Turbo Failure

[zuumed]

Recently took the plunge on the RS6 Avant. Did all the checks that this and other sites recommend and found front bushes, DRS fault, front tires (due to bushes) and it needed a service that included plugs. All in it was virtually 2 grand but the dealer sucked it up and I became the happy owner.

I had to wait two weeks for the DRS part to turn up and then the car went over to Preston Audi for a flush and re-fill plus set-up. Two days into very happy ownership and noticed a small oil spot near the drivers front wheel (I’ve not even driven in sport mode yet). Couldn’t see anything but it was obvious at that some oil had missed the filler pipe.
Told the dealer about the oil and he suggested a local have a look, they couldn’t find where the oil was coming from but it appeared that a little blow-by was near the pipe between the turbo and inlet.

The oil leak continued so the dealer has the car back and it turns out the driver’s side turbo has suffered a major seal failure?? (Intercooler toppers with oil) I’ve not had or been in one of these before (had big engine kit car and TVR Cerbera) but I didn’t notice any power loss, in fact the acceleration is brutal 

I’ve been unable to find hardly anything about one of these suffering a turbo failure that’s been fully maintained, has anybody else??

Prior to buying the car there was no oil where it was parked (didn’t ring the dealer about it before turning up), I had to go back the following week for a test drive, which was spirited to say the least, and on returning I had them lift the car so I could look for an oil or coolant leak. Absolutely nothing anywhere.
Could something have been messed up when servicing??

[Farravi]

Are you sure it's not the dreaded oil seal leak that this model infamously suffers from?



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[zuumed]

No its not at the rear of the engine, bone dry in that area.
Its on the ramp with the front end off and turbo on a bench. Looks very sorry for it self.
However they did find a coolant pipe under the engine that needs replacing.
I'll ask them to take some pics before it goes back together.

[Farravi]

Coolant Pope is also a common problem on these cars.

I recommend Turbo works if you have any problems with your turbo, I've used them and couldn't fault them, especially as they are very competitively priced.


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[zuumed]

The dealer have told me that they are fitting a new turbo.
Does anybody know what seal is prone to failure? the back of my engine is dry but at the moment the garage have easy access.
Pictures or the actual part would be good.

[IanH755]

Here's some pictures which might help -

This is the combined water/oil pump, it lives underneath the engine block and is driven by a shaft at the rear of the block.



Here is a close up of the pump. On the bottom of the image are the oil channels and on the left side, facing the rear of the engine, is a shaft housing which contains the leaky oil seal (big red arrow).



The seal is item 63 in this pic -



Here is an image of the shaft and a very minor leak up close, shown from underneath the pump looking up and to the rear -



Now with the oil pump removed it looks like this (see the multiple oil channels in the block and the shaft drive on the far right) -



Depending on where there is a leak or not it can look this bad up close (the shaft is still attached in this pic) -



Or like this (shaft removed) -



But hopefully it'll be dry like this -



Hope that helps!

[zuumed]

Thank you for the info, its will make it easier to have a look now.

[A20LEE]

Surely they'd replace both turbo's if one has failed? Thats the accepted procedure on a BiTurbo engine

[douglas96]

Surely they'd replace both turbo's if one has failed? Thats the accepted procedure on a BiTurbo engine

Exactly!

But also, does the engine have to be out to remove the turbos? I'm sure ELSAWin states that it does, but is this the case in real life?

[zuumed]

No they are changing just the one, apparently the other is fine !!

When i figure out how to post pics I'll put them up showing the car in its sorry state.

Yes the engine has been dropped but its not all the way out. Simply lowered onto a stand.

[IanH755]

Surely they'd replace both turbo's if one has failed? Thats the accepted procedure on a BiTurbo engine

But not the cheapest option for the Audi stealer, and they tend to do anything to save money, so only replacing 1 wouldn't surprised me!

[Jim Haseltine]

Surely they'd replace both turbo's if one has failed? Thats the accepted procedure on a BiTurbo engine

But not the cheapest option for the Audi stealer, and they tend to do anything to save money, so only replacing 1 wouldn't surprised me!

But only if it's a warranty job. If you're paying for it, you're really paying for it.
Every.
Single.
Nut and bolt.
And anything else they can find at the time.

[Golfather]

If its warranty, they will rinse it properly and wont save cost as they get full payout. Only if they are liable to the repairs themselves will they try to take shortcuts.
Id pay for the other turbo and get TTE's put in whilst you have the chance..

[zuumed]

They did look at TTE's but wouldn't stump up the extra cost.
The dealer is picking up the cost, I'd only had the car 2 days before noticing the leak.