98' 2.8 30v Headgaskets (rumor has it they dont fail)

Boosted_4cyl · 09-15-2007, 01:10 PM

How common is it for them to fail? I have 135k/mi always run 90+ octane and enjoy a spirited drive on occasion. Now i have an overheating problem, and I am praying its not the headgaskets, I just really dont want to do them, I wast getting ready to list the car for sale in order to buy a turbo a4 with less miles.

~~4Rings::G2 boosted::~~ · 09-15-2007, 03:37 PM

Boosted_4cyl · 09-15-2007, 04:46 PM

It starts to overheat and boil over in the tank. I shut it down and crack open the air vent on the coolant tube under the front of the intake and nothing but steam comes out. Upper rad hose gets warm but not too hot and the intake itself stays cool. I dont think a cooling flush has ever been done on the car. Will audi antifreeze boil after 10 years of use? or would a thermostat be more likely. Im just hoping its not not the headgaskets. I always run 91+ octane
also when its hot and i squeeze the rad hoses they are not super tight like they would be if they were crammed with pressure from leaking headgaskets.
no leaks, runs great.
Thanks a lot for your help

Tr00p3r · 09-15-2007, 08:57 PM

I got 327,000 on original gaskets

4Driver4 · 09-16-2007, 09:59 AM

77'911 · 09-16-2007, 05:01 PM

Its probably coming time for a new rad, and a few other coolant system components(sensors, fan, t-stat). I found ours was leaking and loosing some of its cooling efficiency around 58k(changed it out). Head gasket issues are somewhat rare on these motors but anything is possible with Audi. If you let the car over heat more then once, you might be replacing headgaskets and installing remaned head. These engines do not like to be over heated at all. It also makes a difference if the car had regular coolant changes.

S4_Cinci (I S'edTFA) · 09-17-2007, 04:38 PM

Boosted_4cyl · 09-17-2007, 07:03 PM

S4_Cinci (I S'edTFA) · 09-18-2007, 07:25 AM

mezonesxbox · 09-23-2007, 09:15 PM

09-15-2007, 03:37 PM	#2
~~4Rings::G2 boosted::~~ Banned Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22,002	it's not the headgaskets. Probably your t-stat is going bad.

09-15-2007, 04:46 PM	#3
Boosted_4cyl New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 56	Re: it's not the headgaskets. Probably your t-stat is going bad. It starts to overheat and boil over in the tank. I shut it down and crack open the air vent on the coolant tube under the front of the intake and nothing but steam comes out. Upper rad hose gets warm but not too hot and the intake itself stays cool. I dont think a cooling flush has ever been done on the car. Will audi antifreeze boil after 10 years of use? or would a thermostat be more likely. Im just hoping its not not the headgaskets. I always run 91+ octane also when its hot and i squeeze the rad hoses they are not super tight like they would be if they were crammed with pressure from leaking headgaskets. no leaks, runs great. Thanks a lot for your help

09-15-2007, 08:57 PM	#4
Tr00p3r New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	Re: it's not the headgaskets. Probably your t-stat is going bad. I got 327,000 on original gaskets

09-16-2007, 09:59 AM	#5
4Driver4 Tech Guru Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 32,305	Keep driving it and it will be the headgaskets...and the heads and the block. Replace the t-stat. __________________ 4Driver4 "Never give up the throttle until the bitter end." -RC 2005 A6 Sedan Q 3.2 (wife's whip) 2000 A4 Avant Q 2.8 (daily driver) 2003 Mini Cooper S (Fun!) 1995 Mazda Miata: the anti-Audi 1999 Mazda Miata SSB: track beotch 2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL: the anti-earth 2004 Dodge Dakota: hey, at least it's stick and 4x4

09-16-2007, 05:01 PM	#6
77'911 Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,593	a comment.... Its probably coming time for a new rad, and a few other coolant system components(sensors, fan, t-stat). I found ours was leaking and loosing some of its cooling efficiency around 58k(changed it out). Head gasket issues are somewhat rare on these motors but anything is possible with Audi. If you let the car over heat more then once, you might be replacing headgaskets and installing remaned head. These engines do not like to be over heated at all. It also makes a difference if the car had regular coolant changes.

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09-17-2007, 04:38 PM	#7
S4_Cinci (I S'edTFA) Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 6,214	Your radiator likely has blocked passages, since coolant has never been changed. __________________ 2002 S4 Laser/Silver 6-speed Cold, Premium, Bose, Changer <Brian May guitar riff>..."I'm in love with my car, got a feel for my automobile"...I OWN an S4, I DROVE many a service loaner from Enterprise! $19k+ worth of warranty repairs. Tally ended on 8-23-05! She's now free of the man; DIY all the way! Now spending AoA retroactive cash back bonus for crappy dealer service! Thanks for the check, AoA! Please help to fight window-licking! (I hear they have a cure over on Audizine...)

09-17-2007, 07:03 PM	#8
Boosted_4cyl New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 56	Pulled the thermostat out and I cant even pry it open with a screwdriver. Thanks a lot everybody!

09-18-2007, 07:25 AM	#9
S4_Cinci (I S'edTFA) Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 6,214	...unless it is something really simple like a bad t-stat... ;^P __________________ 2002 S4 Laser/Silver 6-speed Cold, Premium, Bose, Changer <Brian May guitar riff>..."I'm in love with my car, got a feel for my automobile"...I OWN an S4, I DROVE many a service loaner from Enterprise! $19k+ worth of warranty repairs. Tally ended on 8-23-05! She's now free of the man; DIY all the way! Now spending AoA retroactive cash back bonus for crappy dealer service! Thanks for the check, AoA! Please help to fight window-licking! (I hear they have a cure over on Audizine...)

09-23-2007, 09:15 PM	#10
mezonesxbox AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 269	maybe your waterpump is dead.. like shattered impeller

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09-23-2007, 09:15 PM
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