Coolant leak help (pics)

**azeller22** · 11-01-2008 09:04 PM

I noticed small puddles would form underneath the car so today after I drove the car, I pulled the belly pan and saw some orange crust on 1 of the oil pan bolts on the passenger side but I didn't see any wet coolant. I let the car sit and after about a half hour I still didn't see any coolant. I came back 2 hours later and then saw a coolant drop sitting on the center oil pan bolt that you see in the pictures. I see that there is a little trail coming down the side of the engine block (the flashlight in the picture is pointing at it) but I see no wet coolant anywhere else. I see there is orange crust under the auxilary water pump but I expected that since I see wet coolant down below on the oil pump bolt I would also see some wet coolant under the aux pump.

Obviously, since there is orange crust under the aux pump, it has been leaking, But could the coolant I see down below be coming from somewhere else?

It just baffles me that I see the wet coolant trail on the oil pan bolt but I don't see any wet coolant under the aux pump.

Front to rear photo

Passenger side looking to driver side

Flashlight pointing at the block where I see a trail of fluid

**Affinitive** · 11-01-2008 10:10 PM

I would suspect the thermostat seal or maybe one of the two hoses that hooks up to the thermostat housing.

C

**drexplode** · 11-01-2008 10:45 PM

NO freakin way! I had a similar problem on friday.

My root cause from the audi doctor = hose on the back of the auxilary water pump. My baby should be up and running by Mon/Tues. cost = ~150-200 to fix.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243839

Edit - when i opened the over-fill reservoir (hot or cold engine), it literally poured out.

**1997gtx** · 11-01-2008 10:57 PM

Doesn't seem to be a big enough leak to be the aux. pump ... as the others have said, I would think it's likely just a hose going to the pump. Are you losing any significant amount of coolant?
--Adam

**azeller22** · 11-02-2008 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by 1997gtx

Doesn't seem to be a big enough leak to be the aux. pump ... as the others have said, I would think it's likely just a hose going to the pump. Are you losing any significant amount of coolant?
--Adam

I probably put in about a cup of coolant per week.

**1997gtx** · 11-02-2008 10:53 AM

Ah -- then that is a bit more than a 'small' leak. I would venture to say it's your aux. pump.
--Adam

**azeller22** · 11-02-2008 11:01 AM

I looked again today and I now see the crust under the aux pump is moist. WHere can I get the best deal on the aux pump and where can I get the relocation kit?

**1997gtx** · 11-02-2008 11:06 AM

^ Sorry, I can't help you there. Dealership replaced mine and relocated it. PM Daft -- I believe he should have the info you need
--Adam

**Muck_and_Grind** · 11-02-2008 12:34 PM

i was putting in 4liters a day or more. now the engine is out and waiting for the heads to get done. i hope they weren't warped that bad.

**readimag** · 11-02-2008 12:51 PM

damn those are bad leaks mine only leaked under WOT and it was quarter sized after about a month.

**Longfist86** · 11-02-2008 01:58 PM

check the rear coolant flange. those usually go

**djs** · 11-02-2008 02:19 PM

^ What he said. I have the 1.8T B6 and my rear coolant flange is currently leaking.

**azeller22** · 11-02-2008 07:44 PM

I'm used to small block chevy's. These motors sure have a lot going on. I just got done pulling and reinstalling the aux pump while leaving the intake manifold in place. (It will definitely be easier and faster the next time I have to do it. For this being the first time it took me about 2 hrs with the longest part being getting the hoses on and off). I took the aux pump apart and noticed the o-ring was bad so I removed the o-ring and siliconed the pump and put it back together. I will be letting the silicone sit for 24 hrs and will be driving the car tomorrow. The leak should now be cured!