Overheating Issue
#1
10-29-2009 | 01:36 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3
Overheating Issue
I just recently got an A4 and it has been a blast to drive. Well until now.
About 3 weeks ago now my oil light came on briefly on my way to work. I set an appointment up for that Friday to get my oil changed. Well the day of getting on the on ramp the coolant light blinked for a second and I noticed my temp gauge was at nil. But as soon as the light went off temps went right back to normal. Well I get the oil change and I get told that my rear main seal may be leaking.as there is a lot of grime and buildup underneath my engine.
Well at work the following Monday I'm pulling from my spot and see a rather large oil spot. Which makes me concerned and I check levels and add some to try and get the car home. Well I get a few miles from the office and the car begins to overheat. Turn on the heater and it's blowing cold. Park the car get it towed to the house. Well after this I decided to try and replace the thermostat as it is the cheapest place to start. Well when I start draining the radiator it starts pouring out a lovely brown sludge. I read on here this usually is the result of using the incorrect coolant. I try and get this flushed out letting the car run for a few minus said thermostat.(I reattached the housing for this.) Durring this process the heater was blowing nice a warm like normal. Well after all this and I get the thermostat back in it starts overheating all over again.
I've read on here that the water pump can fail on our cars because of the partial plastic construction. What I've been trying to get at with this long winded post is.
Before I order my timing belt kit + water pump would you all see this as being the problem or am I missing something? As I am confused a bit on why the heater actually worked without the thermostat and with the addition of this new oil leak could these two problems be related?
Thanks!
About 3 weeks ago now my oil light came on briefly on my way to work. I set an appointment up for that Friday to get my oil changed. Well the day of getting on the on ramp the coolant light blinked for a second and I noticed my temp gauge was at nil. But as soon as the light went off temps went right back to normal. Well I get the oil change and I get told that my rear main seal may be leaking.as there is a lot of grime and buildup underneath my engine.
Well at work the following Monday I'm pulling from my spot and see a rather large oil spot. Which makes me concerned and I check levels and add some to try and get the car home. Well I get a few miles from the office and the car begins to overheat. Turn on the heater and it's blowing cold. Park the car get it towed to the house. Well after this I decided to try and replace the thermostat as it is the cheapest place to start. Well when I start draining the radiator it starts pouring out a lovely brown sludge. I read on here this usually is the result of using the incorrect coolant. I try and get this flushed out letting the car run for a few minus said thermostat.(I reattached the housing for this.) Durring this process the heater was blowing nice a warm like normal. Well after all this and I get the thermostat back in it starts overheating all over again.
I've read on here that the water pump can fail on our cars because of the partial plastic construction. What I've been trying to get at with this long winded post is.
Before I order my timing belt kit + water pump would you all see this as being the problem or am I missing something? As I am confused a bit on why the heater actually worked without the thermostat and with the addition of this new oil leak could these two problems be related?
Thanks!
#2
10-29-2009 | 03:29 PM
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,465
From: Massachusetts
No thermostat will let the heater get hot unless there's enough airflow through the radiator to keep things too cool.
Did any part of the coolant look like a milkshake/melted cheese? Hopefully you don't have a head gasket leak or something else causing the coolant and oil to mix. Perhaps it was just incompatible coolant added.
Lots of places can leak oil. The rear main seal can on pretty much any car, sure. The cam tensioner seal can leak. Valve cover gaskets can leak, though those are easier to tell. Oil cooler can leak (it can also leak coolant). The seals on the front of the engine can leak, too, but not as badly, generally.
The PCV system can clog up easily. There's a "suction pump" (Google it) that gets clogged up and blows other seals due to pressure buildup. Make sure that's clean. Consider adding an oil catch filter for the PCV system.
Other than that, you'll have to find and fix the leak(s) on your own. We can only give you suggestions, but you'll need to figure it out and fix it (or have a mechanic do so).
Did any part of the coolant look like a milkshake/melted cheese? Hopefully you don't have a head gasket leak or something else causing the coolant and oil to mix. Perhaps it was just incompatible coolant added.
Lots of places can leak oil. The rear main seal can on pretty much any car, sure. The cam tensioner seal can leak. Valve cover gaskets can leak, though those are easier to tell. Oil cooler can leak (it can also leak coolant). The seals on the front of the engine can leak, too, but not as badly, generally.
The PCV system can clog up easily. There's a "suction pump" (Google it) that gets clogged up and blows other seals due to pressure buildup. Make sure that's clean. Consider adding an oil catch filter for the PCV system.
Other than that, you'll have to find and fix the leak(s) on your own. We can only give you suggestions, but you'll need to figure it out and fix it (or have a mechanic do so).
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