Interesting video on two RS4 with rocker arm failures

[spidmack]

Hi folks, this is an interesting video.

Two RS4’s both with rocker arm failures

https://youtu.be/sd0dIE7VCKk?si=8LFJS4zelsE2E7Jo


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[Jools]

Yep, seen it, the white one is mine!

[elchet]

Must be at least slightly reassuring to have that Nardo one next to it for comparison and to remind you that it could be worse.

[jnrdavo]

Yep, seen it, the white one is mine!

so did you hear any engine noise changes at all? mechanic seems to think that it would have had warning sounds for quite some time..

why are Audi not fixing it?

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[spidmack]

Yep, seen it, the white one is mine!

Well done hearing the unusual noise. It looks like you stopped even worse damage.
It also looks like if multiple cars are experiencing a failure of these rocker arms, Audi should have been replacing them. Had a recall to fix the part.


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[elchet]

I'm keeping my extended warranty going in the vague hope that I'll be able to get them to cover the costs of repair (£3k+ minimum?) should mine ever start rattling.

[Jools]

The first thing I had was a sudden misfire when the engine was on load, that ran for about 20 minutes and then cleared up
I scanned the car when I got home and got an intermittent misfire on cylinder 3.

The misfire got me checking things out.
The misfire could be plug, coil pack or injector so I swapped the coils packs first but the fault never came back.
Compression still good.
I found what I suspected was water in the bottom of the charge cooler, turned out to be oil from the ERG valve condensating on the charge cooler as it is recycled.

As Tomas said I was talking to him reguarly trying to understand the problem. He was very helpful, especially considering he didn't have to be.

The main thing I noticed was the usual loud ticking noise you get during start up that dies away after the idle comes back down to 800RPM was still there 30 mintes later!
If you listen to the video you can hear it. The thing that doesn't help you is how quiet the car is when your driving it so if you're not listening hard you might miss it.
I would suggest starting and listening to your car running and try and remember how it sounds, do it reguarly, so when it changes it becomes noticable.

Audi have changed the rocker arm design on post 2018 DECA engines, the thing is these arms are apparently used across several engines!
To date Audi have not released a technical bulletin about it, if they did I'm sure they would be in for big ££££ across the world.

The reason I didn't go to Audi was the car was well out of warranty and over 60,000 miles.
Also with the number of DECA engines VAG Techinc have rebuilt, I trusted them over my local Audi service center that may not even have a tech that has ever rebuilt a DECA engine before. I would still get 12 months warranty on the parts and labour any how and know it would have been more expensive at Audi.
Either way I knew it wasn't going to be cheap, but if I didn't do it I was left with an expensive broken car.

That video was taken in May last year, since then I've done 14,000 miles including a 5,000 mile road trip round Norway and Sweden. The car hasn't missed a beat.

At the end of the day if you buy expensive cars you can expect expensive bills when things go wrong.

[Brooner]

Good yo know as mine a 2018 does have a tick sound
my car is going into audi for a rattle on the susspesion i will get them to investigate the noise as i still have warranty on the car and ill.mention the rocker cover arms see what happens

[Rwg]

Mine is a 2019 sport edition with only 19k used as 2-3 car
We have a high pressure pump noise top left rear of cam.
I believe it is the follower exhaust cam shaft follower
Due to oil leaking out of bowl. I have 5 year warranty runs out in September 24, I took mine in last April for service with video, spoke to a technician who was going to check out.
When I returned they said it is ok, they have another used one sounds the same.
I know the outcome will eventual damage cam shaft, my car can Sometimes sound like a diesel on start up if left for a few weeks. My aim now is to contact Audi customer services and give a detail explanation of what is happening and that I am registering my concern.
My only concern is I am not a pro, so the actual description of terminology may not be good enough.
Could any one advise what is correct terminology for components effected by the HPFP tapping away at the cam shaft rocker ?
Cheers
Paul

[Jools]

I have attached two pdf's that are cut and pastes from the Audi parts diagrams.
They should give a good idea of the fuel pump and rocker arm parts with there correct names and part numbers.

This should increase your vocabulary enough I hope

[Brooner]

Gents
If we need to build a case for the rocker arm issue can we get some videos of the engine noise at idle so we can compare a smooth running engine vs a ticking engine so we can present this to audi if any of us get push back from the dealers saying the sound is normal
I will get one up after my car has been into audi on Monday

Cheers

[Jools]

I've got a recording of my car when the rocker arm was failing / had failed

[Nath-RS]

Hi all,

Am I right in saying all 2019 cars should be safe from the rocker arm issues? Has the new design worked.

I am in the market for a b9 and currently looking at 2018, the car is not local and been sent a video and can’t work out if the ticking noise is present and now if I should even consider a 2018 car. I could probs send the video to someone of the car if that helps, maybe you Jools? . any help appreciated please. Many thanks

[Jools]

The DECA engines do seem to have quite a noisey high pressure fuel pump / cam noise anyway.
If the engine is on an 2018 build I would assume that it has the old rocker arms, unless the seller can prove otherwise. If you could get the VIN you could ask Audi who may be able to tell you which type the engine was built with. Wether they feel inclined to actually tell you is another thing.
The best way to check is with a small endoscope from Amazon. Remove the oil filler cap, below the filler cap hole is a cam shaft, with a bit of fiddling, look towards the front of the engine and you can see one of the rocker arms and the offending needle rollers. (picture of the old type attached)

To be honest it is hard to tell if the engine tapping is the high pressure fuel pump or a failed / failing rocker arm, unless you could put two side by side. Hence Mirislov's guess at the fuel pump in the video. I wouldn't trust it without a visual.

I think an investment of £80 in and endoscope would more than offset the cost of a £3,600 plus top end rebuild!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B78FYMXT/ ... 11_TE_dp_1 ,or similar.

[Nath-RS]

Thanks for your advice Jools, ordered