Hey guys -

My 97 1.8T A4 (90k miles, replaced timing belt/water pump this past year) is leaking coolant... badly.

It started leaking in December, very slowly. I brought it in to my independent german mechanic, and he told me I had a cracked cylinder head and it would cost $4k to fix everything! I said thanks but no thanks, and figured I'd drive it till the wheels fell off and get something new.

Well, now it's really pouring out coolant - and I no longer think the mechanic was right. I don't see coolant in my oil, and at the rate it's leaking (can drain the whole reserve over night), I'm sure I would.

I took some pictures from under my car to see if I could spot where it was leaking from. The leak is coming from the left-hand side of that circle (with the label on it), or maybe slightly above it - I can't tell.

Do you guys know what part that is? Someone suggested a freeze plug? The picture is taken from under my car looking up, slightly to the driver's side of center and about 8 inches back from the front bumper.

Thank you! I'm really hoping to be able to save my car!

 

Wow, that pic is huge.

If the leak is that big, you should be able to pressure test it and find out where it's coming from.

 

The location it's coming from sounds like it's the thermostat flange leaking.