I've read several posts about the coolant flange on the 1.8t engine leaking. Is this common in the 2.8 engine as well. The oil pan as well as bell housing on the transmission seem to be collecting coolant which seems to point to the coolant flange. It looks like the flange on my brothers 2.8 (who i'm trying to help) is extremely hard to access. I can't really even get a hand on it. Any help would be appreciated as the car is leaking enough fluid to render it undriveable.

 

If it's the same plastic crap then it'll have the same issues.

 

It is the same plastic crap it's just really hard to get to. The engine bay in the 2.8 is obviously a little more crowded than the 1.8T. Just wondering if anyone has had the same problem because I cannot easily get to the flange.

 

Look for a post by me a few months ago. I ran into the same issue with my 2.8. Be extremely carful when removing the other end of the hose. The heater core nipples are very, very, very, brittle. Mine broke and I had to put a new heater core in. You don't want to do a heater core. It was hell.

It is very tight back by the firewall. I had to cut a few of the ties that held in hoses and wires. I removed the plastic intake duct that was bolted to the engine. I think it was two bolts and pulled out. That gave a just enough room to get to the clips and pull the hose off. Remember, be very carful when taking the other end off the heater core nipple. It's made of plastic and if never changed, it will be very brittle.

 

Thanks for the head's up mouse. I found the old post. Looks like my brother probably has the exact same problem.

 

you can pretty much access the top of the flange if you took off the hard plastic intake pipe. it's the screw on top of it and i believe 2 or maybe 1 allen bolt on the throttle body and it comes off.

 

Yep, one allen bolt on the throttle body - you have to find it by feel since you'll never see it with the way it's positioned.

 

thanks for the responses. I'm probably going to dig into it in the next couple days or may just have my mechanic do it if the price is right.