Some good news about camshaft wear...

[lushman]

Dippy, Very interesting as I have been watching this thread among others on this issue and obviously like many others have been very concerned about this. I think I will go down the route of changing my oil from 0W30 to 0W40. I have always changed my oil every 3-4000 miles on any turbo engine that I have owned and fingers crossed have never had a turbo issue.

Overall not being a mechanic in any shape or form this post by you certainly makes very common sense.

thanks

Paul

[MilkybarKid]

Is very interesting stuff. Im not convinced its just oil though, as on most cars the affected area seems to be limited to a couple of lobes.
Is there any difference in the oil galleries between sections of the heads/block?

[roi354]

Possibly related so I'll mention it:

On the subaru boxer engine, No3 big end can be starved of oil at very high revs and oil temperature and AFAIK there is no difference in supply to that particular area. The only difference is the distance the oil travels before it gets to that area so this could also explain the RS cam issue?

The subaru problem was further compounded by the heat from the turbo being very close to the same area (which could also be possible in our case?). If you know or have heard of anyone who has had a big end knock due to worn shells, I'd bet money it was on No3 and straight after a high rev/temp moment.

Mine certainly was and that was a standard, well cared for car with only 35k on the clock with fSsh to their schedule.

Food for thought.....?

[Gibbons]

I've just read all the way through the last 10 pages and it's very interesting when your looking to buy a car like this!
I'd probably go for cars being used on the track as a likely cause for this cam wear issue, as mentioned by Mrc doug, a failing maf can cause higher EGT's what about 10-20 minutes at high revs on a track, surely the EGT's go through the roof during this? Add to this increased oil temprature and in turn thinner oil at the very top of the rev range when the lubrication is needed most and it's got to be a contributing factor?

As mentioned above, where are the effected lobes in relations to the exhaust housing of the turbo? Is radiating heat from the exhaust housing further increasing the temprature of that side of the head/components?

Seems strange it's so hit and miss between cars when they are all pretty much identical inside the engine?

[rtd]

I've just read all the way through the last 10 pages and it's very interesting when your looking to buy a car like this!
I'd probably go for cars being used on the track as a likely cause for this cam wear issue, as mentioned by Mrc doug, a failing maf can cause higher EGT's what about 10-20 minutes at high revs on a track, surely the EGT's go through the roof during this? Add to this increased oil temprature and in turn thinner oil at the very top of the rev range when the lubrication is needed most and it's got to be a contributing factor?

As mentioned above, where are the effected lobes in relations to the exhaust housing of the turbo? Is radiating heat from the exhaust housing further increasing the temprature of that side of the head/components?

Seems strange it's so hit and miss between cars when they are all pretty much identical inside the engine?

my car has never been anyway near a track and yet it still suffered. i think for all future purchasers and exisiting owners this is just something we have to live with now. i've had mine done and will check them again in two years prior to the warranty running out on the new parts then just keep an eye on things therafter.

[Gibbons]

Maybe it's a combination of stuff then, do u drive it hard? Have u owned it since new?

[timboy666]

nes sounded more or less fine, and the only reason I sent it down to MRC was due to the excessive misfire DTC's being logged, and the lack of confidence I had after having my car checked over by a few Audi 'specialits' in Scotland,as well as the main dealer in Glasgow. None of them after looking\listening and running diagnostic checks on the engine, made the diagnosis of camwear or even suggested it.

The car ran fine though there was a discernable 'lumpiness' at idle, which is still ever so slightly there, but no misfire DTC's anymore.

Mine was logging infrequent misfires on cylinder 6 at idle via the AZR engine's misfire recognition facility (no DTCs logged) but many other things can cause misfires and even those I wouldn't trust many garages to find as they don't like to spend time finding subtle/difficult faults.
However it is worth getting your cams checked just for peace of mind misfire or not, you don't need to send it to a specialist for this.

[searider]

Have been reading the Audi forum over on pistonheads and one poster "Tame Technician" refers to chocolate camshafts in 2.5V6 TDI engines as well. Also states that replacement camshafts are better iirc

Perhaps its a manufacturing problem after all if it affects more then one model?

[andream88]

Have been reading the Audi forum over on pistonheads and one poster "Tame Technician" refers to chocolate camshafts in 2.5V6 TDI engines as well. Also states that replacement camshafts are better iirc

Perhaps its a manufacturing problem after all if it affects more then one model?

replacement cams are better only on the 2,5tdi engines.
Unfortunately S/RS owners don't use the car as much as 2,5tdi owners do.

Audi tried to solve the issue on the 2,5tdi as many cars showed the same damage very early (still under warranty). S/RS cars are showing this only 8-9-10 years after being registered, Audi obviously can't cope with this.

BUT, replacement cams are covered by a 2years warranty....so it's suggested to check them periodically.

cheers

[carpy]

Can anyone who's had to replace cams, please post what they have actually had done. For example did you replace all followers, cam chain tensioners. cam chains etc or if not, post the parts you replaced!

[TopBear]

Can anyone who's had to replace cams, please post what they have actually had done. For example did you replace all followers, cam chain tensioners. cam chains etc or if not, post the parts you replaced!

Here's a list of what I had done

[bastos]

just had the big service done with my car by RS-Werkstatt. timingbelt, waterpump, thermostat and so on.....
it has 114'650km(71.24miles)on the clock...

and had my cams checked, and had a 100% clear of cam wear...

it has been longlife serviced all its life..

just for your info...

just one of the lucky once i guess...

[missmouse]

this thread has been going for some time & same on other forums.
Surely its time we got to the bottom of this problem once & for all?
Unless anyone has a further theory,I can see only 3 scenarios for the wear problem, here:
1) oil- ie the longlife or poor oil quality

2) owners abusing the engine- hammering it from cold, tracking the car etc

3) bad batch of material or hardening process
- this seems across the board to be the most popular theory BUT surely its also the easiest to prove/disprove? All we have to do is collect the VIN's of those cars which have been effected & if they are in order or close this will prove a "bad batch"
If not, then it surely must be down to one of the other 2 reasons?

simon