Audi S6 Avant 2000 - Overheating

[Mattygooner]

Hi,

Last night, whilst driving home on the motorway at normal speeds, the old girl began to overheat, steam coming out all over the place.

Anyway. RSC Man was called who checked for a blockage, alas, off down the road, same thing happened.

Its a 4.2 V8, with only 38,000 on the clock, so it is not even run in yet. The fear is that it needs a new head gaskett, which is a front of the car off job and will be astronomical in labour costs.

Anyone exeperienced the same?

[quattroTom]

Check basic stuff first like if the fans are coming on when it reaches temperature.

A blown head gasket would normally be more dramatic, is the coolant clear? How about the oil, is that milky at all?

[Robatr0n]

Although the initial problem may not have been a head gasket, gaskets have been known to blow when a car overheats so I would have it compression tested if I were you.

The initial problem could be many things such as fan motor, fan switch, thermostat, waterpump playing up, blocked plumbing, etc..

Run your car with the aircon on briefly and see if the fans are working (from memory they should run if the aircon is on) and if they don't then it may well be your problem.

[Mattygooner]

Thanks for the replys, water and oil were both fine, as were the fans, if it was the thermostat, it would shut off the hot air when you turned on the heater but hot air was coming out a plenty. It's going back to Audi today so will know the problem this afternoon.

Unfortunately it is looking more and more like the Head Gasket which means the front has to come off the car and labour will go through the roof.

Not what i was hoping for from such a bullet proof engine, well maintained with only 38,000 on the clock.

[grizz]

I bet it's the thermostat .I always do them with a water pump and cam belt change @ 40k in the rs6 .

[Mattygooner]

Well just heard back fomr the Audi Dealership, its the water pump, for a service and belt change and water pump, £1,900? does that sound right to you?

[misterduncan]

Mattygooner said:

Well just heard back fomr the Audi Dealership, its the water pump, for a service and belt change and water pump, £1,900? does that sound right to you?

I paid about £900 for the same work on my A6 4.2 from a specialist last year and was told by another specialist that I paid too much.

What area are you in?

[Mattygooner]

misterduncan said:

Mattygooner said:

Well just heard back fomr the Audi Dealership, its the water pump, for a service and belt change and water pump, £1,900? does that sound right to you?

I paid about £900 for the same work on my A6 4.2 from a specialist last year and was told by another specialist that I paid too much.

What area are you in?

Brentwood area, turns out some additional jobs were done, the belts were changed and as were the front pads, also had a problem with the front Xenon unit which was about £400.

Have also been told that the dif has a very small leak which will need replacing in the coming future so any offers of specialists in the London / Essex area would be most welcome.