F451

Hey guys,

I've got quite the coolant leak coming from the front of the S4. After getting home from work, it left a long trail of coolant across the garage floor.

Its dripping off the spoiler, back where it goes under the car, on the drivers side, so I can't see where its originating from.

I did a quick look and could not find the source of the leak. Didn't see any obvious coolant pooling anywhere. Checked the lower hose in the vain hope that is was shot, but it was dry, and appears to be in good shape.

I'll see if I can get under there tomorrow to get a better look, and maybe borrow a pressure test tool, but in the meantime, does anyone have any likely culprits to look for?

Thanks guys,

Ed

Rob Edwards

Ed-

The driver's side end tank is the more likely one to crack and leak, so that's a (n unpleasant) possibility. It sees the hot coolant from the block first, so that side is always hotter. (20 degrees hotter on my rad by IR)

If the hose connection is dry, if it's not the end tank itself, or the lower radiator hose neck, maybe the temp sensor on the front driver's side? (unlikely...)

The rear lip of the spoiler runs the whole width of the radiator, so if you're on even slightly uneven ground (or the lip of the spoiler is warped at all), any slight leakage along the bottom of the radiator can drip onto the spoiler lip and track along to the driver's side edge. So theoretically you could have a leak on the passenger side, say from the drain plug, or even the upper radiator hose connection. But again, that's unlikely.

Done any coolant system service lately? How old is the radiator? You've got the 5-speed, so pulling it is trivial, and if it's the end tank you could have a new one put on, or a whole new rad is somewhat less obscene than one for an automatic S4.....

marton

sure it is coolant? Not the headlight washers leaking or the front washer tank full of "super cleaner"

Marton

ew928

My coolant leaks like to show up when the engine is nice and hot.
Leave motor running while hot and look around under the hood. If it's still not obvious where the leak may come from, then shut engine down and look around.

I found my leaking passenger side radiator side tank when it bubbled and hissed after shutdown.

F451

Thanks for all the tips guys. Its definitely coolant, no doubt about that.

And Rob, I was thinking the exact same thing about the spoiler running the width of the car, so it dripping off the one side does not really help pinpoint the source of the leak.

For the cooling system itself, I don't know for a fact, but I suspect the rad is the original, or was replaced sometime ago, so no surprise that something has failed.

I'm thinking end tank, but will check everything on it as soon as I get a chance and will report back.

Thanks again guys! -Ed

Tom. M

check the front lip of the oil pan..(from the top)..could be coolant coming out of the waterpump..and dripping straight down..and then moving onto the spoiler..

Mine did that..and sure enough was the waterpump...

Good luck..

Later,
Tom
89GT

F451

Thanks, will do Tom. I did check that out quickly last night and did not see any obvious leaks there, but will check everything more closely.

If it is the w/p, that would sort of work out because I need to do a t/b, w/p job anyway.

Tampa 928s

Go to Auto zone and rent a free pressure tester !

F451

Pressure tester?!

Free?!

That's for sissy's. Better to get under there like a man with the engine running and wiggle around looking for the leak...