Little or no use rs4

[Surrey Sam]

Done 35K in 7 years with a fair chunk on Top Gear type jaunts in Europe - approx. 110,000 now. It's a keeper but testing my commitment as it's currently at Unit20 having disgraced itself by a cylinder eating something it shouldn't - hoping for some news from its sickbed this week - finger nails receding in trepidation

Oh no, hope they can fix it for you at a resonable cost. Not often you get engine failures on these cars but it can happen, was it a broken valve spring?

[Burty]

Tentatively waiting on Martin to report back on what's damaged and what caused it - educated guess atm is an errant flap fastening making a break for freedom - apparently Audi don't use any 'loctite' at the factory but that's definitely happening during the rebuilding.

Will reveal the news once I have it.

[Surrey Sam]

Ouch.

Yes, swallowing one of those is not going to make it happy. Keep us updated and good luck with it.

[kerraddoo01]

Hi - Does anyone know of a carbon clean specialist in the North West? Would they recommend them? I have a 2007 B7 RS4 Saloon. Low mileage (31k) and little used. I see it as a keeper but looks like I have the kangaroo petrol problem and pretty sure it hasn't been done before so could well fit with carbon clean scenario. If it is that MRC seem to be the ones to go to and whilst travelling down to Banbury isn't out of the question I'm located in the North West. I'm sure MRC can't be the only specialists out there? Thoughts?

[12th]

Kangaroo at low revs or higher up, and does it go away when warmed?

[kerraddoo01]

On good roads or motorways not really a problem. On rough/bumpy roads it's as if the throttle is over sensitive or I'm driving poorly which isn't likely. The RS4 had oil change service, filters, spark plugs etc only a few hundred miles ago (October) and runs well when warm but still exhibits the "kangaroo" problem on less than good roads. Appreciate it won't like not being used so can live with it having a need to warm up having been standing for a while. I'm not a long term RS4 user but I am a big fan and intend to keep this one. Presumably they should drive smoothly on normal roads. It may not actually be kangaroo petrol issue but it fits what people on this forum describe as that. I've had my mk5 Golf R32 for 9 years and it still drives effortlessly but I don't think it's a fair comparison so i'm trying hard not to make it. Cheers

[rs user]

folk have the same issue of an over sensitive throttle with breather/vacuum issues-could simply be maf etc too
a decent diagnostic/vacuum check should see an issue

[12th]

Running well when warm means it's unlikely to be the fuel pump then, which can cause kangarooing at mid revs and above. I'm having a similar problems, but strangely they don't seem to be happening at the moment. I've done a couple of longer journeys and am making a point of staying well away from the throttle whilst the starter motor is running. Had a manual carbon clean of valves etc, but booked in for chemical carbon clean and diagnostic at MRC shortly. If there's anything worth sharing, I' will do so.

[kerraddoo01]

arthur.d ,12th - thanks both. helpful. I've not done any long journeys in this as yet, longest about 100miles. The intention is to do about 4 to 5k/year on several long runs but want to resolve this before I build the confidence for longer trips. I'll let you know as and when things transpire diagnostics wise.

[Burty]

Code: Select all

Tentatively waiting on Martin to report back on what's damaged and what caused it - educated guess atm is an errant flap fastening making a break for freedom - apparently Audi don't use any 'loctite' at the factory but that's definitely happening during the rebuilding.

Code: Select all

The news !
The problem manifested itself pulling way from traffic lights - we were suddenly in a V7-engined motor !
Initially, the thought was that a coil-pack had packed up but sadly no - a sparkplug gap had closed and no prizes for guessing that something hard and metallic had decided to enter that cylinder and have a little baz around.
Sent the car to Unit20 and Martin has confirmed our worse fears - a manifold flap screw had made a bid for freedom and in doing so,has not just done for the piston and head but scored the bore lining and thus totalled the engine.
The hunt is now on for a good secondhand engine in order to resurrect it from the dead. Ebay will probably be our salvation but obviously if anyone out there get's to hear of a possible candidate there could well be a beer-voucher reward on offer.
This is not the first such calamity to hit the family's fleet - my son's Alfa Romeo GT experienced the same issue but in that case the engine could be rebuilt - sadly, a year or so later some idiot pulled out of a junction and T-boned it into oblivion.

[12th]

Eek - I feel your pain. When I was at MRC recently I think they said that they'd managed to source second hand engines before. Best of luck.