Random Coolant Warning

[Oggydoodaa]

I've only owned my A3 2.0TDI 170bhp for less than a month but the last few times I've cold started it (usually morning of going to work) it flashes up on the screen to check coolant level, but the coolant level is fine. Was wandering if anyone could possibly shine some light? Thinking maybe faulty sensor? it only happens after the car has sat overnight or during the day and It's cold starting...after a while the warning goes off, I do have my own Full version of VCDS as I used to own a Mk1 leon Cupra

[cliffcoggin]

It is normal for the coolant level in the reservoir to go up a little as the engine warms up, so if the level was marginal when cold I would expect the warning to go out as the engine approaches normal temperature. Nevertheless you may still have a faulty level switch.  Does your test equipment not show any fault?

[Oggydoodaa]

I havent had the time to test it yet as I'm a truck driver by trade but I think I might have a spare 5 mins on sunday to check it

[Magnet]

On the basis of simple things first, spray some contact cleaner on the level switch and wiggle the connector, and see if this has any effect.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Oggydoodaa]

So, upon further inspection it appears my coolant level has now dropped, it was just above maximum and now it has dropped to half way between min and max. I read somewhere that the EGR valve is watercooled and these can leak? I hope that's all it is I don't want to fork out for a headgasket. Also when I cold start my car and leave it sitting when I go to drive it off it's really lumpy and smokes a treat, it's a white smoke and only if I leave the car idling when cold and once upto temp the lumpy idle goes too, I'm guessing it's injector related?

[cliffcoggin]

White smoke is a sign of coolant in the exhaust. Not definitive, but a sign all the same, so very possibly a leak at the EGR.

[Oggydoodaa]

3 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

White smoke is a sign of coolant in the exhaust. Not definitive, but a sign all the same, so very possibly a leak at the EGR.

Any idea how much this would cost to repair? Seeing as I've only owned the car for less than a month and is it a serious issue?

[Steve Q]

45 minutes ago, Oggydoodaa said:

Any idea how much this would cost to repair? Seeing as I've only owned the car for less than a month and is it a serious issue?

If you bought it from a dealer then you have the right to a full refund within 30 days of sale. 

[cliffcoggin]

4 hours ago, Oggydoodaa said:

Any idea how much this would cost to repair? Seeing as I've only owned the car for less than a month and is it a serious issue?

I have not the faintest idea what it would cost, but it is safe to say that an Audi repair will not be cheap. Take it back to the dealer, it's his problem not yours.

As a truck driver you don't need me to tell you whether a loss of coolant is serious or not.

[Oggydoodaa]

On 6/11/2021 at 6:06 AM, Steve Q said:

If you bought it from a dealer then you have the right to a full refund within 30 days of sale. 

The car was bought second hand from a private sale not a dealer unfortunately

[Steve Q]

Sorry to hear that. It looks like you've been stung. 

[Magnet]

The come-back against a private seller will depend on  how the advert description compares with the vehicle. That’s why some adverts just say ‘Starts, stops, runs’! etc. 

[cliffcoggin]

Getting redress from a private seller is theoretically possible; in practice it is rarely worth the time and trouble. That's unfortunate, but it's one of the reasons private sales are cheaper than trade sales.

[Oggydoodaa]

Well I've been doing some digging and diagnosing in my spare time and I've refilled the coolant, now last time I checked it was 3 days before I noticed it was dropping, then I checked the other day and in 3 days it had dropped but I'd only done 186 miles, so theoretically it would drop again if I drove a similar amount of miles (provided it's a consistent leak) but yesterday I filled up the coolant and drove 200+ miles to Herefordshire to visit family and the coolant level hasn't moved, when I took the expansion tank cap off to refill it, it was only hand tight so I assume the guy I bought it off hadn't done the cap up til it "clicks" and the coolant was evaporating over time, and also it couldn't pressurise properly hence the coolant warning. Since topping off the coolant and driving it 200+ miles I've had no warnings or coolant drop so maybe this was the issue all along. Still got the lumpy idling and smoke but I'm sure I read somewhere that the 2.0td had an injector recall in 2012 for overfuelling or dodgy injectors, I had a pile of paperwork and service history with the vehicle but nothing to mention it ever having the recall done.