Coolant leaking out of Intake Manifold Bottom?

**jaynyce** · 01-11-2009 02:56 AM

Whats up guys, for awhile not I have been smelling the scent of Coolant in my Engine Bay but haven't seen a leak on the floor. Well now since i don't drive the car i decided to start it and do some cleaning while its at rest. I looked at the Coolant Reservoir and saw it was below the minimum mark, weeks before it was filled to the top. Okay so now I looked around the area to see where it was leaking from and i saw its slowly leaking out of the base where the Intake Manifold gets bolted down to the head. Now I'm no expert but is this minor that I'm seeing? Is it the Gasket needing to be replaced? Help the car is still a baby with only 30k miles

**dirtybrd** · 01-11-2009 06:10 AM

No coolant goes thru the intake. You need to run it and see if you can locate the leak, most commonly it's the coolant flange on the back of the head.

**old guy** · 01-11-2009 07:01 AM

Also take a look under your engine cover at the hard coolant line that runs front to back directly above the manifold. There is a bleeder valve located in the middle of the line that is prone to leaking. It may be running down the intake runner.

**jaynyce** · 01-11-2009 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by old guy

Also take a look under your engine cover at the hard coolant line that runs front to back directly above the manifold. There is a bleeder valve located in the middle of the line that is prone to leaking. It may be running down the intake runner.

i do see that same leak on the pipe with the breather. However i do see the leak and the stain it left right below the Manifold. Im worried because i think think a head job is not my pockets at the moment. also i head a weird Boiling noise when the car is on in th engine bay

**HeymyAudi** · 01-11-2009 07:44 AM

I can tell you that my car hates Coolant.... every problem I ever had with mine had to do with loosing coolant.....

- Check your thermostat
- Visit This Thread !!!

**tafc1383** · 01-11-2009 08:46 AM

pressure test your coolant system its the easiest way to find a leak

**1/4 scale** · 01-11-2009 10:42 AM

I thought our intakes were heated?

**dirtybrd** · 01-11-2009 11:55 AM

Our intakes manifolds are just that, air intakes. They have no fluids running thru them.

**jaynyce** · 01-11-2009 01:37 PM

why does that little breather leak? I think I might just end up going to a damn shop and get my ass ripped off again

**Audi Skate Snow** · 01-11-2009 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by jaynyce

why does that little breather leak? I think I might just end up going to a damn shop and get my ass ripped off again

it usually does, but most the time when the coolant dries up it will seal it back up again

**jaynyce** · 01-11-2009 02:20 PM

Tuesday when i take my wheels off to ship them out, I will Inspect the area again once more before

**mmccollum** · 01-11-2009 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by jaynyce

i do see that same leak on the pipe with the breather. However i do see the leak and the stain it left right below the Manifold. Im worried because i think think a head job is not my pockets at the moment. also i head a weird Boiling noise when the car is on in th engine bay

Is that an actual crack in the pipe below the breather hole thats leaking?.. or is it just me..

**dirtybrd** · 01-11-2009 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by jaynyce

Tuesday when i take my wheels off to ship them out, I will Inspect the area again once more before

Damn, I wanted them so bad. Someone here buy them?

**Domnf15** · 09-20-2010 09:16 PM

Realize I'm bumping an old thread but I have *exactly* the problem seen in the photo you posted, old guy. Can you give some pointers as to how to fix it? Do I just unscrew the existing one and go buy a new one? Or does this bleeder leak because of some other issue, like a bad thermostat or something?

Here's links to photos I took tonight:

http://www.dantesgiftbaskets.com/coolant/

**A4 Moda** · 09-20-2010 09:23 PM

If you're leaking from the coolant Hardpipe in Old Guy's picture, then yes you will likely need a new bolt. However, because repeated use of that bolt causes the bolt to wear and even screw in past the threads and get stuck in the pipe. So the alternative was to get a bolt with a hex head on it so that the shank can never go past the threads and into the pipe. Plus this way you have more leverage to open and close the bolt too.

GL.

Also, for people who have phantom coolant smells, there is a flange/bung/plug that goes right ON the thermostat that deteriorates with time and heat. That can be easily "easily" (qualified by relative levels of comfort and/or laziness when it comes to wrenching) accessed and replaced. You can see it from the side of the intake manifold or through the top of the intake manifold through to the thermostat.

Hope that helps.

**mankytron** · 09-21-2010 06:37 AM

If it's coming from under the intake it is most likely the "J plug" or the thermostat housing. I found the easiest access to them is to pull the intake bolts and flip it out of the way. Then you can at least see what you are working on.