Coolant issue

[cjm999]

Hi guys, just wanting a bit of advice on an issue I have recently with my 67 plate RS3. Just over a week ago I got a low coolant warning on the dash, and upon checking the reservoir the level was way below the minimum by about 1.5 inches. I was over an hour from home and didn't have access to any proper coolant so a friend said I could just top up with water, which is what I did. Unfortunately I put too much in and it went over the top limit, but still I drove it home (slowly and in comfort) with no issues.

I kept an eye on the coolant level for the next week and it did drop down to the proper level (remember that I overfilled it, not knowing that this may cause an issue at the time!) I decided to buy a syphon and proper VW/Audi coolant mix and emptied the reservoir and topped up to the correct level.

All seemed fine, no overheating etc. On Saturday night whilst working at a wedding, I took a mate out for a quick spin for 10 minutes. I did hit the red-line at one point when missing a gear in manual and was driving it hard. I parked up for about 20 minutes before I needed to head home. When I started the car up I got a low coolant warning so immediately parked up and checked under the bonnet. There was NO coolant in the reservoir, and a fair bit of it appeared to have spurted out of the filler cap and across the engine bay. I had no idea what to do, so called up Audi Assist, who sent the AA out within just under an hour. The AA chap unscrewed the coolant cap, and low and behold the coolant appeared back into the tank and almost to the correct level. He then got some water and topped it up a little. Did a few checks with holding the revs up to bring it up to temperature and everything seemed to be running fine, and off I went home with no issues (again, very gently driven).

I'm booked in at a garage next week for lowering springs fitted so they will also check the coolant at the same time. Just wondered if anyone had an idea what might be the issue here? I've had stage 1 APR remap done, if that might be linked at all?

 

[PanamaS3]

either a leak somewhere or air in system which needs bleeding out is my prognosis (I'd say latter) having had similar issues...as have many others on here on multiple platforms. flush system.....pressurize overnight and check for leaks....none found then refill with proper mixture....drive once to temp....let it cool....check and top up....should be good to go after that (unless its a leak somewhere in which case need to find it and repair)

 

[Deep penetrator]

Hi mate,

I had my car in to Audi for a coolant issue a few months ago so it was 3 months old at the time, my car had also lost coolant and they checked the system and it was just an air-lock.
I do check it very regularly now, especially being stage1.

 

[T-800]

I had this on my PFL once, it had dropped enough to warrant a warning light, more than likely when it was filled at the factory there was still some air in the system and over time that air has been pushed out of the system, hence the drop in the reservoir.

Don't forget this is a sealed system the coolant is under pressure but cannot be compressed, however any air in the system will expand when things get hot and this is what you see when unscrewing the reservoir cap, pressurised air escaping and the coolant coming 'back' up into the reservoir.

I always check it visually once a week when I'm checking the oil, takes seconds, but at least you know it's where it should be.

 

[Behind The Bins]

Off to check my coolant

 

[cjm999]

Thanks for your replies guys. Any thoughts on how and why it escaped through the reservoir cap though? It wasn't much but enough to make a mess in the engine bay.

 

[D0C]

Just massive heat and pressure.

I remember my brothers classic Maestro Turbo which runs some serious power. He did a full bore launch and 50 metres down the road there was a bang with the screen covered in water...It was the coolant cap which had blew off!

 

[cjm999]

To be fair I probably didn't let the car warm up enough before flooring it, plus hitting the rev limiter wouldn't have helped!

 

[T-800]

Thanks for your replies guys. Any thoughts on how and why it escaped through the reservoir cap though? It wasn't much but enough to make a mess in the engine bay.

If you look at the coolant reservoir design you’ll see it has an overflow on the side

 

[cjm999]

After a day of driving today, it seems that the level drops considerably when driven hard, but comes back up when the cap is opened. Is this normal?

 

[Spinstorm]

So I have seen this same thing on my car. I posted another thread but keeping it here in the original thread.

A week ago it came up and I checked and it was well below the line. Left if a few minutes and it came back up. I topped it up. A similar thing happened a few weeks before that.

And again last night.

I am not driving the car hard - and on all occasions I was just driving along normally.

I have some G12 coolant that I topped up with but know it should be G13. So will go buy some tomorrow. Add this to the list of issues with my car:

- engine error light
- squeaking sunroof (that the dealer greased up but unsurprisingly wasn’t the solution and is now doing it again)
- I’ve now had 2 tyre pressure warnings. I should get the tyre checked tomorrow as well but the Tyre wasn’t actually suffering from low pressure despite the TPMS sensors saying so - could be dodgy sensors.
- Squeaking breaks
- Coolant issue

 

[cjm999]

Bit of an update on my issue (I did post in someone else's thread but thought I'd stick with my own). I had the APR map taken off and all was fine for two weeks, drove the car hard on a few occasions and the coolant level didn't drop. But after another week, the issue started again so I booked it in with the dealership. They did a pressure test overnight and found that coolant was leaking out the engine and told me that it was via the head gasket, which therefore needs to be replaced! I got a video the other day from them showing a dried up bit of coolant dripping from the left hand side of the engine block.

I didn't expect this to be anywhere near as extreme as requiring a new head gasket, and doesn't explain why the coolant level came back up to the correct level every time the reservoir cap was removed. So now I've been without my car for 11 days driving about in an S-line A3, and now have to wait god knows how long for the parts to arrive!

 

[A_Davison]

Bit of an update on my issue (I did post in someone else's thread but thought I'd stick with my own). I had the APR map taken off and all was fine for two weeks, drove the car hard on a few occasions and the coolant level didn't drop. But after another week, the issue started again so I booked it in with the dealership. They did a pressure test overnight and found that coolant was leaking out the engine and told me that it was via the head gasket, which therefore needs to be replaced! I got a video the other day from them showing a dried up bit of coolant dripping from the left hand side of the engine block.

I didn't expect this to be anywhere near as extreme as requiring a new head gasket, and doesn't explain why the coolant level came back up to the correct level every time the reservoir cap was removed. So now I've been without my car for 11 days driving about in an S-line A3, and now have to wait god knows how long for the parts to arrive!

Since you haven’t mentioned cost I’m assuming it’s being covered under warranty?

If I were you I’d be counting your lucky stars they haven’t noticed the car was previously mapped and would stay quiet in the courtesy car until the call comes to say it’s ready..

 

[T-800]

Since you haven’t mentioned cost I’m assuming it’s being covered under warranty?

If I were you I’d be counting your lucky stars they haven’t noticed the car was previously mapped and would stay quiet in the courtesy car until the call comes to say it’s ready..

They read forums too......

 

[D0C]

I can't believe the remap would have caused this issue anyway. If Audi claimed it did and refused warranty work, I'd be taking them straight off to court to prove it.

More concerning is that this isn't the first of the new alu engines to have a serious problem...

 

[Terminator x]

I can't believe the remap would have caused this issue anyway. If Audi claimed it did and refused warranty work, I'd be taking them straight off to court to prove it.

More concerning is that this isn't the first of the new alu engines to have a serious problem...

Friday PM cars? Some are running big power no problems so it seems a bit random.

TX.

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[DW81]

At least it isn’t a brand new engine I suppose

 

[D0C]

At least it isn’t a brand new engine I suppose

Only 6000 miles...brand new to me!

 

[cjm999]

Right then folks, to say this escalated quickly is an understatement! To update you all, I've now got my car back from Audi after they had it for a full 9 weeks.... and they fitted a brand new engine!! When they first took a look at it they pressure tested it overnight, and could see that there was a small amount of engine coolant that had leaked from the side of the engine block, to which they told me the head gasket was the culprit, and would need to be replaced. To be honest I didn't believe that to be the cause (it's an 8 month old car with 6500 miles on the clock ***). It took weeks for them to get the parts/tools needed for them to take the engine apart, but once they finally got the cylinder head off, they discovered that one of the head bolts had snapped off, leaving the thread stuck down a long hole within the engine block. THey've no idea how this could have happened, and said that the bolt was already spinning loose in there when they got to it. To cut a long story short, they ordered me a new engine! The engine came in a week but it was nearly 3 weeks waiting after that for some tool that they needed in order to take the old engine out. It's been a crazy long two months without my car but now I'm gently bedding the new engine in and hopefully that will be the end of things!

 

[DW81]

Great result, I dread to think how much that little saga would have set you back should the warranty not have coughed up.

 

[teslaboy]

Right then folks, to say this escalated quickly is an understatement! To update you all, I've now got my car back from Audi after they had it for a full 9 weeks.... and they fitted a brand new engine!! When they first took a look at it they pressure tested it overnight, and could see that there was a small amount of engine coolant that had leaked from the side of the engine block, to which they told me the head gasket was the culprit, and would need to be replaced. To be honest I didn't believe that to be the cause (it's an 8 month old car with 6500 miles on the clock ***). It took weeks for them to get the parts/tools needed for them to take the engine apart, but once they finally got the cylinder head off, they discovered that one of the head bolts had snapped off, leaving the thread stuck down a long hole within the engine block. THey've no idea how this could have happened, and said that the bolt was already spinning loose in there when they got to it. To cut a long story short, they ordered me a new engine! The engine came in a week but it was nearly 3 weeks waiting after that for some tool that they needed in order to take the old engine out. It's been a crazy long two months without my car but now I'm gently bedding the new engine in and hopefully that will be the end of things!

Blimey!!
So how much would that have cost out of warranty?

 

[cjm999]

Blimey!!
So how much would that have cost out of warranty?

In the region of £20k I would think

 

[Danny97]

Wondering if someone could help, topping up coolant, notice something that looks like white chalk around the cap of the coolant reservoir cap, something to be worried about?

 

[8YARWY]

Wondering if someone could help, topping up coolant, notice something that looks like white chalk around the cap of the coolant reservoir cap, something to be worried about?

I’ve seen it before.
It’s the residue from coolant when it dries out.
I sometimes notice it more on the threads of the cap.

I just give them a clean now and again.


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