OK, folks, sorry if my rank nO0b-ness raises a bit of a stink, but after some STFAing, I'm sort of stuck with a weird quandary.

Last week, my mechanics of choice were replacing the alternator that had gone bad on my '01 2.7t A6 Tip. They noted that my coolant bottle was low on fluid, so I asked them to check for any leaks while they had the car up on the lift. They did find dried coolant, but they claimed it was the rear of the engine, right atop of the tranny. Upon that discovery, they went ahead and did a static coolant system pressurization test at 22 psi for half the day. Oddly, the system pressure held the entire time. No coolant in the oil, nor vice versa. They also checked for leaks around the secondary coolant pump, with no dice.

Now, my mechanic's theory lies on the thought that the leak is coming from something that only leaks after the system heats up. He says that it might be the motor's freeze plugs, though he admits that in his time working on Audi motors (15 yrs.), he's never seen such a thing happening. He wants to tear the car apart to find the leak, but I'd rather seek some other opinions before I let him. Anyone have suggestions what it might be?

And that's what he's seeing all dried up on the trans. If it held 22psi for that long, I think you're fine. Top off the coolant to the max mark and then just keep an eye on it.

Cheers,

When it leaks, it fills up the "lifter valley" (for lack of a better term on these engines) with coolant, which then leaks out over the bellhousing.

<img src="http://gallery.trumpio.com/albums/TimingBelt/IMG_0354.sized.jpg">

Pump is removed in that shot.

<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/27tv6/msgs/1371.phtml">Prior post on coolant loss</a></li></ul>

I know that I have some dried up coolant from when I did mine... I thought I could be quicker than what I was. The new oring on the sensor was kind of hard to push in and I lost more fluid than expected.

I've definitely been keeping an eye on your travails, believe me. One more thing to worry about.

I was sort of hoping this was the case. I did have to have some work done to reattach the hose to the secondary water pump a bit more securely to the mount, a few months back. On my trip to and from Niagara Falls, this weekend, the coolant level maybe dropped by an sixteenth of an inch, by guesstimate, so if there is some sort of leak, it can't be all too bad. The only symptom that remains a thorn in the side is the fact that I can draw a whiff of burnt coolant odor every once in awhile. I guess I'll have to examine the afterrun pump, just to be sure.

you could steam clean (or perhaps pressure wash) the engine and any other areas that were caked with dried coolant. Get it nice and spic n span. Then take a nice long drive and look for any signs of fresh coolant. If it's leaking, it's GOT to be going somewhere (even if it's out the tailpipe...but that seems unlikely if you can smell it).

Cheers,

I double-checked the level and topped off a bit last weekend. Since my last post, it dropped less than a quarter of a liter, so there is a leak, just not much of one, especially considering I racked up a trip to Niagara from here in DC. I just really need a free weekend that I'm not going somewhere or fricassee-ing outdoors to get to looking for that leak.

I'm also beginning to wonder if it's got anything to do with the heater core. I'll check the temp sensor and grab a UOA first before I start going that direction, though.

Thanks for the help so far, folks!

Have you done the blackstone sample yet?
I got a sample bottle you can use, that way you don't have to wait for one.

Later

Wouldn't mind snagging that bottle off you, if you're close by!

mine....actually (absolute...) from the mid atlantic did mine...

I strongly suspect that the oil is leaking into the coolant.