⚠️ALL S3 8V OWNERS COOLANT LEAK!!!!!!

s3mad_dude said:
Add me to the list. My facelift November 2016 registered Audi S3 was bought by me from an independent dealer in Edinburgh. Alba motor company (such nice guys that run that place). The vehicle was just a few days short of its third birthday so they put the car into Edinburgh Audi for a MOT and health check a couple of days before I collected it. The dealer noticed the leaking thermostat/housing so did everything under manufacturers warranty just in the nick of time. The mileage back then was on 28,000 and the work was done in Nov 2019.

It’s an absolute farce that there is no recall on this. Has anyone ever had to do it twice? Can I expect mine to fail in another 3 years/28k miles or has the offending part since been redesigned?
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From what I've been told by a VAG tech, they also will only change the offending item when doing warranty work. So the water pump probably wasn't changed so there's a chance that can now leak. Except as Audi hope, it'll be your problem now, not theirs!
 
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sparkymark75 said:
From what I've been told by a VAG tech, they also will only change the offending item when doing warranty work. So the water pump probably wasn't changed so there's a chance that can now leak. Except as Audi hope, it'll be your problem now, not theirs!
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That should be a word of warning to anyone else who has this issue...Ask for the pump to be replaced at same time...The extra cost would be minimal compared to another strip down.
 
Yep you’re right - I just checked the actual paperwork and they have replaced the offending item (thermostat housing) along with any required gaskets and lubricants etc but there is no mention of a water pump being replaced. If I’d have known about any of this happening I would have bought a water pump and tossed it to the mechanic and said put it in whilst you’re there. Fingers crossed my water pump stays healthy!
 
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pburv said:
That should be a word of warning to anyone else who has this issue...Ask for the pump to be replaced at same time...The extra cost would be minimal compared to another strip down.
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True but Audi won’t authorise it and the dealer won’t foot the bill so unless you pay for the additional, unlikely they’ll do it. Their hope is the next fail is out of warranty!
 
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FL S3 (67-plater) owner here and I have had thermostat housing leak repaired under warranty earlier this week. This is becoming a farce for A3/S3 8V owners. I'm grateful to the Indy VAG specialist who spotted the problem during a major service and advised me to take back to Audi asap and get it repaired before my warranty expired (Sep 2020). It has certainly saved me a bob or two! The car has only done 33k miles.
 
sparkymark75 said:
True but Audi won’t authorise it and the dealer won’t foot the bill so unless you pay for the additional, unlikely they’ll do it. Their hope is the next fail is out of warranty!
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I meant for the owner to stump up the extra..Makes sense money wise:icon thumright:
 
audinho said:
FL S3 (67-plater) owner here and I have had thermostat housing leak repaired under warranty earlier this week. This is becoming a farce for A3/S3 8V owners. I'm grateful to the Indy VAG specialist who spotted the problem during a major service and advised me to take back to Audi asap and get it repaired before my warranty expired (Sep 2020). It has certainly saved me a bob or two! The car has only done 33k miles.
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Good call by your indy.:icon thumright:
 
Well mine has leaked too. Spotted by my independent garage during a main service. Done under warranty glad I took an extra years manufacturers warranty at the time of purchase.


Phil.
 
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foofoo said:
Well mine has leaked too. Spotted by my independent garage during a main service. Done under warranty glad I took an extra years manufacturers warranty at the time of purchase.


Phil.
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What year is your car? And how many miles mate?
 
Good link if anyone wants to change water pump themselves.....





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Iv joined this club now!! all I had on my dash was a EML pop up, code was "Aux coolant pump low performance" no water loss either.

Diagnosed as thermostat / pump issue (£907 at indi using gen parts) had the job done yesterday (Covered by aftermarket warranty) and now had to top water up a couple of times in less than 24 hours ( Hoping this is just air locks that are clearing)
 
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Had mine done as well, while they were replacing all the other parts in my engine.
It was showing a slight weep around the thermostat housing, but I hadn't noticed any water loss.
 
Lehn said:
Just booked the S3 in to get the coolant leak sorted. It was May last year I first got aware of this but because of my extended warranty I wasn't in a hurry to get it sorted, but the level seems to drop more rapid now.

I'm just posting some pics for people to know what to look for and where to look at the engine since it's pretty hard to find the leak from underneath the car without removing any hoses if you're not knowing where to look - fortunately I did manage to find the leak without disassembling anything (see the last pictures).

The first two pictures is the water pump/thermostat housing position on the engine and the next three pictures are illustrating where I got the leak.

View attachment 198025
View attachment 198019


View attachment 198020

View attachment 198021

View attachment 198022

View attachment 198024
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Hi, I know it's a while.... What the green marks on the housing?
I've got them on mine too, but mines leaking
 
JohnM100 said:
It’s the thermostat housing design on the EA888 Gen 3 engine - not just S3. The only other spec to use that engine design is the 1.8 (and it suffers too), but the 1.8 was only on sale in UK for 2 years during PFL.

On the flip side, the EA888 Gen 3 excluding USA in both 1.8 & 2.0 (S3 up to MY19 / pre WLTP) has 8 fuel injectors: 4 direct and 4 indirect. Apart from the performance/economy advantages, the indirect injection means intake valves are less likely to get coked up. Indirect injection was removed for MY19/WLTP.
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I was told by an Audi dealership that this was only for the 1.8, not 2.0 units in the FL S3’s. Is there any way to confirm this visually or via VCDS? When I got told it’s not on an S3 I was disappointed, but your comment has made given me hope that the coking issues are preventable by design now
 
PFL & FL S3 both affected (and PFL 1.8 as there was no FL 1.8 in UK), as posts above indicate. The part has been revised several times so it’s possible that the revised part may last longer but is not immune to the problem
 
Hi John, realise my comments didn’t make clear I was talking about the indirect injection ports being available on pre WLTP, EA888 Gen 3, UK FL S3’s, sorry.
 
Ahh - understand. There is a thread somewhere with a pic which shows you where to look. It’s not my photo so I can’t repost but I’ll see if I can find the original thread.
 
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I’ll search for it. No need to repost if it’s already somewhere. Will search for “EA888 indirect FL S3” or some combination to find it :icon thumright:
 
Pics on page 2 of this thread:

www.vwroc.com

Golf R 2019 WLTP - Looses MPI (Dual Injection) !

I'm almost completely certain the new 2019 WLTP Golf R's do not come with dual injection! Having gone through the latest updates to ETKA, the engine code for the new WLTP Golf R is DNUE This is the new 300ps variant as expected. However the intake manifold for this engine, does not have the port ...
www.vwroc.com
 
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bokoboy said:
:racer:Cmon then folks any s3 owners without a leak
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Haha i have a slow decrease of coolant issue i do 60/40 mix or 70/30 topped it up just above required middle of min & max but has dropped in like 3 weeks to like just above min is this a major or could it be an airlock not sure but i may have to ring audi for inspection i have S3 65 plate Pre facelift.
 
My MY18 S3 has started leaking from the thermostat housing. It’s only 2 years and 363 days old. Luckily still 2 days inside warranty.

Despite the part revisions, it seems this weakness hasn’t been engineered out over the years. They must be on revision M, N or P by now...
 
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JohnM100 said:
My MY18 S3 has started leaking from the thermostat housing. It’s only 2 years and 363 days old. Luckily still 2 days inside warranty.

Despite the part revisions, it seems this weakness hasn’t been engineered out over the years. They must be on revision M, N or P by now...
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Whole coolant system on these cars is a weakness as its all packed into such a tight area. Everyone I know with a S3 8V has had something go wrong with the coolant system one way or another

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
 
I had my thermostat and housing etc replaced under warranty (2yrs and 363 days too!) on my late 2016 FL S3. I wonder if the fault will return in the future to all of us.
 
K96 said:
Whole coolant system on these cars is a weakness as its all packed into such a tight area. Everyone I know with a S3 8V has had something go wrong with the coolant system one way or another

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
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I don’t think space is the primary issue - RS3 survives.

My money is on extra heat load from integrated exhaust manifold, thermostat built to a price point, and ECU coolant settings too conservative. Redesigning the part is one thing - ECU dealer flash with new cooling parameters would be cheaper.

I have had two 8V EA888 Gen 3s. Both have had thermostat issues. The other was a 1.8.
 
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JohnM100 said:
I don’t think space is the primary issue - RS3 survives.

My money is on extra heat load from integrated exhaust manifold, thermostat built to a price point, and ECU coolant settings too conservative. Redesigning the part is one thing - ECU dealer flash with new cooling parameters would be cheaper.

I have had two 8V EA888 Gen 3s. Both have had thermostat issues. The other was a 1.8.
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Does make you wonder doesn’t it ?

Always looks an oddity when you see the EA888 from the back with just the collector hole and no manifold.
I know they designed it with quick warm up times in mind to keep emissions low.


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So after 19 months (9K miles) & after thermostat being changed at Audi I got a “Low coolant Stop, switch off Engine” warming on dash last weekend on motorway.
Pulled over and was quite below MIN line. Topped up when finally arrived at destination about 100-200ml, not much to bring it between MIN & MAX.

Took in to Audi under warranty to investigate and they can’t see any leaks and again they topped up small amount.
They say there is a TPI been released in regard to when being changed after 20k miles the coolant can have an air lock in the system and they think it could just be that.
Has anyone heard of this before?
 
RcC said:
So after 19 months (9K miles) & after thermostat being changed at Audi I got a “Low coolant Stop, switch off Engine” warming on dash last weekend on motorway.
Pulled over and was quite below MIN line. Topped up when finally arrived at destination about 100-200ml, not much to bring it between MIN & MAX.

Took in to Audi under warranty to investigate and they can’t see any leaks and again they topped up small amount.
They say there is a TPI been released in regard to when being changed after 20k miles the coolant can have an air lock in the system and they think it could just be that.
Has anyone heard of this before?
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I was told this could be the case on my 8V late 2019 - Had the same warning had dropped a little - My mate topped it up for me and I took it in and they pressure tested, checked for leaks etc but found nothing - I said well it had to go somewhere and was then told that might be when filled at the factory it then gets an air lock.

Like you very sceptical as would it take 18 months for that to show especially as the system is supposed to self vent I believe - Anyway it never happened again or dropped at all before I changed the car almost a year later

Who knows!!
 
No idea why 2019s would be called out in a TPI but there must be a reason.

If thermostat changed then a drop in coolant could be air introduced during the drain/refill working its way back to the expansion tank or air naturally dissolved in the new water/coolant mix coming out of solution.

Assuming the repair was done properly and nothing else broken in the process...
 
JohnM100 said:
No idea why 2019s would be called out in a TPI but there must be a reason.

If thermostat changed then a drop in coolant could be air introduced during the drain/refill working its way back to the expansion tank or air naturally dissolved in the new water/coolant mix coming out of solution.

Assuming the repair was done properly and nothing else broken in the process...
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Mine is PFL and 65 plate.
All Audi said was TPI issued, no leaks seen anywhere on car or residue and they say air lock.
Audi had originally changed it and my initial thought was it was their fault but nothing seen.
 
Reading this thread as mine failed on a 66k plate 25k on the clock. I commented to Audi about how it was a common failure to which I was told "in my 9 years of Audi I've never heard of it".

Contacted Audi UK who told me it's down to me to sort it because parts fail. I'm struggling to comprehend how this isn't a recall.

Anyone thought of trying to escalate this further up the chain, I guess the Motor Ombudsman could be a start.
 
Mrb.Suffolk said:
Reading this thread as mine failed on a 66k plate 25k on the clock. I commented to Audi about how it was a common failure to which I was told "in my 9 years of Audi I've never heard of it".

Contacted Audi UK who told me it's down to me to sort it because parts fail. I'm struggling to comprehend how this isn't a recall.

Anyone thought of trying to escalate this further up the chain, I guess the Motor Ombudsman could be a start.
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I had a similar discussion when mine failed at 18k miles in 2019. Car bought from new and always serviced at same dealership etc. I argued that it was a regularly reported issue on forums and I would not expect that sort of failure on a well maintained car. They did go to Audi UK who refuted that there was any issue. Had a bit knocked off for being a regular customer but still not much change out of £1k. Don’t really understand why it isn’t a recall.
 
I've found a decent looking independent to do it for me under a warranty I have, they mentioned the water pump and thermostat were two separate parts. I thought it was one, are they telling porkies?
Answered my own question, Audi parts dep said yes they are sold separately.
 
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Just joined this forum to say thx as I found this thread really helpfull.

Here's my situation in case it helps someone else.
Bought a 2016 (MY17) second hand S3 convertible in early 2020. Took it in for a service straight after buying it and the techs at Audi identified a waterpump leak which they replaced under warranty. Car had 15000 kms on the odometer when I bought it.

Last year I had a major service and this week I took it in for a minor service at 35,000kms where they identified a leak in the thermostat. Car is now out of warranty and quoted cost was $2,000 AUD. Car had no puddles and no warning lights had come up, the only things to give it away were the fact that I was low on coolant (but not low enough to trigger the warning) and that visual inspection showed traces of fluid leakage so the leak so far must be minor. That should all sound pretty familiar so far... :)
Where my story differs is that I kicked up a storm and said they should have replaced the thermostat at the same time as the waterpump.
One day and a call from the dealership to the national rep later and low and behold, it's getting replaced under warranty despite the car being out of warranty!!! :D
Couldn't be happier!!!

From reading here, it looks like the typical excuse that parts that don't exhibit issues don't need to get replaced, even when the work to replace them is just as invasive and they know you'll run into this issue sooner rather than later, has not been used on this occasion, fortunately for me. I guess they considered it warranty on the original replacement of the waterpump even thought that's already been carried out two years ago. Maybe the limited kms I've put on the car due to Covid restrictions has helped out in this regard or maybe it's because Australian general warranty definitions are a lot more elaborate compared to manufacturer warranty, I don't know, but I'll take it! Hope this helps someone plead their case to their dealer when (not if) it happens.

Of course, another storyline could be the following, if you permit me to be a bit of a conspiracy theorist:
- No warning triggered
- I didn't check my coolant fluid level prior to taking it in for service, so it could have actually been fine
- The traces of coolant from the visual inspection (see picture they sent me attached) were still there from when the waterpump was leaking
- Very quick turnaround and approval from the claimed call with their national rep
Conclusion: there is no problem with the thermostat and they thought I wouldn't kick up a storm and/or not remember that the waterpump had already been replaced and/or that I knew the thermostat is connected at the hip with the waterpump so they thought they would just try to earn some extra $$$.
Now that it's become more difficult for them than expected, they now just say it's going to get done under warranty but really they'll just sit on my car for a day and then give it back as-is :D
Any way I can verify that they've actually replaced the thermostat when I get it back?

Whatever the scenario, still happy that I won't have to worry about this for the immediate future though. Even if my second scenario would be true and they don't actually replace anything, I'll have another stick to beat them with if the thermostat does go off in the next year or so ;)

I'm also starting a thread on wheel alignment so if anyone can have a look there and cast your eyes on a wheel alignment report I got back, that would be great thx ;)
www.audi-sport.net

Wheel alignment assistance

Hi all, I just had some new front tyres put on my 2016 (MY17) S3. The existing ones had been wearing out very unevenly as the previous owner for whatever reason had put positive camber on the fronts... Car understeered like crazy and I didn't like it at all but given that the uneven wear...
www.audi-sport.net www.audi-sport.net
 

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One thing I would say about the "they should have replaced the thermostat at the same time as they did the waterpump" scenario is that the waterpump is about £60 and the thermostat (which is actually a very sophisticated coolant management package with electronics and motorised slide valves etc, not a traditional thermostat) is over £400! So you can imagine why they might only have done the waterpump if that was the problem. :) I had the dreaded thermostat coolant leak a couple of months ago on my 2014 A3 1.8tfsi (leaked into the wiring loom, causing all sorts of spurious issues) and I did get them to do the waterpump at the same time as it was so comparatively cheap to do.
 
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Well it finally caught up with me. Car went in for service and they found a leak around thermostat housing/water pump.
I thought I got away with it as mine is a late 2018 pre-opf car with 31k so was hoping mine have the latest revised parts. Clearly not!
Luckily I got the extended warranty so hoping it will get authorised when they call me back tomorrow and sorted under that otherwise it’s like £1k+ out my pocket.
my story is similar to @Silvermane above.
looks like no 8v is immune from this and more I read online it doesn’t seem like revised parts are any better either.
 
Yet another one to report.

Early PFL 2014 S3. 43k on the clock.

Despite never seeing a drop in the expansion bottle, I had smelt coolant on the engine for years and have asked Audi to take a look annually when getting serviced. They pressure tested twice and found nothing.

This time, the light came on in May. I topped up and kept an eye on it. It was definitely dropping now. Albeit slowly. It was the drops on the driveway and white patches on the bottom of the engine that gave me the evidence to take it in again.

Confirmed thermostat housing leak. Fortunately, the years of paying for extended warranty to mitigate against this (and for general reassurance) has paid off. Audi warranty have confirmed it is covered and work underway.

From this forum, I knew it was coming at some point!
 
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Just got mine back. All sorted under extended warranty. This one job alone has paid for the extended warranty/service plan.
 
Mines been in today for warranty investigation for coolant leak.

They’ve put it down to the water pump rather than the thermostat housing and as such are only replacing the pump…
 
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