Need Opinions on my engine...Has it been serviced???

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

Hello all. New to this site. I’ve been reading here and Audizine for a while now. I’m no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but i know a thing or two about cars and turning wrenches. Basically i was under my car investigating an exhaust leak and noticed that the heads on my car were extremely shiny…more so then i ever expected on a 10 year old 96k mile car. Maybe there is some weird explanation for it that consists of some air vortice that wont allow dirt to stick to the heads (lol not likely) I also noticed that all the sub frame bolts have been removed(you can see the marks on the heads of the bolts) The Timing cover bolts have been removed and the timing covers have a little of black rtv looking sealant seeping out of them…looks like the covers have been taken off. The car has been in service position before my ownership(broken bumper mounts from someone not knowing what they were doing, that and the car has a newer alternator) I changed the valve cover gaskets and the chains did not appear to be new. Now i know that there is no way to be definitive as to if the engine and transmission have been separated, but i recorded a video of me under the car examining things. Can some of the more knowledgeable people take a look at the video and give your thoughts? I really Appreciate it. I was about to pull the trigger on the timing components from JHM…but i’d rather put that money towards something like an exhaust and wheels…
I posted this over on the other forum…but people here seem to be WAY more knowledgeable and more technical. THX

https://youtu.be/yQkKEG_cMns

Is there any way through casting numbers to see if the heads that are on the engine are the same ones that were installed form the factory? I’ve never been more eager to hear of a previous engine failure. haha

#2

In most cases when one does timing service on B6/7 S4s, chains themselves are not replaced, unless they’re damaged in some way. So I don’t believe you would be able to tell if guides, tensioners, sprockets, etc… have been replaced by just looking at the chain. Unless you open up covers at the back of an engine. From your description it sounds like someone probably already done timing service on your car, which is a huge plus. It would be highly unlikely to do all that work(meaning dropping engine) just to put everything back together without replacing any items. I’ll let more technically inclined folks expand on this topic.

#3

Yeah i agree. I feel like I’m reaching at straws here, but it just looks off.I have no previous history of the car other than what the carfax says. And that’s alternator, battery, CV boots and maybe another minor thing. nothing warranting an engine pull tho. I’m fully aware of how much it can get to rebuild this engine and if it comes down to it i will pull it and fix it, but having at least a little peace of mind make driving the thing that much more fun.

#4

The question is if timing service was indeed performed(which seems like it was) what was replaced… The other thing is why are the heads looking so fresh. Were they replaced for the new units or used or did someone redo valve seals.

Have you tried contacting PO regarding your findings?

#5

I’m going to be trying to contact him/her. I dont have much to go on other then the car was bought at auction out of california and it “passed 2 mechanics inspections” before i bought it. what a load. the “mechanics” missed the massive oil leak draining from the valley pan gasket. I might have some of the old paperwork in the car, not sure.

#6

vinny

From what I remember its usually very clean on the under side of the head. There isnt much way for dirt and debrit to get up there as when you get oil leaks its on top of the motor and at that point all the places that would leave oil trails are further below. The best way to check is to look at the valve cover gaskets. If the valve cover gaskets dont show much sign of weapage that could show the car had the cylinder gaskets replaced. I dont think you have that many miles on the motor so I cant see someone replaceing the timing components just yet.

It would be great to hear what the past owner said as that would obvously give you exact information on what was all and what all wasnt dont.

Mr wrong has a great point. If there was work done who knows what was actually done. They could have pulled off all the parts to just inspect everything for say a transmission inspection.

Rule of thumb. If you dont have knocking at cold start and you dont have out of range codes for the adjustments. You are in good shape. If you get clacking on start up you have issues already and its only going to get worse. If you have clacking and your adjustments are not too far out of range your still good but need to look into getting the adjusters updated.

#7

yeah im trying to decide to buy the timing components and to do the job myself or to just wait until they fail(if they indeed do) I have a little rattle on start up but i don’t know if it is chain rattle or check valve noise. i recorded a cold start not too long ago. maybe ill post it up. I don’t beat on the car everyday, but i want to have the peace of mind that the engine isn’t going to give up when i AM getting on it. I plan on buying an RS4 this year sometime so i don’t want to dump TOO much money into it, but either way. If it needs to be done, ill do it. If i can just get another car, ill pull the engine and inspect it. but as it sits, she is my DD and i cannot be down for very long. Thanks for the insight

#8

You don’t want to just wait until they fail if they are bad as some destruction can ensue from the failure.

#9

Those are the cleanest/newest looking exhaust flange nuts and studs I’ve ever seen.

#10

Thank you very much for everyone taking the time to watch my little video. I’m currently in a debate on how much work i want to do to the car while i have it. I have already dumped some good money into the car during my short ownership. I have my eyes set on either a RS4 or maybe something like an S6 or S8. I REALLY want another Rs6, but i want a newer one(that they don’t sell here in the us). So now my debate is : do i put 4 - 8 grand into my S4 so someone else can have a car that has been gone through and had everything done to it…or do i keep the car as is and trade it in with like 10 or 15k on top for an RS4? Or do i wait until a nice s6 or s8 comes along…like an MTM s8…now that would be nice lol

#11

Are you talking about a V8 S6 or the V10 S6. The RS4 is a great car. The S4 is a great car and if you go and once you put the maintance money into it the car is trouble free.

#12

If you are going to sell your S4 then I would NOT do a timing service. It is sad but you will never get that money back. Just move onto whatever you really want like that RS4, C5 RS6, or V10 S6/S8. I have had this discussion with another local B6 S4 owner and after he crunched the numbers, he agreed with me.

#13

yea i really appreciate that jimmy. I was looking at the s6, but i don’t know if i can afford insurance for the v10 lol. When i had my RS6, my insurance lady couldn’t find the vin number in their system so she billed it as an a6 :slight_smile: It was cheaper then my s4 is now and cheaper than my C230. Either way, the S4 is nice, but i’d rather have an RS4 or an S6/S8. I liked the extra room the RS6 had as compared to the S4, I just pretty much walked into a bad deal with the RS6. I am happy and also regret getting rid of it. Crunching the numbers makes sense when i look at the RS4. I could trade my car in and throw 10k on top and find a decent RS4. I just want a DD that is fast, has to be an Audi and it has to be reliable (i’m tired of throwing money down the bottomless pit) Plus i have 2 kids that have to be able to fit in it (thats why i stayed away from the 5 series. I need 4 doors)
I know the RS4 and the Q7 share the engine design. Are there any things to look out for on the Q7?

#14

oh and i saw a video of an MTM tuned S8. Anyone have opinions on that package? (other than it being pretty expensive in the end) S8 Talladega i think its called…

#15

ok… so i have had a few cold start rattles that are either the Timing components or oil check valves. I had switched oil and ran an oil treatment as i do with all my cars and the rattle completely disappeared. Well i have started to hear a little on cold start ups but the other day it did it on a warm startup. i recorded a video of the rattle this morning. Can a few of you take a look and give your honest opinions? I’m on the edge of ordering the timing components, but that’s a lot of money if its just the check valves. opinions?

THANKS!!

https://youtu.be/Ppabr7VyPbY

#16

Why not do the check valves and see if it clears up, its a lot easier than doing the guides.

#17

yeah…i was thinking that. i just did the valley pan so i might as well do it again. If i do… ill get the intake spacers and port match everything. I’ve heard 2 different rattles from my engine. this one in particular comes on after at least a full second of the engine being running and only lasts like 2 seconds. the other rattle i’ve heard once or twice is a tiny bit longer (very very minimal longer) and happens immediately after startup. i have another video somewhere of that one. My dilemma is i’d rather do an exhaust, but the timing guides are more important. I dont know if ill have enough to do both, so i’m trying to decide which to do. Knowing that this is a very common thing among the chain driven S4 4.2, i’d rather not chance it. I just still haven’t been given a “definitive estimate” on the percentage of S4’s that suffer from the guide failure. I’ve heard 99%, 95% 50% etc…
I just need it to last long enough for me to get enough money to do a bunch of stuff to it. I don’t want to have to replace the engine. It burns absolutely zero oil. The oil level is always the same from the time i change it to the day i drain it. I haven’t scoped the cylinders but i’d assume they are ok.

#18

If you are able to do it yourself you may be able to get out of it a bit cheaper if you simply replace the guides rather than do a full timing chain service. I would think some will frown on it but if you don’t have the clack or the timing codes it may be a way to get both the guides replaced and your exhaust at the same time, if you are paying a shop I wouldn’t consider going that route though.

This may be a terrible idea, I’m just throwing it out there lol.

#19

lol ive debated on doing that, but i think ill just order new parts. If i DO decide to do the timing service, i will be buying a cheap throwaway car for the mean time to get me around. That way i can take my time and open it to see what is visibly broken and if the adjusters need replacing. Thanks for the information!!

#20

https://youtu.be/YzBu9fRZeNQ
This was recorded a few months ago. 2 different rattles I think. Opinions?