Thermostat leak issue

old96A4 · 04-11-2012, 08:58 AM

has any one had the thermostat leak after change. I did my timing belt and replace the thermostat, gaskets etc.. now I think I have a leak , I just see alittle water after driving awhile but nothing major. but I've had to fill my water resivor a few times now after a few weeks. I can smell it but don't see much. Could it be the water is evaperating on the hot engine?? can't seem to find anything else. this is a tough one. this is all a guess too. I know these 3.0 engines have problems but nothing before I did the timing belt service. I'm afraid to add anything to the anti-freeze. any comments..

RMsALFA · 04-11-2012, 02:31 PM

don't add any crap to the coolant !

SloopJohnB@mac.com · 04-11-2012, 02:41 PM

Chances are you'll have to rip it apart again and redo the thermostat/gasket. Sucks to be you.

rocketman4321 · 04-11-2012, 05:08 PM

You may be able to see it--just below the t-stat housing on the front of the engine. There's s little recess where the coolant tends to dribble.
I managed to (be stupid and) crack the plastic t-stat housing while doing this. It was a very small crack leading away from one of the mounting bolts. I'm not sure if the 3.0's have the plastic housing or the metal one, but you might want to check if you think you may have stressed it.

If I recall, it was possible to get the housing off without completely removing everything, but it was still pretty invasive. But with practice comes speed!

Prospeeder · 04-11-2012, 05:28 PM

those crappy plastic thermostat housings crumble apart and crack all the time. To save doing it again i would get the stat housing as well. And do not use any sealer or RTV on the o-ring when installing.

old96A4 · 04-26-2012, 12:56 PM

I have a steal housing, all I did was replace the left bolt with one that has a head on it and crank it down, so far so good, those allen head crap you can;t get anything down there to tighten them. the right side I can get a allen socket on it and tighted that down. haven't had to fill my resivor yet. but I'll give it some more time, we'll see, may have gotten lucky...

SloopJohnB@mac.com · 04-26-2012, 04:25 PM

So you didn't have to tear it down and reseal the thermostat housing? Just replace one bolt?

old96A4 · 05-03-2012, 03:32 PM

Yes that's right. You can take the thermostat housing off with two bolts after you take the plastic covers off. This is the 3.0 engine. So far so good. The Allen head bolts are all rusted.

n3985 · 05-03-2012, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old96A4

Yes that's right. You can take the thermostat housing off with two bolts after you take the plastic covers off. This is the 3.0 engine. So far so good. The Allen head bolts are all rusted.

I had same issue on my 3.0 and new thermostat. When I installed the new one I didn't push the thermostat flush with the surface (towards firewall) so the gasket was pinched. With new t-state #2 I pushed it towards firewall while a friend tightened down the two bolts, no more leaks

04-11-2012, 05:28 PM	#5
Prospeeder AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 837	those crappy plastic thermostat housings crumble apart and crack all the time. To save doing it again i would get the stat housing as well. And do not use any sealer or RTV on the o-ring when installing. __________________ 1992 Audi 100 CS Quattro 1990 Audi 200 Avant Turbo Quattro 1991 Audi 200 Turbo 1999 Audi A6 Avant

04-26-2012, 12:56 PM	#6
old96A4 AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: sunny , snowy central New York State Posts: 330	I have a steal housing, all I did was replace the left bolt with one that has a head on it and crank it down, so far so good, those allen head crap you can;t get anything down there to tighten them. the right side I can get a allen socket on it and tighted that down. haven't had to fill my resivor yet. but I'll give it some more time, we'll see, may have gotten lucky... __________________ 2007 Q7 3.6 Premium 2003 A6 3.0 1980 MGB Limited 1959 Austin Healey 100-6 (under restoration) 2005 Ford Escape - Daughters

05-03-2012, 03:32 PM	#8
old96A4 AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: sunny , snowy central New York State Posts: 330	Yes that's right. You can take the thermostat housing off with two bolts after you take the plastic covers off. This is the 3.0 engine. So far so good. The Allen head bolts are all rusted. __________________ 2007 Q7 3.6 Premium 2003 A6 3.0 1980 MGB Limited 1959 Austin Healey 100-6 (under restoration) 2005 Ford Escape - Daughters

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04-11-2012, 02:31 PM	#2
RMsALFA AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 165	don't add any crap to the coolant ! __________________ 2001 A6 2.7t 6-speed; ECU & BiPipe by APR

04-11-2012, 02:41 PM	#3
SloopJohnB@mac.com AudiWorld Super User 2002 Audi S6 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,121	Chances are you'll have to rip it apart again and redo the thermostat/gasket. Sucks to be you.

04-11-2012, 05:08 PM	#4
rocketman4321 AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 205	You may be able to see it--just below the t-stat housing on the front of the engine. There's s little recess where the coolant tends to dribble. I managed to (be stupid and) crack the plastic t-stat housing while doing this. It was a very small crack leading away from one of the mounting bolts. I'm not sure if the 3.0's have the plastic housing or the metal one, but you might want to check if you think you may have stressed it. If I recall, it was possible to get the housing off without completely removing everything, but it was still pretty invasive. But with practice comes speed!

04-26-2012, 04:25 PM	#7
SloopJohnB@mac.com AudiWorld Super User 2002 Audi S6 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,121	So you didn't have to tear it down and reseal the thermostat housing? Just replace one bolt?

05-03-2012, 04:53 PM
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