So im missing coolant.. who do I blame?

[Frey7190]

I did back like 6k ago a coolant flush.. I used this "any make, G12 approved" prestone coolant that was green.. Unfortunately I didnt do so great of a job getting all the pink one out cuz when I filled the car with the Prestone one the green got some pink along the way and so I have a green/pink looking mix.. What ever it does the job.. BUT yesterday while Old Guy was helping me out with my headlights I noticed I was below the MIN line by like a 1/2 inch! So I didn't know what to fill it with since I used up all the coolant that remained back then, so I grabbed like 2 arrowhead water bottles and filled it.. Is that ok? or will the car start to have problems with that? The temp gauge today never went past half (even when i was on the freeway going 85) What really is irking me is where the leak is! I checked the bleeder valve.. its ok... all the hoses were clamped shut and their were no leaks anywhere!

My question is; can a 50/50 mix of generic "g12" approved coolant with water evaporate within the car's coolant system?

[Sharkfin]

I pm'd you, please respond

[Frey7190]

^^ when?.. my inbox is empty

[Sharkfin]

weird, I'll send another

[onceover]

wait, you mixed pink and green?

BAD idea. when they mix they turn into sludge

[UGwagen]

top off with distilled water

GO buy some G12 coolant, the real G12 coolant, ie dealership, Pentosin, etc.

Do a thorough flush of the entire cooling system.

Refill with G12 & distilled water, 50/50 mix

[Frey7190]

well so far it hasnt sludged up... mainly b/c it was G12 approved.. BUT im at 66k and in 4k im having the TB done and valves + lifters replaced so since it will be at audi for that repair ill assume their gonna use the G12 OEM stuff.. for now though I dont plan on replacing it...

Will my bottled water I put in evaporate since it just water and not coolant?

[Frey7190]

top off with distilled water

GO buy some G12 coolant, the real G12 coolant, ie dealership, Pentosin, etc.

Do a thorough flush of the entire cooling system.

Refill with G12 & distilled water, 50/50 mix

what the difference with distelled vs. bottled filtered water?? I only use distilled in my battery when the levels get low..

[onceover]

no, it should mix with the coolant and not evaporate.

even if you had pure water in there, the system should be air tight and therefore not evaporate

[Frey7190]

^^ thats what I thought... but coolant just doesnt appear there in the tank one day and a week later be missing lol haha...




I will have to hire the pink panther maybe he can find the coolant thief...

[onceover]

could be a small leak almost anywhere...

[SpacemanSpiff]

I'm new here, so it could probably be any number of things I've yet to read about. This looked interesting however:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=coolant+smell

I can smell coolant on my car occasionally as well, so once the weather warms up, I'll be digging in/giving it a look.

[Frey7190]

^^thing is I dont smell coolant and when i did the oil change 300miles ago it was at norm level.. weird.. maybe its cuz it has been like 90* over here in socal

[BlackB6]

Coolant leak somewhere.

[Frey7190]

^^ yupp thats for sure.. the trick is finding it lol.. Ill keep you posted

[dougyfresh]

Have you investigated your rear coolant flange on the back of the cylinder head? Very common failure location and it takes a while to manifest itself depending on where that flange cracks (mine cracked at the o-ring).

G12 also 'cakes' up when its leaking to atmosphere. Check all your lines for signs of a leak somewhere. I know the seal on my heater core to that hard line that runs under the intake manifold was leaking for a while. It leaked enough to seal up so its okay now.

[B6Lovin]

Have you investigated your rear coolant flange on the back of the cylinder head? Very common failure location and it takes a while to manifest itself depending on where that flange cracks (mine cracked at the o-ring).

G12 also 'cakes' up when its leaking to atmosphere. Check all your lines for signs of a leak somewhere. I know the seal on my heater core to that hard line that runs under the intake manifold was leaking for a while. It leaked enough to seal up so its okay now.

a couple lines on my car are that way lol