1992 Audi 100 Overheating

Tiny
STEVE RUMLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 AUDI 100
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 225,000 MILES
This car overheated while driving on higher speed country road on a moderately warm afternoon. (Coolant overflowing the little tank on the side.) The engine began to lose power at the same time. Once it cooled down, it was fine but then overheated after ten more minutes of driving. Once into town, driving slower, it never overheated.

I put in a new water pump over a year ago and the car has been trouble free and great on long trips. Here's something I'm wondering about. It has a separate exhaust for each bank and one of the catalytic converters makes a LOT of noise, as though things are loose inside. Can this cause the engine to overheat by backing up exhaust under high rpm? If not can you suggest how to trouble shoot my overheating problem?

Thanks a bunch!
Steve
Do you
have the same problem?
Yes
No
Friday, July 9th, 2010 AT 8:24 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
INTERNETMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 700 POSTS
Hi, thanks for the donation. What about the thermostat? Is the cooling fan/s running? If your dual exhaust, can you feel exhaust flow on both sides, about the same? Can you check exhaust backpressure? Any applicable trouble codes?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 9th, 2010 AT 4:13 PM
Tiny
STEVE RUMLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I haven't checked the thermostat yet but the hoses feel appropriately hot. Don't know if fans should come on when driving at high speed but will check those too. I did feel the exhaust but couldn't tell if they are still separate at the end of the car or if the muffler has two pipes out of one collector. I checked the end of the muffler only at idle and each pipe feels about the same. Should check at high rpm next, I think.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 9th, 2010 AT 4:29 PM
Tiny
INTERNETMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 700 POSTS
I also thought about a compression test? I normally use MOD database for specs, but, they seem to be having technical issues, I can't access.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 9th, 2010 AT 6:39 PM
Tiny
STEVE RUMLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I guess I'd just like to get an answer regarding the original post: Is it possible that back pressure or a clog in the exhaust system can cause the engine to overheat?

I need to replace the cat. Converter anyway. It's all black and sounds awful.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, July 10th, 2010 AT 8:07 AM
Tiny
INTERNETMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 700 POSTS
If it needs to be replaced, go ahead. I don't think it will fix the overheating problem, just my opinion.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, July 10th, 2010 AT 10:02 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links