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D2 - Engine Bay Everything under the bonnet |
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#1
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Will a Leaky Radiator Fail a MOT?
Trying to get a consensus on this before I proceed. My car has had a radiator leak for about a year now. Nothing significant, but I need to top it up every few weeks. The leak is coming from the very top right corner of the radiator where different materials appear to join.
Now, my mind has been on other things not car related for pretty much of the last year, so things like fixing problems isn't high on my agenda, if even on the agenda. The problem is that the car is due a MOT next month, I need to get it ready and the radiator is my one concern. I have looked through the entire MOT inspection manual and can't find anything in relation to coolant leaks. Added to that is being in NI were the MOT centres are government run, and may play to a different tune. I see three options. Take it the way it is and see what happens. Put something like Radweld into it, and lastly, fit a new radiator. Obviously the new radiator is what I'd like to do, as I want to give the entire car an overhaul, but I don't want to fit a new radiator and then a bit down the line have to move/remove it to work on other parts of the engine bay (and potentially damage it). Radweld or something similar would be the next port of call, but I've read others caution the use of these products. I don't know if there is reason to be wary of them or just that some people think it will damage or clog other parts of the coolant system.
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2001 A8 D2 FL 3.7 Q - LPG Conversion, Engine: AKC, Gearbox:FBB, Colour:LY5X Aqua Blue pearl effect, Interior:WJ light beige/dark beige valcona leather with burr walnut inserts My DIY jobs - Replaced alarm horn, Replaced Coolant Temp sensor, Updated RNS-D firmware, Installed Reversing Camera and Digital TV, Dashcam Installation, Retrofitted Rear Blinds, Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror, Chrome Boot Struts Sold! 2008 S8 D3 5.2 V10 - Engine: BSM, Gearbox:KLW, Colour:LY7F Suzuka Grey Pearl Effect, Interior:Black/Black with Silver/Black valcona leather with carbon atlas inserts, Bang & Olufsen, Heated windscreen, Soft-close doors, TV, DAB, AMI, Quad Zone, Auto Boot, Auto dim Mirrors, Keyless entry, PDC with rearview camera, AFS II Headlights My DIY jobs - Fan Jet Windscreen Washers, Retrofitted Electric Side Blinds |
#2
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Have you tried these guys Sean - they are radiator repair specialists, so might be able to repair your existing one?
https://www.brownlowradiators.com/product/radiators-2/
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Confidence is the feeling you have before you know better . . . . Audi A8 D2 3.7 Quattro Sport 1999 FL - Melange 2nd Place Winner - A8-Freunde Annual German Meet 2012 at Edersee 20" x 9" Bentley GTC Wheels with 385mm W12 Front Discs & Bentley Caliper Covers, Front Lowered on Coilovers, Xenons, Combined DRLs and LED Foglights to modified OEM front fog lamp position, Alcantara/Leather, Full Black Alcantara headlining + pillars and blind shelf, Bespoke Flat Bottomed Sports Steering Wheel, Dark Myrtle Wood, Autodim Mirrors, Bose, Blinds, Digital TV, Ski Hatch, Modified rear exhaust section for extra V8 Burble Audi S8 D2 Final Edition 2002, Avus Silver with Red Leather Interior Tiptronic with Sport mode button, Sony rear entertainment package, Bose sound system, Audi Navigation Plus, 20 inch Final Edition alloys, Full Cat Back Stainless Milltek exhaust, giving a great V8 burble Audi A8L D2 4.2 Petrol with LPG - Ebony Black Audi A8L D4 FL 4.0T Petrol twin turbo - Havana Black Audi A2 1.6 FSi Sport - Dolphin Grey with Votex body kit and Red Leather Interior and some other A8's A8L's and Mercs |
#3
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A leaky radiator is not an MoT fail. Its very common for radiators of that age to be weeping slightly. As long as its not dripping hot coolant on the tester's head it'll be fine.
Please don't put rad weld in it. It will clog up other parts of the cooling system. It settles at the lowest point of the system - in the D2's case, that's the coolant drain ports on the side of the block, and the heater cores. A new radiator can be fitted without pulling the whole front end off, but its not the easiest job as you have to disconnect the power steering cooler which is messy. Usually the mounting bolts are seized so make sure new mounts are ordered at the same time. Often the snap nuts on the radiator shrouds are also seized so replace those too. I would advocate a genuine radiator or a Valeo if you can find one. The fitment on the Nissens is terrible. Radiator 4D0121251R Upper mounting 441121273L Lower mounting 441121273K Snap nut N 90419002 Screw N 90543801 Also have 2 x M6 nuts and washers and 2x M8 nuts on hand so you can cut the old ones off. Last edited by MikkiJayne; 21st March 2018 at 08:44 AM. |
#4
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Doesn't the transmission oil flow through a pipe within the radiator as well (or is that something else)? If so, I also need to avoid too much loss, and then be able to top it up afterwards. BTW Thanks for the shopping list of parts MJ. Best to have these now than having to chase them down later.
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2001 A8 D2 FL 3.7 Q - LPG Conversion, Engine: AKC, Gearbox:FBB, Colour:LY5X Aqua Blue pearl effect, Interior:WJ light beige/dark beige valcona leather with burr walnut inserts My DIY jobs - Replaced alarm horn, Replaced Coolant Temp sensor, Updated RNS-D firmware, Installed Reversing Camera and Digital TV, Dashcam Installation, Retrofitted Rear Blinds, Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror, Chrome Boot Struts Sold! 2008 S8 D3 5.2 V10 - Engine: BSM, Gearbox:KLW, Colour:LY7F Suzuka Grey Pearl Effect, Interior:Black/Black with Silver/Black valcona leather with carbon atlas inserts, Bang & Olufsen, Heated windscreen, Soft-close doors, TV, DAB, AMI, Quad Zone, Auto Boot, Auto dim Mirrors, Keyless entry, PDC with rearview camera, AFS II Headlights My DIY jobs - Fan Jet Windscreen Washers, Retrofitted Electric Side Blinds |
#5
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The thin radiator in front of the main one is the AC condenser. That swings out of the way to the passenger side. The PS cooler is the wiggly pipe in front of that.
Good point about the trans cooler - I forgot about that. The lines do indeed attach to the radiator, on the opposite side to the water hoses. You lose about 200ml taking the lines off - well within tolerance of the gearbox, but if you have the kit its prudent to check the level and top off if you can. Always replace the two o-rings on the ends of the lines, and make sure when they go back in they seat properly and aren't pinched. Lube them up with a bit of ATF and they should go in ok. Trans cooler line o-ring N 90666001 A dremel with a tiny cutting disc is useful to cut the rusty nuts off the radiator mounts. |
#6
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Would you have a link to the kit necessary to do that? Since I also have the S8, it might be a wise investment, and a lot easier than trying to pour oil uphill.
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2001 A8 D2 FL 3.7 Q - LPG Conversion, Engine: AKC, Gearbox:FBB, Colour:LY5X Aqua Blue pearl effect, Interior:WJ light beige/dark beige valcona leather with burr walnut inserts My DIY jobs - Replaced alarm horn, Replaced Coolant Temp sensor, Updated RNS-D firmware, Installed Reversing Camera and Digital TV, Dashcam Installation, Retrofitted Rear Blinds, Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror, Chrome Boot Struts Sold! 2008 S8 D3 5.2 V10 - Engine: BSM, Gearbox:KLW, Colour:LY7F Suzuka Grey Pearl Effect, Interior:Black/Black with Silver/Black valcona leather with carbon atlas inserts, Bang & Olufsen, Heated windscreen, Soft-close doors, TV, DAB, AMI, Quad Zone, Auto Boot, Auto dim Mirrors, Keyless entry, PDC with rearview camera, AFS II Headlights My DIY jobs - Fan Jet Windscreen Washers, Retrofitted Electric Side Blinds |
#7
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I am having to replace my radiator and note that it can be done without the front end being removed, and as I have small hands I think that may be an advantage? :
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I cannot find a genuine (local ish) and not a Valeo either. Have seen a few MAHLE units online, would these be a good bet? Also as I will be doing this on the drive is it best to put the car up on ramps for the underneath work? Will it affect the 'syringe' technique when refilling the ATF?
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Paul Gosport UK ________________________ Audi S8 2002 FE Avus Silver / Extended Red Leather. Daily Driver: BMW 3 series GT - Just more practical for my camping trips! |
#8
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There is fluid loss from the ps cooler and the atf cooler. Brake hose clamp tools are handy to block off the ps hoses to reduce the amount which escapes.
Laser 7254 Hose Clamp All the non-genuine rads I've seen come from the same Chinese tooling. The Mahle one just has an expensive sticker on it. Ramps will be fine and won't affect refilling the ATF |
#9
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From a personal standpoint, and finally replacing the radiator five years after asking the question, my experience was somewhat different. I had the entire front end off the car, so can only comment on radiator fitment. I purchased a budget priced one, and the only fitting issue I experienced was the threaded stud used to hold the piece of plastic trim at the top of the radiator. I documented it all in the following post, but it's very long with lots of photos, but it's the black threaded stud in this photo: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showpost....3&postcount=52
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2001 A8 D2 FL 3.7 Q - LPG Conversion, Engine: AKC, Gearbox:FBB, Colour:LY5X Aqua Blue pearl effect, Interior:WJ light beige/dark beige valcona leather with burr walnut inserts My DIY jobs - Replaced alarm horn, Replaced Coolant Temp sensor, Updated RNS-D firmware, Installed Reversing Camera and Digital TV, Dashcam Installation, Retrofitted Rear Blinds, Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror, Chrome Boot Struts Sold! 2008 S8 D3 5.2 V10 - Engine: BSM, Gearbox:KLW, Colour:LY7F Suzuka Grey Pearl Effect, Interior:Black/Black with Silver/Black valcona leather with carbon atlas inserts, Bang & Olufsen, Heated windscreen, Soft-close doors, TV, DAB, AMI, Quad Zone, Auto Boot, Auto dim Mirrors, Keyless entry, PDC with rearview camera, AFS II Headlights My DIY jobs - Fan Jet Windscreen Washers, Retrofitted Electric Side Blinds |
#10
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'Budget' radiator it is then. Thanks guys.
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Paul Gosport UK ________________________ Audi S8 2002 FE Avus Silver / Extended Red Leather. Daily Driver: BMW 3 series GT - Just more practical for my camping trips! |
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