopped at an Asda off the motorway so topped up with Anti-Freeze given the time of year. I checked it when I got home, less than 10miles, and the coolant was a way down again. I topped it up and parked it for the night.

Following day I took the car a 20 mile round trip and coolant level didn't budge, great! However that night I got back in, car failed to start twice, ran out of coolant, again topped up and left, never got to the end of the street before lots of white smoke was coming from exhaust and even the engine bay! Coolant level was fine but I took it to a garage and left it there for them to take a look at this morning.

In the mean time I was looking to see if:

1. Anyone has come across this before and/or
2. Knows what this could be

Sorry for long story but thought I'd give all details of what I've done.

Thanks

John

P.S. Ironically when I took it to the garage this morning there was very little white smoke unless there was harsh pedal work!

 

[Daggerit]

Sounds like a head gasket to me mate!

Does it feel down on power and have trouble starting on a regular basis, obviously it struggled the couple times you mentioned.

 

[J7-AUDIA3]

Those were the first times it's had issues starting. Power didn't seem to be an issue to me, I put the boot down this morning to see if the smoke got worst (which it did) but power seemed to be the norm.

Assuming you are right (my dad said the same thing) how much would someone expect to pay?

Thanks for the quick reply btw, this is stressing me out!

John

 

[C6 DRN]

If there is no trace of a leak i would say its the head gasket unfortunatley..

 

[Daggerit]

No worries, sometimes it can cause a loss of compression and power/starting issues...

The price really depends on the garage to be honest but it isn't generally a cheap job. Also depends on whether they have to send the head away to be skimmed and things. I wouldn't have thought that they would need to on yours if you've kept on top of the coolant level and made sure it didn't overheat. If I had to guess I'd say 6 hours labour and a new gasket if things go well. Don't quote me on that, it could be fewer hours as well!

 

[J7-AUDIA3]

I found this stuff:

Halfords | Holts Radweld Plus 250ml

I'm considering just using this, see if it help, couldn't hurt. Plus I was thinking of changing cars, so might do as a temp fix. Serves me right for thinking I was going to change cars!

 

[Daggerit]

Haha, hopefully this isn't the car throwing a wobbly to stop you getting rid of it then!

Id' be careful using that because it's fine for radiator or pipework leaks but if you put it in with a damaged head gasket then you could end up with it in the cyclinders or in the oil. Neither of which would be very good! :S

 

[J7-AUDIA3]

Food for thought.

But if I were to find a new car and this stoped the smoke element I'd change it in a heartbeat and save me worrying about it.

 

[Daggerit]

Fair do's!

 

[J7-AUDIA3]

Quick update.

Garage couldn't find a thing wrong with it. Driving up the road, no smoke, went and got a bottle of K-seal just in case. So fingers crossed it was just a little hicup of some kind.

Thanks Daggerit for the input, you to Inglis.

John

 

[Daggerit]

No worries, I hope it stays like that for you then!

 

[Hesl]

Check the oil cap for a mayo like substance, if you've lost coolant and are getting white smoke then I'd say head gasket too, did the garage do a compression test?

 

[Daggerit]

Check the oil cap for a mayo like substance, if you've lost coolant and are getting white smoke then I'd say head gasket too, did the garage do a compression test?

Really good shout, I forgot to say that!

 

[J7-AUDIA3]

Don't think so. TBH I don't think they moved it from where I parked it this morning which is annoying, not that I paid them.

Like I say I've put that K-Seal stuff in and done a good 20 or so mile and everything seems ok. Under the oil cap seems fine BUT when I try and check the oil level I get the annoying 'information is not available' thing, bring back the dip stick!!!

 

[NVM]

Split egr cooler