Audi RS5 2015 valve springs

A5/S5/RS5
#1

Hi everyone. I’m new here. I came here looking for advice because I can see there are a lot of experienced people here and plenty of useful information.

I have a 2015 Audi RS5 with 178,000 km on it. I’ve come across several cases where a valve spring failed on this car.

I’ve even seen cars for sale here in Slovakia with suspected valve spring issues.

For example, a friend of mine had a valve spring fail on his 2015 Audi RS7.

So I’d like to ask what you think about preventive replacement of the valve springs.

Should I do it? The engine would only be removed for this reason — solely for this purpose.

#2

It’s a lot of work (cost) to remove the engine (I’ve done it twice). I haven’t heard of too many cars having the valve spring failure but it does occur. You of course have the CFSA 4.2 and your friends if a 4.0t, most likely a CRDB or CWUB. At that mileage there is a lot of other work you could undertake while the engine is out but the engine is already most likely have give over 50% of it’s useful life. If you can do all the work yourself you can still save money but still a cost, I doubt I would do it unless refreshing the engine. Would you use OEM valve springs or aftermarket? I think Supertechperformance makes a valve spring kit for the car and I’m sure others do too.

#3

For example, the timing chain can’t be heard even during a cold start. I still need to check the camshaft positions through diagnostics, but I don’t have diagnostics for Audi yet.

I’ve already done the carbon cleaning.

I also want to check the condition of the catalytic converters, but I need a proper camera for that.

Of course, all necessary seals and gaskets where coolant or oil could potentially leak would be replaced as well.

I’d probably use OEM valve springs since I’m not planning any modifications to the car or taking it to the track.

What mainly interests me is whether anyone here has dealt with this as a preventive replacement, or if you just keep driving it until something actually fails.

#4

Some cars you can do it easily with the engine still installed, you pressurize the cylinder with compressed air to keep the valves closed as you use a spring compressor. If they have to pull the heads then a valve job may be a good idea. Then it can snowball into higher costs but pulling the engine is already going to cost a lot in labor costs.

#5

Yes, I’ve been considering that approach as well. I could easily do that at home in the garage. I’m just worried that I won’t be able to remove the camshafts because of the catalytic converters and the secondary air injection valves

#6

After thinking about it more,I think you’re right, I think trying to get the Variocam adjuster off and then everything retimed would be too difficult or next to impossible.