It May Be So Long for my Audi

**a4justin** · 09-20-2008 05:47 AM

She started over heating on thursday. Friday she seemed ok but later in the day she started overheating again. I checked the belts to see if something was broken but no cigar. Cooling fans come on as well. I'm thinking its the thermostat or the water pump...maybe both. The oil light occasionally started appearing after a sea-foam cycle. Today she overheated and when i parked it the reservoir was bubbling and it looked like a blackish color had started to form in there. I'm hoping not because the only thing i can think of is oil got in there some how and thats a big no no for me.

Is there anything I can look at the try and figure out what it is...before i take her to the stealership?

**djwimbo** · 09-20-2008 10:32 AM

Avoid the dealer if you can. Talk to some people in your area and find a reputable independent shop that does good work.

That being said. Are you a 1.8T or 2.8L? Either way, the first and most obvious place to look is the oil cooler. It's the most common place for oil and coolant to mix in our cars. They're not too pricey, or too difficult to replace either.

Besides something being seriously wrong (cracked block or head) the other place they could mix is at the head gasket. Unless you overheated the hell out of it, I doubt that's the issue.

EDIT: Are you still on a stock water pump with a plastic impellar? Depending on the engine/engine code makes a difference on the ease of replacement. Those plastic impellars are junk and should only be replaced with a metal one.

**a4justin** · 09-20-2008 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by djwimbo

Avoid the dealer if you can. Talk to some people in your area and find a reputable independent shop that does good work.

That being said. Are you a 1.8T or 2.8L? Either way, the first and most obvious place to look is the oil cooler. It's the most common place for oil and coolant to mix in our cars. They're not too pricey, or too difficult to replace either.

Besides something being seriously wrong (cracked block or head) the other place they could mix is at the head gasket. Unless you overheated the hell out of it, I doubt that's the issue.

EDIT: Are you still on a stock water pump with a plastic impellar? Depending on the engine/engine code makes a difference on the ease of replacement. Those plastic impellars are junk and should only be replaced with a metal one.

THanks for replying in here man I really appreciate it. My car is 1.8t and i'm still on the stock water pump. i dont think and i hope my block is cracked, i haven't seen any leaks no oil etc. Engine is AEB all stock. I'm thinking it could be a head gasket too. I can only imagine how much that is.

It got hot enough for my coolant light to come on. I'm thinking it could be the oil cooler but would htat make it run hott too?

**Jibberific** · 09-20-2008 11:36 AM

don't give up so easily. get a head gasket and gather your tools and have at it.

**Poopie** · 09-20-2008 12:59 PM

if the coolant and oil are mixing you may have a bad head gasket or a bad oil cooler.

**B518T** · 09-20-2008 01:18 PM

take it to your local audi tech...it may be an easy fix....do not try to start tghe car...just have it towed....

**Jibberific** · 09-20-2008 01:26 PM

i'm not trying to claim that a head gasket is a super easy job or anything. but if you were able to fix it yourself you would only have to buy the gasket and other small stuff. if you went to the dealership it would cost a shit load. i'm not sure how much exactly, but it would be a lot.

**djwimbo** · 09-20-2008 01:53 PM

That oil cooler is a very simple job. It basically requires an oil change, plus a couple extra parts and only a couple extra tools.

I don't know if there's a DIY or not, but I'd definitely give that a try before I'd condemn the head gasket or the water pump. I think the last one I did took ~20mins to replace on a 1.8T.

**Toyotatech** · 09-20-2008 03:48 PM

If you do the head gasket make sure to use a straight edge to verify the head didn't warp from over heating and have it plained down if it did warp. Easy enough job to do.

**audiness** · 09-20-2008 04:45 PM

oil cooler is my guess. It's not that hard to replace

**Two A's** · 09-20-2008 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Jibberific

i'm not trying to claim that a head gasket is a super easy job or anything. but if you were able to fix it yourself you would only have to buy the gasket and other small stuff. if you went to the dealership it would cost a shit load. i'm not sure how much exactly, but it would be a lot.

My head gasket went on mine and the dealership quoted me $1900. If you look hard enough you should be able to find someone to do it for half the price. Otherwise for a few bucks you can test your mechanic skills and do it yourself in about 3-5 hours if you have not done it before.

**a4justin** · 09-22-2008 12:36 PM

$6457.68 is the total to replace all that is wrong........

$1400 is the water pump + timing belt.

**crono35** · 09-22-2008 01:06 PM

what did they say is "all that is wrong"?

While i don't think 3-5 hours is reasonable for a first timer, you should be able to do your timing belt/water pump/head gasket in about 10 hrs total. The two jobs share much of the same labor (taking off front end, accessory belts, timing belt, etc). Shouldn't cost more that $400 for all the parts, assuming you go OE for most of it. While you're in there you might as well replace your TB tensioner, accessory belts, valve cover gasket, and intake/exhaust gaskets. Just get a full gasket set and replace everything that you can get to. Don't forget to get coolant and new head bolts as well.