1.8T major coolant leak - your help please!

[dope]

Hi.

Coolant is coming out of where the pink arrow is. The photo is taken from under the front of the car looking up with the plastic undertray removed.

When I say coolant comes out, I mean I pour it in the header tank and it comes straight out. Without the engine running. The header tank is empty again in a few minutes.

I looks like it comes from the seal of that bottom pulley. I guess it may be higher up but looking from the top down I can't see it escaping any higher up.

I haven't had the gauge go over 90ºc and the 'low coolant' warning hasn't come on so I seem to have noticed this leak as soon as it started.

The water pump and cam belt were changed 4 years ago when I bought the car.

So I guess I'm asking - is it likely that it is actually leaking from seal of that pulley? And if so how big a job is this to fix?


Cheers

 

[hades-]

id say waterpump

 

[dope]

Is that the waterpump behind that pulley then bez?

 

[S23]

I find my coolant level dropping every 2 weeks I assume I have the same issue , my belt and pump are due now anyway and will be having them done in the next 2 weeks

 

[hades-]

Is that the waterpump behind that pulley then bez?

i think its further up above that pully

 

[dope]

So it's likely a water pump failed after 4 or 5 (average milage) years? Or just unlucky?

 

[Audi Doodah]

4 to 5 years average mileage puts you in cam belt change territory anyway and, if it is your water pump, then a prime example of why they're changed at the same time.

 

[dope]

4 to 5 years average mileage puts you in cam belt change territory anyway and, if it is your water pump, then a prime example of why they're changed at the same time.

Guess you're right Doodah. Found a pump for £25 and a belt kit for £85. Just need to talk to my trusty garage to get a good price for the work...

I think I only paid about £120 labour last time.

 

[hades-]

dont go cheap on the WP get oem

 

[dope]

Yeah - it's OEM but I get a good discount!

 

[dope]

The garage have now changed the pump and cam belt, but when they run it up to temp the bottom hose is still cold.

I haven't previously ever had the temp gauge needle anywhere other than where it should be, so to my mind the thermostat is good.

Any suggestions?

 

[Audi Doodah]

The gauge will read 90 when temp reaches approx 80 deg C but the stat shouldn't open until 87 deg C. This temp can only be reached by driving the car. At idle the temp will never get high enough to open the stat hence a cold bottom hose.

 

[dope]

The gauge will read 90 when temp reaches approx 80 deg C but the stat shouldn't open until 87 deg C. This temp can only be reached by driving the car. At idle the temp will never get high enough to open the stat hence a cold bottom hose.

Sounds true - they've got it hotter now and all is normal. They're going to put a few miles on it today for their peace of mind. Then I'm good to go.

Thanks for the advice chaps!

 

[Ian2012]

That's exactly how both have mine failed a drip then quite a big loss

 

[Audi Doodah]

Out of interest, do you guys know the manufacturers of the failed pumps?

 

[dope]

Out of interest, do you guys know the manufacturers of the failed pumps?

Sorry mate - no idea. I remember that follwing the advice from this forum five years ago I made sure that it had a metal impeller but I don't remember where I got it or what make it was.

I know that at that time the original one came out. It was plastic and the shaft had broken.