Drove 7 miles with probably little to no coolant. Dodged a bullet?

[Velox]

I had a coolant leak as some of you might have read in my other thread.
The leak has been fixed.

The problem/leak started in the middle of the night and I had no phone with me.
I was about 6-7 miles away from home and decided to drive home,. Expecting to do some damage but used it as a good excuse for a new build engine with supercharger. Which is supposed to happen next year.
When home the car idled a bit rough and there was definetly a burn smell, so I was already expecting the worse,gasket, head waterpump etc.

But the car runs perfectly so far, no sludge in coolant, temp stays nice in the middle like always, no smoking exhaust
only noticeable thing is: oil was changed 3 days before the problem and now looks like dark oil that's due for a change.

It was a pretty huge leak so I dont think there was much coolant left when driving. I did drive very slowly.

But still seems pretty impossible that there is no damage at all? How much would/could the new oil have helped?

s4 b6 48kmiles

[jakeoboy67]

I'm finding it hard to believe that there was no damage done

[mdhagan]

When you're have a problem with the coolant system, the best thing is to keep low revs and a relatively constant speed when possible to keep cool air flowing over the engine, and to minimize time at a stop. How did the temp gauge behave on the drive home?


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[Velox]

The temp gauge was a little higher than normal but barely noticeable. I dont know if the reading is still accurate with llittle coolant in the system

[mdhagan]

That's why I was curious.
Sounds like you lucked out


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should have turned your heat on full blast as well to help keep temp down.

[jakeoboy67]

should have turned your heat on full blast as well to help keep temp down.

with so much coolant out of the system , I think the heater core would be completely empty

[Velox]

yes was probably empty. drove about 30 miles now. No problems. But like jakeoboy I'm finding it hard to believe there is no damage.

[diagnosticator]

With a lot of coolant loss, the first item that is usually damaged is the coolant pump. The pump uses a mechanical face seal to seal the pump shaft, and that type of seal requires being submerged in coolant to lubricate the two seal faces in sliding contact with each other. If the pump seal was damaged, it will typically start leaking after the system is refilled, but it may not leak immediately. Even if the pump seal was splash lubricated, the integrity of the face seal cannot be relied on as good. The coolant pump should be replaced now, to avoid the practically certain complete failure of the coolant pump sooner than later.

[Concavitor]

All depends on how much coolant was left and how hot it got. I had a leak and lost about half, but the temp needle never moved past half. You may have some damage.

[IslandHydro]

it really just comes down to how hot. did it blow steam? if not then it stayed below coolant boiling temp and you should be fine

[mdhagan]

But there probably wasn't coolant to boil or steam?


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[Velox]

With a lot of coolant loss, the first item that is usually damaged is the coolant pump. The pump uses a mechanical face seal to seal the pump shaft, and that type of seal requires being submerged in coolant to lubricate the two seal faces in sliding contact with each other. If the pump seal was damaged, it will typically start leaking after the system is refilled, but it may not leak immediately. Even if the pump seal was splash lubricated, the integrity of the face seal cannot be relied on as good. The coolant pump should be replaced now, to avoid the practically certain complete failure of the coolant pump sooner than later.

great info thanks, will order one , I see waterpumps are sold seperately but also as complete assembly with thermostate in housing. Do I need to replace the complete assembly? if not is it a lot more difficult to replace only the waterpump in stead of the whole assembly/housing?

[Velox]

Ok, im gonna buy the complete thermostat water pump assembly. Do I need to put the front end in service position, or remove the complete radiator to replace the waterpump/thermostat housing? also do I need to order extra seals/clamps/bolts?

[jakeoboy67]

Ok, im gonna buy the complete thermostat water pump assembly. Do I need to put the front end in service position, or remove the complete radiator to replace the waterpump/thermostat housing? also do I need to order extra seals/clamps/bolts?

removing the front end completely will give you alot more space than just service positon , but you will loose some(less if you can plug the holes quickly enough) p/s fluid and all your coolant (you're already draining it , no problem here)

[roboto_1337]

removing the front end completely will give you alot more space than just service positon , but you will loose some(less if you can plug the holes quickly enough) p/s fluid and all your coolant (you're already draining it , no problem here)

Is the water pump not driven off the timing chain?

[jakeoboy67]

Is the water pump not driven off the timing chain?

It's driven by a shaft that comes from the timing chains

[Velox]

removing the front end completely will give you alot more space than just service positon , but you will loose some(less if you can plug the holes quickly enough) p/s fluid and all your coolant (you're already draining it , no problem here)

Ok thank you, and do you have any experience with lock carrier tools like this https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben...04164sch01akt/ ? or would i still need to disconnect ps lines to get enough space then?

[jakeoboy67]

Ok thank you, and do you have any experience with lock carrier tools like this https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben...04164sch01akt/ ? or would i still need to disconnect ps lines to get enough space then?

when I put my car into "service position", I drop the lock carrier on 2 "stands" (usually 5 gal buckets lol), with the hoses still connected,
if you plan on lifting your car higher(on a hoist/lift), lock carrier tools come in handy (you don't need to support the front end anymore)

[Terry.Reese]

"Quote Originally Posted by Velox View Post
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben...04164sch01akt/
I need these in my life..lol

[Velox]

when I put my car into "service position", I drop the lock carrier on 2 "stands" (usually 5 gal buckets lol), with the hoses still connected,
if you plan on lifting your car higher(on a hoist/lift), lock carrier tools come in handy (you don't need to support the front end anymore)

Ok thank you will try in service position first, (i have buckets lol) if too little space, will remove front end.

[roboto_1337]

It's driven by a shaft that comes from the timing chains

similar to the A/C compressor?

[jakeoboy67]

similar to the A/C compressor?

from what I've read and seen, the shaft goes into the oil pump unit, then it goes into the waterpump

http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_377.pdf

page 15 in the RS4 self-study program