Emergency coolant problem
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
heater core failure?
On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:54:54 -0800, "No Spam Please"
<Justsaynoto@spam.com> wrote:
>Safe thing is to just add plain water, the VW/Audi antifreezes can gel if
>they are mixed with something incompatible.
>
>Coolant loss might be a heater core failure.
>
>"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>news:a8rbo2t1o1e5no0l49q7jl4h5s7dno8cb4@4ax.com.. .
>> I've got a 99.5 V6 A4 Quattro. 100k miles, timing chain and water pump
>> changed at 80k. Oil recently changed by a new shop--good rep, but
>> unknown competence to me.
>>
>> I've got to drive 400 miles tommorow and just today discovered that
>> the coolant level in the tank is quite low, perhaps 1.5 inches below
>> the minimum mark with engine cold. Normal temp readings, no warnings
>> during running.
>>
>> I thought I had been smelling coolant on occasion but put it off
>> stupidly till finally noticing the low level today. Must be a leak,
>> but can I get away with topping off with Prestone Extended life or
>> Havoline Dex-cool or whatever to get through this trip, then have my
>> shop fully address the prob upon return? Should I dilute 50/50 with
>> water for that small top off quantity?
>> Dave
>>
>>
>
>
outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
heater core failure?
On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:54:54 -0800, "No Spam Please"
<Justsaynoto@spam.com> wrote:
>Safe thing is to just add plain water, the VW/Audi antifreezes can gel if
>they are mixed with something incompatible.
>
>Coolant loss might be a heater core failure.
>
>"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>news:a8rbo2t1o1e5no0l49q7jl4h5s7dno8cb4@4ax.com.. .
>> I've got a 99.5 V6 A4 Quattro. 100k miles, timing chain and water pump
>> changed at 80k. Oil recently changed by a new shop--good rep, but
>> unknown competence to me.
>>
>> I've got to drive 400 miles tommorow and just today discovered that
>> the coolant level in the tank is quite low, perhaps 1.5 inches below
>> the minimum mark with engine cold. Normal temp readings, no warnings
>> during running.
>>
>> I thought I had been smelling coolant on occasion but put it off
>> stupidly till finally noticing the low level today. Must be a leak,
>> but can I get away with topping off with Prestone Extended life or
>> Havoline Dex-cool or whatever to get through this trip, then have my
>> shop fully address the prob upon return? Should I dilute 50/50 with
>> water for that small top off quantity?
>> Dave
>>
>>
>
>
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 07:33:41 -0500, DaveH <ddhartwick@earthlink.net>
wrote:
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
>outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
>heater core failure?
>
In that case, perhaps not. Maybe a hose, leaking water pump, or
leaking radiator.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator, and pump it up over night. Next
AM check to see if you see seepage.
wrote:
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
>outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
>heater core failure?
>
In that case, perhaps not. Maybe a hose, leaking water pump, or
leaking radiator.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator, and pump it up over night. Next
AM check to see if you see seepage.
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 07:33:41 -0500, DaveH <ddhartwick@earthlink.net>
wrote:
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
>outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
>heater core failure?
>
In that case, perhaps not. Maybe a hose, leaking water pump, or
leaking radiator.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator, and pump it up over night. Next
AM check to see if you see seepage.
wrote:
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
>outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
>heater core failure?
>
In that case, perhaps not. Maybe a hose, leaking water pump, or
leaking radiator.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator, and pump it up over night. Next
AM check to see if you see seepage.
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 07:33:41 -0500, DaveH <ddhartwick@earthlink.net>
wrote:
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
>outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
>heater core failure?
>
In that case, perhaps not. Maybe a hose, leaking water pump, or
leaking radiator.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator, and pump it up over night. Next
AM check to see if you see seepage.
wrote:
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
>outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
>heater core failure?
>
In that case, perhaps not. Maybe a hose, leaking water pump, or
leaking radiator.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator, and pump it up over night. Next
AM check to see if you see seepage.
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 07:33:41 -0500, DaveH <ddhartwick@earthlink.net>
wrote:
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
>outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
>heater core failure?
>
In that case, perhaps not. Maybe a hose, leaking water pump, or
leaking radiator.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator, and pump it up over night. Next
AM check to see if you see seepage.
wrote:
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
>outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
>heater core failure?
>
In that case, perhaps not. Maybe a hose, leaking water pump, or
leaking radiator.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator, and pump it up over night. Next
AM check to see if you see seepage.
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:sh2do2ht209ot4085kh09a1bc7kmjsoues@4ax.com...
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
> outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
> heater core failure?
>
Possibly. When I had my heater core fail, it actually leaked out around the
firewall in the engine compartment and onto the ground.
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:sh2do2ht209ot4085kh09a1bc7kmjsoues@4ax.com...
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
> outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
> heater core failure?
>
Possibly. When I had my heater core fail, it actually leaked out around the
firewall in the engine compartment and onto the ground.
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:sh2do2ht209ot4085kh09a1bc7kmjsoues@4ax.com...
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
> outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
> heater core failure?
>
Possibly. When I had my heater core fail, it actually leaked out around the
firewall in the engine compartment and onto the ground.
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:sh2do2ht209ot4085kh09a1bc7kmjsoues@4ax.com...
>I do not smell coolant inside the car with heater on or off--only
> outside and around the engine compartment. Would you still suspect
> heater core failure?
>
Possibly. When I had my heater core fail, it actually leaked out around the
firewall in the engine compartment and onto the ground.
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Emergency coolant problem
Well, the best thing is probably to get your leak fixed. But you did say
you were short on time.
You could buy a gallon of G12 and mix up 2 gallons of 50-50 mix with water
and take those with you. G12 runs about $22/gallon around here, always in
stock it seems.
"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:0k1do2le0mt97h506h99orud3r31d4ol6k@4ax.com...
> Understood on using distilled water, but I assume the best ting to use
> would be the G12 type coolant Audi specifies in the manual? I may be
> able to get some from a local shop.
>
> I wonder how much adding say a quart of distilled water will increase
> the coolants freezing point? I doubt I'll encounter temps lower than
> 20 F on this trip?
> Dave
>
>
> On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:54:15 -0800, "No Spam Please"
> <Justsaynoto@spam.com> wrote:
>
>>Safe thing is to just add plain water, the VW/Audi antifreezes can gel if
>>they are mixed with something incompatible.
>>
>>Coolant loss might be a heater core failure.
>>
>>"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>news:a8rbo2t1o1e5no0l49q7jl4h5s7dno8cb4@4ax.com. ..
>>> I've got a 99.5 V6 A4 Quattro. 100k miles, timing chain and water pump
>>> changed at 80k. Oil recently changed by a new shop--good rep, but
>>> unknown competence to me.
>>>
>>> I've got to drive 400 miles tommorow and just today discovered that
>>> the coolant level in the tank is quite low, perhaps 1.5 inches below
>>> the minimum mark with engine cold. Normal temp readings, no warnings
>>> during running.
>>>
>>> I thought I had been smelling coolant on occasion but put it off
>>> stupidly till finally noticing the low level today. Must be a leak,
>>> but can I get away with topping off with Prestone Extended life or
>>> Havoline Dex-cool or whatever to get through this trip, then have my
>>> shop fully address the prob upon return? Should I dilute 50/50 with
>>> water for that small top off quantity?
>>> Dave
>>>
>>>
>>
>
you were short on time.
You could buy a gallon of G12 and mix up 2 gallons of 50-50 mix with water
and take those with you. G12 runs about $22/gallon around here, always in
stock it seems.
"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:0k1do2le0mt97h506h99orud3r31d4ol6k@4ax.com...
> Understood on using distilled water, but I assume the best ting to use
> would be the G12 type coolant Audi specifies in the manual? I may be
> able to get some from a local shop.
>
> I wonder how much adding say a quart of distilled water will increase
> the coolants freezing point? I doubt I'll encounter temps lower than
> 20 F on this trip?
> Dave
>
>
> On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:54:15 -0800, "No Spam Please"
> <Justsaynoto@spam.com> wrote:
>
>>Safe thing is to just add plain water, the VW/Audi antifreezes can gel if
>>they are mixed with something incompatible.
>>
>>Coolant loss might be a heater core failure.
>>
>>"DaveH" <ddhartwick@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>news:a8rbo2t1o1e5no0l49q7jl4h5s7dno8cb4@4ax.com. ..
>>> I've got a 99.5 V6 A4 Quattro. 100k miles, timing chain and water pump
>>> changed at 80k. Oil recently changed by a new shop--good rep, but
>>> unknown competence to me.
>>>
>>> I've got to drive 400 miles tommorow and just today discovered that
>>> the coolant level in the tank is quite low, perhaps 1.5 inches below
>>> the minimum mark with engine cold. Normal temp readings, no warnings
>>> during running.
>>>
>>> I thought I had been smelling coolant on occasion but put it off
>>> stupidly till finally noticing the low level today. Must be a leak,
>>> but can I get away with topping off with Prestone Extended life or
>>> Havoline Dex-cool or whatever to get through this trip, then have my
>>> shop fully address the prob upon return? Should I dilute 50/50 with
>>> water for that small top off quantity?
>>> Dave
>>>
>>>
>>
>