How hard is this… if anyone has done it… 1 day… half a day?
Is OEM still supposedly best?
I haven’t found the exact leak yet but it seems from some where front right of center.
If I can reach it easily and patch it, this would be plan A … unless a whole replacement is pretty easy as that is preferred.
I believe that I also need oil pan and upper oil pan gaskets replaced… but these are for another time.
Lotta leaks but
After new IM, plugs, coils, filters & injectors… it’s a pretty cool running pig…if I can lick these durn leaks.
Geeze they’re ugly!
Thanks in advance !
I believe OEM is the only option for the radiator.
But get this…AudiUSAparts.com is only $237. ECStuning is $365. Crazy.
Anyway, you can replace the radiator easily in a day.
If you PM me your address I can send you the O-ring for the small upper radiator hose that isn’t listed as a separate part. I measured the old one and then got a bag of 25 from McMasterCar. You’ll need 2 other seals, but they’re the same p/n. I don’t have the p/n handy right now.
This is the p/n I have for the two large radiator hoses: 4E0-121-666
I ordered a replacement from Audi Genuine Parts and it was the wrong radiator.
Check and see if you have the auxiliary rad. There is an extra hose lead on the rad on the upper driver’s side that doesn’t appear on all rads.
They all have the same part number which makes this super frustrating. I couldn’t even order one from the dealer that they could guarantee that it was the correct one.
My car was originally an Arizona car, so it has the “hot weather package” I’m told which includes this additional radiator. (It’s small and off to the side under the driver’s side headlight)
I ended up getting mine from ECS Tuning after speaking to a customer services rep who confirmed the additional hose lead on the radiator for me.
Thanks!
Going to ascertain that the leak is via radiator for sure…
before ordering up parts…
Mine has the auxiliary radiator and the “warm weather package” as well. I didn’t realize the radiator was part of that package, that’s interesting. I just assumed every S6 had the aux radiator.
I thought (and still think) the same thing–that the driver side aux radiator is standard fair for an S6, especially after reviewing the parts diagrams. I believe the warm weather package adds a SECOND aux radiator on the passenger side. Murphenur got different info from somewhere. It would be nice to nail this down. My car is a midwest delivery with no option code for warm weather package. In fact, it has a COLD weather package!
Thanks all! I have ordered the radiator from Sunset.
It will ship from DC to Oregon and then to me in Chicago.
Seems inefficient but ok, I’ll get it maybe before turkeytime.
I don’t have the aux radiator… So I don’t think I’ll need orings?
I have a new upper hose and will get a new lower one.
All this is to hopefully just do this once.
I cannot ping members yet apparently … or,
am I missing something on how to do it?
that’s good you don’t have the aux rad.
may still need oring, but I had no leaks using the originals.
As it turns out, I do have an aux radiator and
That has signs of an old or possibly ongoing small leak too.
Bummer
It costs more than the main radiator.
Slowly getting bumper cover off but I have no “how to” so it’s seat of the pants.
Pass side is free I think but driver’s side has evaporated dryer(?) and aux
radiator in
the way.
I’m hoping to not have to remove the whole front end but I’ll know soon enough.
Good news is that the engine is running great now after new IM, carbon clean, plugs, coils and spacers.
Cars been down 4 weeks now.
WOW thats a long time to have the car down. 2008 S6 posted a link that should help. If not post any questions you have in here we are all happy to help if we can
Part# for that rad is 4F0121212G and I believe OEM is your only choice.
Be careful in ordering the main rad then too… Call ahead. You will need to remove the core support to get the rad out and the aux rad will require the bumper cover fully removed.
I did not remove the core support. I removed the two plastic pins at the top and the rad comes right out the top.
Update fwiw
I had seen that video linked above and while those guys are amusing, they aren’t really informative.
I had considered an ebay aux radiator or having mine repaired but in the end I’d like to have peace
of mind for the extra $100 -$150 a new one costs. Also adding new tensioner and roller and belt while there.
Bumper comes off pretty ez really
Pull off top plenum remove the obvious screws up there.
Put front on jack stands. The more the better.
Wheels can stay on but turned all left or all right so you can view forward
and have tool access.
Remove 3 torx on each side holding fender liners.
Fold liners out of the way.
Remove 3 philips screws that attach bumper cover to the body.
Look forward and each side has just one more nut on each side that is on a long screw…
easily reachable with an extension.
Pop off each side at the seam and the cover should lift off after disconnecting some wiring and headlight washer hose…
Radiator came out pretty ez from there but a buddy did that for me whilst I was
underneath draining coolant. Hopefully he’ll be around for the install.haha
Or I’ll hv to figure it out.
Aux radiator takes a little work to get out because we left the headlight in.
But; with a long pliers / needle nose there are two snap ring hose clamps to remove.
I may remove headlight to reinstall… dunno yet
Lotta oil n dirt on the frontside of motor that I’ll be cleaning while awaiting aux radiator.
I also have cleaned around the oil pan gasket with brake cleaner and sealer it with Hondabond rtv.
Seems to be working great so far, albeit I hvnt driven the car.
I’ll get some pics posted sometime but I don’t know where to have them hosted to easily link them.
Great updates. I would suggest you pull the head lights. It makes life easy and they are easy to take out. Now that you have the bumper off it should be much eaiser.
For photos
http://audirevolution.net/upload-media
Just load them to the site. Make sure they are resized and dont make the name super long. Other than that its easy to upload pics
Image post test… while awaiting new radiator.
http://audirevolution.net/addons/albums/images/973776155.jpg
the bentley manual says “remove the nut” for bumper removal with no illustration. this video cleared that up. THANK YOU!! :bows i am not worthy:
And in a series of fortunate or unfortunate events…
I got this all nicely back together and cleaned up only
to still have oil leak/s and an epc light that would appear after warm up.
I could now see that there were leaks at front main seal, oil cooler and rear of engine.
However, being sick of wrenching and temps making it too cold for garage work, I wisely I think, outsourced to my
trusty mechanic.
Rear leak was the cam position adjuster orings…
Never even thought to check them. D’oh!
Should get it back by the end of this week… after I dunno how many weeks/months of work.