Audi Warranty saves the day....

[jeffw]

My street car's a 2006 Audi S4 that over the last 15,000 miles developed a huge appetite for oil (3-4qt/1000 mi).

It's still under an extended warranty and Audi had the dealer pull the engine (no small task) to do some diagnosis. The dealer sent in the results on Friday, and today a brand new short block showed up at the dealer, courtesy of Audi!

[paultg]

How many miles are on the car when it developed the issue?

[Chrispy]

Hope the dealer techs are good at swapping heads or you'll have a whole new set of problems

I imagine the training at Audi is pretty good though.

[jeffw]

Hope the dealer techs are good at swapping heads or you'll have a whole new set of problems

I imagine the training at Audi is pretty good though.

I hope so too. It sounds like I'm getting new heads too.

[Chrispy]

Usually when they aren't certain about the cause of the failure they will send a complete long block, much easier for the techs to install and less to screw up.

[CP]

Did they tell you exactly what the issue was, like fuxored/warped rings? Did you just get a new block only, or was a new rotating assembly included?

[jeffw]

Haven't gotten the details on the failure yet....

Audi shipped in a short block (the full bottom end) and the dealer is supposedly installing 2 new heads. The accessories all move over, so I'm taking the opportunity to refresh the water pump and the alternator drive belt and tensioner. In this engine, the alternator is the only belt driven accessory--everything else (a/c, water pump, etc) is driven off the timing chain in the rear of the motor.

[TroyV]

Timing chain the rear of the motor? Sheesh..

[breakaway500]

Cool looking motor,but glad I'm not working on it... Didn't the RS4 have twin turbos as well? That's a lot of hardware!

Best of luck,Jeff. I'm sure it will be fine in the end. How many miles were on the motor when it started to consume oil?

[jeffw]

It used no oil until around 55k at which point it started using 1qt/4000 miles or so. It was like that until 75k and then it started getting worse up to 85k (current) and it was using 3-4qt in 1k miles.

Just got word they're returning the short block and getting a long block sent in. Hope it's good as new!

[TroyV]

Oh man.... here's your chance.....trade that thing in while it is still on the lift!!!!

[Stynger]

It used no oil until around 55k at which point it started using 1qt/4000 miles or so. It was like that until 75k and then it started getting worse up to 85k (current) and it was using 3-4qt in 1k miles.

Just got word they're returning the short block and getting a long block sent in. Hope it's good as new!

You mean better than new.

[breakaway500]

Def one of those cars you get the extended warranty on.. (good move!)

[jeffw]

Here's what the timing chain looks like:

[breakaway500]

That sure is purty!! I am assuming that is the old long block,as the timing cover appears to have been removed and there is residual RTV sealer on block surface. Boy,it sure is clean inside for a "junk" motor! You obviously took good care of it! Wow..that is a LOT of chain drive..