Audi A3 - Leaking Water`

geronamo

Hi I have an Audi A3, 1998 in great nick!!

But I noticed yesterday the coolent was very low so I topped it up with water and checked it today and discovered it was gone ryt back down to the bottom!!

Does this mean its leaking?

Is it an expensive job to get fixed?

Does anyone have any ideas?

Cheers!!

lomb

Yep its definately leaking. You can't get loses in a sealed system.
Possibly a water pump, and timing belt kit, about 400e done properly.
Hopefully its not the head gasket thats gone. To check take the oil filler cap off and check for a white mayonaise type substance on the inside of the lid.
Could also be a leaky radiator, or hoses or a bad cap on the coolant bottle.
So anything between 5 euros and about 1200 if the head gasket has gone!

geronamo

Ye I checked when I opened the oil cap it looked like a load of mayonaise at the top!!

Fu*k does that mean the head gasket is gone?? Also it is misfiring a small amount too

1200 euro?? no way is der cheaper way of fixing it? How long do you think it will last before it goes?

:(:(:(:(:(

lomb

Not necessarily head gasket if theres mayo on cap just a possibility, my audi TT has mayo and theres no blown gasket. It could be the breathers are blocked or alot of short journeys in cold weather. Why not try wiping the mayo off and seeing how long it takes to appear. Do you have a white exhaust trail when the engine is warm, with that kind of loss you might if the gasket is shot?
The acid test is probably putting your finger in the coolant tank after youve filled it and ran it for a bit and 'feel' the water, if its oily then 100% your gasket is gone.

Are there drips under the car when starting from cold? If so could be water pump or rad.

geronamo

Anyone any idea how much it would cost to get HG replaced in 98 Audi A3.

Can I keep driving on it for a while if I keep topping up coolent!!


Looses coolent rapidly!!

lomb

Aye the misfire is bad could be the gasket alright if water is leaking into the combustion chamber.
Another sure way to tell, is leave it overnight, and if its difficult to start then again water has leaked in, another is power loss, as you lose compression. Give it full power and see if it seems short?

bryaner

Better off not driving it, I'd take a pop at around €400 for a decent indy with a good OE head set supplied like elring or reinz..

geronamo

No the missfire isnt dat bad at all just in the small gears den disspaers wen going fast!!

The temp gauge varies from 70-90 degrees.

Its not hard to start up the next day?

Does any of this info help, I really hope its not the HG i cudnt afford to replace that!!
:(:(:(:(

Alanstrainor

geronamo wrote: »

Anyone any idea how much it would cost to get HG replaced in 98 Audi A3.

Can I keep driving on it for a while if I keep topping up coolent!!


Looses coolent rapidly!!

Threads merged. You're better of keeping these together in one thread rather than spreading them all over the shop/

bryaner

lomb wrote: »

Not necessarily head gasket if theres mayo on cap just a possibility, my audi TT has mayo and theres no blown gasket. It could be the breathers are blocked or alot of short journeys in cold weather. Why not try wiping the mayo off and seeing how long it takes to appear. Do you have a white exhaust trail when the engine is warm, with that kind of loss you might if the gasket is shot?
The acid test is probably putting your finger in the coolant tank after youve filled it and ran it for a bit and 'feel' the water, if its oily then 100% your gasket is gone.

Are there drips under the car when starting from cold? If so could be water pump or rad.

That only happens when the gasket blows beside the oil gallery..