MrSmokey
MrSmokey Reader
7/27/24 5:50 p.m.

BIL is looking at a 2011 Audi A4 2.0. What's the ups and downs? What can I tell him to look for? Are the timing belts a problem with these? Are they hard to replace? Turbo issues? What else?

Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter)
Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
7/27/24 6:08 p.m.

Plan on new pistons (to fix the oil burning issue), a timing chain (its going to be worn out and stretched at 80k miles), and a turbo. 

DasAuto
DasAuto GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/27/24 7:06 p.m.

It's going to really depend on the engine. They were built with low-tension piston rings that caused crazy blow-by, BUT Audi fixed a ton of them with new or rebuilt engines. Ask for service history, look for oil smoke out of the exhaust, and look at the Air Oil Separator on top of the motor, it should have a clear or white part to it (as opposed to all black) showing the updated part.

They are kind of like Porsche's with IMS bearings. It was a real issue, but at this age pretty much everything left running has either "survived it" or been fixed correctly. 

Brotus7
Brotus7 Dork
7/27/24 8:36 p.m.

That's a really similar engine to what VW used in my '11 GTI. 

The timing chain tensioner is a time bomb. If it hasn't been replaced, it'll probably fail and take out valves. You can open an inspection port and visually identify the new vs old tensioner.  I just did the timing set on my GTI and it wasn't awful, but I also had the engine out for the second issue.

As mentioned above, the PCV is known to fail, and when it does, it takes out the crappy designed rear main seal, causing a massive vacuum leak. My valve died and nuked the rear main - I never even got the tell tale clutch slip. Since I had to do work on both ends of the engine, I opted to do it all on a stand.

Intake manifold failing, and intake ports getting dirty are also an issue.

Alot can be identified by: how's it idle? If it has a nice, smooth idle with no codes or misfires, it's still in good shape.

Brotus7
Brotus7 Dork
7/27/24 8:39 p.m.

I should add, my bro made 300k miles on his original timing set in his '11 GTI, but you can find no shortage of 2.0T VW/Audis for sale needing an engine from a failed tensioner.

I probably jinxed my bro now that I wrote it...

Coniglio Rampante
Coniglio Rampante Reader
7/27/24 10:02 p.m.

I had a 2009.  Good information above.  If your BIL needs additional confirmation, have him read the link below and watch the embedded video from FCP Euro.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/audi-b8-a4-a5-s4-avant-allroad-buyers-guide

MrSmokey
MrSmokey Reader
7/28/24 10:39 a.m.

Thanks everyone, good information. I have passed this thread on to him.

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/28/24 5:32 p.m.

IIRC this also has the camshaft "bridge" in front of the cam sprockets, that likes to wear out internally and cause cam timing codes because it leaks excessively at low engine speeds.  Sets cam timing faults only at low speeds with hot oil.

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