I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.

 

The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.

However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket which
would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test. Also
pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from coolant.
If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be experiencing poor
starting and rough idle but might not be an issue when driving over
twenty mph or so.

If it iw a head gasket, take this opportunity to change the timing belt,
thermostat, water pump and tensioner as they will be part of getting to
the head gasket.

Let us know what you find.

Jeff Young wrote:
> I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
> left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
> the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
> surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
> eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
> out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.

 

The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.

However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket which
would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test. Also
pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from coolant.
If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be experiencing poor
starting and rough idle but might not be an issue when driving over
twenty mph or so.

If it iw a head gasket, take this opportunity to change the timing belt,
thermostat, water pump and tensioner as they will be part of getting to
the head gasket.

Let us know what you find.

Jeff Young wrote:
> I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
> left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
> the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
> surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
> eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
> out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.

 

The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.

However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket which
would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test. Also
pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from coolant.
If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be experiencing poor
starting and rough idle but might not be an issue when driving over
twenty mph or so.

If it iw a head gasket, take this opportunity to change the timing belt,
thermostat, water pump and tensioner as they will be part of getting to
the head gasket.

Let us know what you find.

Jeff Young wrote:
> I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
> left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
> the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
> surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
> eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
> out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.

 

The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.

However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket which
would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test. Also
pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from coolant.
If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be experiencing poor
starting and rough idle but might not be an issue when driving over
twenty mph or so.

If it iw a head gasket, take this opportunity to change the timing belt,
thermostat, water pump and tensioner as they will be part of getting to
the head gasket.

Let us know what you find.

Jeff Young wrote:
> I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
> left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
> the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
> surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
> eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
> out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.

 

On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:46:01 -0500, Tony <tonyj@visi.com> wrote:
>Jeff Young wrote:
>> I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
>> left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
>> the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
>> surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
>> eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
>> out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.
>
>The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
>block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
>location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.
>
>However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket which
>would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test. Also
>pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from coolant.
>If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be experiencing poor
>starting and rough idle but might not be an issue when driving over
>twenty mph or so.
>
>If it iw a head gasket, take this opportunity to change the timing belt,
>thermostat, water pump and tensioner as they will be part of getting to
>the head gasket.
>
>Let us know what you find.

The heater hoses (or couplings thereto) is a theory that makes more sense than
the head gasket - assuming he's not being hyperbolic about how long it takes
to drain the radiator while driving. I don't think that much coolant could
push out of the failed head gasket that quickly, but otoh, a broken hose could
do it...

/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd

 

On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:46:01 -0500, Tony <tonyj@visi.com> wrote:
>Jeff Young wrote:
>> I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
>> left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
>> the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
>> surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
>> eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
>> out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.
>
>The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
>block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
>location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.
>
>However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket which
>would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test. Also
>pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from coolant.
>If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be experiencing poor
>starting and rough idle but might not be an issue when driving over
>twenty mph or so.
>
>If it iw a head gasket, take this opportunity to change the timing belt,
>thermostat, water pump and tensioner as they will be part of getting to
>the head gasket.
>
>Let us know what you find.

The heater hoses (or couplings thereto) is a theory that makes more sense than
the head gasket - assuming he's not being hyperbolic about how long it takes
to drain the radiator while driving. I don't think that much coolant could
push out of the failed head gasket that quickly, but otoh, a broken hose could
do it...

/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd

 

On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:46:01 -0500, Tony <tonyj@visi.com> wrote:
>Jeff Young wrote:
>> I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
>> left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
>> the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
>> surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
>> eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
>> out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.
>
>The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
>block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
>location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.
>
>However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket which
>would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test. Also
>pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from coolant.
>If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be experiencing poor
>starting and rough idle but might not be an issue when driving over
>twenty mph or so.
>
>If it iw a head gasket, take this opportunity to change the timing belt,
>thermostat, water pump and tensioner as they will be part of getting to
>the head gasket.
>
>Let us know what you find.

The heater hoses (or couplings thereto) is a theory that makes more sense than
the head gasket - assuming he's not being hyperbolic about how long it takes
to drain the radiator while driving. I don't think that much coolant could
push out of the failed head gasket that quickly, but otoh, a broken hose could
do it...

/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd

 

On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:46:01 -0500, Tony <tonyj@visi.com> wrote:
>Jeff Young wrote:
>> I am trying to determine the source of a significant coolant leak on the
>> left hand side of the engine block on a 1990 V-8 quattro. The leak is to
>> the rear of the last (rearmost) exhaust port, on the block, below the top
>> surface. It leaks enough to drain the radiator in 15 miles. I can't get an
>> eyeball on this thing to figure out what is leaking. If I can find that
>> out, then I can get what I need and fix it. Any info would be appreciated.
>
>The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
>block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
>location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.
>
>However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket which
>would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test. Also
>pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from coolant.
>If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be experiencing poor
>starting and rough idle but might not be an issue when driving over
>twenty mph or so.
>
>If it iw a head gasket, take this opportunity to change the timing belt,
>thermostat, water pump and tensioner as they will be part of getting to
>the head gasket.
>
>Let us know what you find.

The heater hoses (or couplings thereto) is a theory that makes more sense than
the head gasket - assuming he's not being hyperbolic about how long it takes
to drain the radiator while driving. I don't think that much coolant could
push out of the failed head gasket that quickly, but otoh, a broken hose could
do it...

/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd

 

If the coolant leak was coming at the fitting or hose for the heater
core, it would be leaking at the back of the block. It's not. It's
leaking on the upper left side, and the coolant pours down that side as
well, not dowm the trans bellhousing. From what I can see, the source of
the leak it appears to be a black or dark projection coming out of the
upper back left side of the block. If I could get this up on a lift and
pull the left side exhaust header, I could see where the leak is and
know what it takes to fix it. But this is a driveway repair, so knowing
in advance what the leak origination point could be would save a lot of
grunts and banged up knuckles. I could save them for the actual repair.

I sold this V8-Quattro six years ago, and I'm still dealing with it
because the owner is an old friend. Always sell a V8 Quat to an out of
town stranger (though I had six perfect years with it).

daytripper <day_trippr@REMOVEyahoo.com> wrote in
news:2res5390vrmcepj2qdumhprt8uh2dv6qgn@4ax.com:

> On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:46:01 -0500, Tony <tonyj@visi.com> wrote:
>>Jeff Young wrote:
>>The coolant lines the go the the heater core are on the back of the
>>block and 'could' be leaking a lot and the coolant moving to the
>>location that you wee it. I hope that this is the case.
>>
>>However, the first thing that comes to mind id a blown head gasket
>>which would be a much bigger job. Try a compression / leak-down test.
>>Also pull the plugs by the leak and see if they are discolored from
>>coolant. If coolant is leaking into the cylinders you might be
>>experiencing poor starting and rough idle but might not be an issue
>>when driving over twenty mph or so.
>>
>>
> The heater hoses (or couplings thereto) is a theory that makes more
> sense than the head gasket - assuming he's not being hyperbolic about
> how long it takes to drain the radiator while driving. I don't think
> that much coolant could push out of the failed head gasket that
> quickly, but otoh, a broken hose could do it...
>
> /daytripper
> '00 s4 6spd