2014 A7 3.0 with 106k miles. I smell coolant. Where to start?

[dafried]

Hi All,

It recently turned cooler here in Sunny AZ and I now smell coolant after a 30 minute drive home from work. Temps have been as cold as 36 at night here in the Valley of the Sun but my car is garaged. Temps while driving are typically in the 50-60 degree range.

I popped the hood and poked around with my flashlight and saw nothing. Nothing on the ground.

Where should I begin my troubleshooting quest?

Thanks in advance

[xanmato]

You can use an inspection mirror to look in the valley below the supercharger. Another place is a leaking coolant reservoir, at the very bottom you may see something. A UV light helps a lot as dried coolant turns white and is easily spotted.

Or, you go cuckoo like me tring to find it and coming up with nothing. Mine gives off just a whiff of coolant smell after a long drive, with no coolant loss and no pressure loss on 3+ day pressure tests.

[gk1]

Also check the coolant pump or down below the crank pully on the block or belly pan for any wetness/coolant residue.

[JRYtheS4]

Just did my water pump in my 3.0. found drips of coolant down near the crank pulley. Water pump seal failed. Didn't smell it in the cabin though that's kinda odd. Makes me think it's gotta be a leak around the coolant tank. Can drip and burn up on the exhaust.

Sent from my LGUS997 using Audizine Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

[430hps4]

I'm off Greenway and Tatum. Bring it by Wednesday, I can help you figure it out.

[jrhgto]

There is a small plastic coolant pipe under the supercharger. First noticed coolant misting on the right front side of the engine down below, then eventually larger coolant loss before I replaced it.

[Valpo A7]

Take a look at the front of the engine just below the supercharger pulley and look to see if you have any seepage from the where the water pump mates to the block.

[dafried]

I can't thank all of you enough for the great suggestions!

430hps4 that's a generous offer but I can't make it Wed. Of course today I drove from Carefree to Scottsdale and the 101 to the west side and no smell.

I will go hard at it late tonight and see what I can find out.

Again - you are all appreciated for the quick and well experienced advice.

Ill keep you posted and try to post pix too.

[430hps4]

If you change your mind, or get a Wednesday freed up, let me know. We can pull the charger off pretty quick, and get a real good look.

[dafried]

I appreciate you, sir. I manage a substantial real estate firm here and we are (most gratefully) extremely busy. I already have a full schedule tomorrow.

[430hps4]

I can always toss you one of mine to borrow for the day... just a thought...

[sepheroth86]

I can always toss you one of mine to borrow for the day... just a thought...

Holy shit! That is one hell of an offer.

AZ members sure seem to be a classy group.

[dafried]

OK So it's been forever and I owe all of you the courtesy of an update. I'm sorry for the long wait.

I'll try to keep this short.

I have gotten downright proficient at removing the Supercharger. I can now do it safely in about 7 minutes. First time took forever.

Once off, I observed a little coolant near the thermostat (original part). Considering my A7 had 108k miles, and AZ summer was coming, I decided to do a lot of replacement of related parts.

I replaced everything of concern under the SC. The thermostat, PCV valve, the plastic coolant crossover pipe, all fuel injector gaskets etc. I also already had the car in "service mode" on jacks, so I decided to replace all pulleys, water pump, belts, two coolant hoses and also the plastic coolant crossover pipe in the front. I am sure that not ALL of those parts were failing but honestly they lasted 100k miles in AZ heat. No sense in taking chances. I'm that guy that leaves his car idling with the AC blasting in 115 degree heat while I go grocery shopping.

The results were great and I was very proud of myself - for about 5 days.

Then I was driving from my office in Carefree back home when the Coolant warning came on. I immediately pulled over and shut off. I called AAA for a tow and while I waited I hooked up my VCDS. It was already in my car. I determined that the coolant temp did not get crazy, so I felt a little better but still was wracking my brain trying to guess what I could have done wrong.

Once home I started removing belts and as I reached down to remove one of them the Crankshaft Pulley spun. WTF - I thought. That can't be right!. I discovered that I should have replaced that around 80k miles, per a lot of other people's experience. I replaced it and my car has been running like a new one ever since.

If you don't know about the crankshaft pulley, it is two metal pieces attached with a rubber piece. This is common in all cars with auto stop/start, not just ours. I assume it helps to damper the shock of starting at a light.

I took a million pictures of every aspect of this job. I will gladly share them with anyone who needs them.

My sincere thanks again to the generous members here. Particularly 430hps4, who was willing to sweat this problem out with me.