Since I have an RS4 replica front grill on hand I thought I’d try it on the Avant.

Below is the S4 with the stock front grill.

The Avant is getting exhaust gas in the coolant.  This has been confirmed by shop testing, though aside from discoloration of the coolant there are no other apparent effects.

It made a trip from Seattle to St. Louis without any issue, so I have begun other checks to try to find what is at the root of the problem.  Today I was planning to do a compression test, followed by leak down check.

I completed the compression test, recording the following numbers:

Cylinder/Pressure(psi)

Not bad for an engine with 290,000 miles on it.

I was ready to start the leak down check when I realized that the fitting on the pressure regulator was a different size than the hose I used with the compression test, and thus I had no way to connect the regulator to the cylinder head.  I now have the correct hose on order so the leak down check will have to wait a few days.

My experience with the Nogaro project has reached an end.

This was the final condition of the Nogaro S4 prior to being rolled out of the garage onto a transport and hauled away by another B5 S4 owner.  With no interest in getting it into running condition, and parting out enough of the car to recoup what I had in it, I couldn’t pass up an offer to haul the rest of it away.

Preceding the Nogaro’s departure by a couple of days was the arrival of a 2001 Brilliant Black Avant.  An enthusiast owned car that may be in need of a new engine, but is otherwise in excellent, well documented condition, and possessing minimal modifications.

The Nogaro’s engine and transmission are staying with me for now, with the intent of possibly swapping into the Avant or Silver S4’s.