I have a 2.8L 1997 A4 I had to recently repalce the water pump and at the same time replaced the timing belt, thermostat, serpentine belt and both radiator hoses. I got it all back together and did a 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water. The engine only took a total of 1 gallon (2qts coolant and 2qts distilled water) and the engine is still over heating...any suggestions?

 

Maybe someone else can verify this.... BUT the gallon that the engine took seems a little low to me.

 

yeah its supposed to take ~3.2qts of g12 and h20 (if you mixed 50/50), did you check the coolant res. after you turned the motor over?

 

ya check the level. also it might be a bad CTS giving you a bad reading

 

You have an air bubble. It should take ~2 gallons, I think. After the engine cools down start it up and rev it up a few (more like 10-20) times ~4k. It'll increase line pressure and push the bubble through until it makes it's way to the resevoir (cap off!) The bubble should make it's way out by the time the engine gets up to normal running temp. Don't let the tank get too low while doing this. You can also use the bleeder screw, but whatever. If that doesnt work then maybe you put the tstat in backwards.

 

Could be a bad thermostat. New parts can also be faulty. Bleed the system first though.

 

+10
i just did all that stuff to my car.
the first test drive afterword the temp gauge got pretty high, there was definately some air in the system. it took a gallon of coolant and a gallon of water for me to get it full.
try running it in the drive with the cap off of the reservoir. you can also try pulling back the heater hose with the bleeder hole (make sure the engine is cool!!) and taking the mounting screws off the reservoir and lift it up til water spills out of the heater hose. that seemed to help me. it took some dicking around and a lot of swearing but i got all the air worked out and now its working perfect!