Red fluid leak

[Max8v]

Hi all,

Need your help. There is a red oil fluid leaking and it looks like it is coming from below the generator. Please see picture below. Front intercooler hose and front oil pan is dirty. By looking at plastic under tray I can see that it is coming from the front passenger side.

Car is Audi A3 2016. 2.0t

Does anybody know what it can be? I am thinking maybe transmission oil cooler?

Appreciate your input guys

[MikTip]

Hi all,

Need your help. There is a red oil fluid leaking and it looks like it is coming from below the generator. Please see picture below. Front intercooler hose and front oil pan is dirty. By looking at plastic under tray I can see that it is coming from the front passenger side.

Car is Audi A3 2016. 2.0t

Does anybody know what it can be? I am thinking maybe transmission oil cooler?

Appreciate your input guys

Anti-freeze

Trans oil is light golden brown...and its collwer is on drivers side under battery

[drift194]

Hi all,

Need your help. There is a red oil fluid leaking and it looks like it is coming from below the generator. Please see picture below. Front intercooler hose and front oil pan is dirty. By looking at plastic under tray I can see that it is coming from the front passenger side.

Car is Audi A3 2016. 2.0t

Does anybody know what it can be? I am thinking maybe transmission oil cooler?

Appreciate your input guys

Had the same thing on my 2015 A3. It’s antifreeze.


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[Max8v]

Would the antifreeze be like oil? And what was the fix for you guys?

[drift194]

Antifreeze isn’t really oil like. Check the antifreeze reservoir to see the level of the antifreeze. Also my fix was the water pump / thermostat.


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[Max8v]

Antifreeze isn’t really oil like. Check the antifreeze reservoir to see the level of the antifreeze. Also my fix was the water pump / thermostat.


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Yea sounds good. Ill check it. Thank you for the info!

[Sv2k]

Water pump and thermostat housing are known problems on the mqb cars. I think thermostat is on the passenger side of the engine in the front and underneath intake manifold and pump is closer to the driver side. It’s a known problem and you should be able to find detailed info to troubleshoot the issue or replace either pump or thermostat. Good luck!


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[aaronc7]

Yep.... all of us have this issue. I just replaced my thermostat while I had the intake manifold off for MPI

[Max8v]

You guys are great! I guess my audi decided to wish me a happy New Year like this lol.

[rowlands57]

I hope someday there is another class action suit against Audi for this vehicle so I can recoup the $1,100 this poor design cost me. I know a case was won against VW for essentially the same thing. The fact that this has happened to so many owners of a relatively expensive vehicle is unacceptable IMO.

[hpclayto]

Yep.... all of us have this issue. I just replaced my thermostat while I had the intake manifold off for MPI

I got my S3 used with 40k miles. I’m pushing 60k and have had no issues yet. Is it safe to assume it had thermostat and water pump done before I got it are am I due for a failure?

[bakedcorn]

I got my S3 used with 40k miles. I’m pushing 60k and have had no issues yet. Is it safe to assume it had thermostat and water pump done before I got it are am I due for a failure?

Lol, I ask myself this same question each week, I too have 61300km on her now. Had to fill up the coolant reservoir as the low coolant warning came on....second time in 5 years of ownership. I think we are both living on borrowed time.


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[aaronc7]

My leak was very very slow.. it was not an actual issue, but it was slowly leaking. It was just a no brainer to do while I was there. Definitely wouldn't go thru the hassle/money to replace it by itself unless it was actually causing issues. Overtime you could start to see some dried coolant on the oil pan and the path between that and the thermostat itself.

[XMetal]

I got my S3 used with 40k miles. I’m pushing 60k and have had no issues yet. Is it safe to assume it had thermostat and water pump done before I got it are am I due for a failure?

Why are you worried about it if you're already pushing 60k miles and no issues yet? You're almost ready for a coolant system refresh (waterpump, thermostat, hoses, etc.) at that mileage anyway.

[xander3zero]

I know these forums are obsessed with premature maintenance but if you're not having issues at 60k miles:

A) don't worry about it
B) definitely dont just replace the water pump/thermostat/hoses for no reason...

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[hpclayto]

I know these forums are obsessed with premature maintenance but if you're not having issues at 60k miles:

A) don't worry about it
B) definitely dont just replace the water pump/thermostat/hoses for no reason...

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I never said that I was worried about it or that I was going to be replacing anything. Just asking a question.

[xander3zero]

I never said that I was worried about it or that I was going to be replacing anything. Just asking a question.

My comment was more directed at those suggesting that you're due to replace all that stuff soon.

Sorry if I seemed aggressive lol!

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[Max8v]

A little Update with my Audi. I checked underneath my oil pan and it dried white, so it is safe to assume that it is an antifreeze. I will be taking her apart after New Years and will be ordering new Water/Thermostat pump assy.

Ill keep you guys posted.

[rowlands57]

I know these forums are obsessed with premature maintenance but if you're not having issues at 60k miles:

A) don't worry about it
B) definitely dont just replace the water pump/thermostat/hoses for no reason...

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What amazes me is how many people consider the water pump a maintenance item at that mileage. I have had POS cars growing up and water pumps were the last things I'd worry about, much less consider a maintenance item. I had to replace mine at approx 60K and found it to be completely unacceptable for a an 'upscale' brand.

Maybe it's me, because I'm not a fan-boi, but I think Audi should be on the hook for this at least til 100K miles. I know there have been other successful class action suits with similar engines in the past, maybe our turn will come as it seems this is something they still have not figured out.

[xander3zero]

What amazes me is how many people consider the water pump a maintenance item at that mileage. I have had POS cars growing up and water pumps were the last things I'd worry about, much less consider a maintenance item. I had to replace mine at approx 60K and found it to be completely unacceptable for a an 'upscale' brand.

Maybe it's me, because I'm not a fan-boi, but I think Audi should be on the hook for this at least til 100K miles. I know there have been other successful class action suits with similar engines in the past, maybe our turn will come as it seems this is something they still have not figured out.

It is true, Audi cannot seem to figure out water pumps lol.

My B7 A4 and B8.5 Allroad both had failures. My S3 only has 25k miles but if it does fail hopefully it will be within warranty.

My new thing with audis is just to really value the warranty period and expect maintenance costs to soar once you're out of warranty. I plan to drive the S3 for 3-4 years and move on to another low-mile CPO, rinse and repeat.

I love Audi's, I cannot stay away even with the high maintenance costs.

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[Max8v]

A6281372-AFE1-4E9E-9BAC-9CCD31B3F3E0.jpgC4D00EB7-9B80-4E4B-B6F8-6E57EB70FC92.jpg527BE838-201F-4360-BA06-B6261E7B890A.jpg9E648E16-42EF-4924-900F-8209FCC45A17.jpgEC16BA5E-374A-4D56-B28A-A09831F2886A.jpg30313E33-F163-4817-916C-8362818137DF.jpg33B64702-5EE5-4297-88E2-C299C258E409.jpgUpdate: took off the water pump and found where it was leaking from. Basically it started leaking from a rubber gasket that insulates the antifreeze inside thermostat and electrical motor and electrical board that moves all the components within. That gasket is round shape and it is pressed on the shaft. As shaft moves it wears off the gasket and it starts leaking. Ordered a new thermostat housing which is a $157 part. Not too bad.