B7 Overall Reliability / 2.0T Oil Sludge problems?
03-25-2008, 04:57 AM
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B7 Overall Reliability / 2.0T Oil Sludge problems?
Hi Folks,
My wife recently placed an order for a '08 A4 AWD 2.0T with the standard warranty. Never owned an Audi before, but have had some VW's (Scirocco and Corrado) with decent reliability experience.
I've been reading the Edmunds A4 Maintenance and Repair forum and frankly it's a bit of a scary picture on A4 reliability. I heard a lot about an "oil sludge" problem (particularly on the older 1.8T).
I know you tend to get the anecdotal horror stories in these forums but in general have people experienced this sludge or other notable repair issues on the AWD B7 2.0T?
We'd always use Audi approved synthetic oil and probably change every 4-5K. My wife drives only about 10K/yr and we garage so she expects to own it for 10-12 yrs with expectation that most cars today if properly maintained can go 100-120K without major repair.
My wife recently placed an order for a '08 A4 AWD 2.0T with the standard warranty. Never owned an Audi before, but have had some VW's (Scirocco and Corrado) with decent reliability experience.
I've been reading the Edmunds A4 Maintenance and Repair forum and frankly it's a bit of a scary picture on A4 reliability. I heard a lot about an "oil sludge" problem (particularly on the older 1.8T).
I know you tend to get the anecdotal horror stories in these forums but in general have people experienced this sludge or other notable repair issues on the AWD B7 2.0T?
We'd always use Audi approved synthetic oil and probably change every 4-5K. My wife drives only about 10K/yr and we garage so she expects to own it for 10-12 yrs with expectation that most cars today if properly maintained can go 100-120K without major repair.
03-25-2008, 05:14 AM
#2
Sludge has not been an issue, at all, on the 2.0T.
Properly maintained, an A4 2.0T Quattro should easily last 120,000+.
That's not to say that you might not have ANY "issues", but the B7 A4 is among the most reliable German near luxury/luxury cars ever produced, when properly maintained.
That's not to say that you might not have ANY "issues", but the B7 A4 is among the most reliable German near luxury/luxury cars ever produced, when properly maintained.
03-25-2008, 05:57 AM
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If it helps any
Consumer Reports (the automotive benchmark on Planet Earth) solidly recommends the current A4/S4/RS 4 due to average or better than average quality, reliability, durability and dependability with class leading all around safety.
In this regard, the current A4/S4/RS 4 is a huge step up from the first A4/S4, which had bad or very bad quality, reliability, durability and dependability, but far better than most 21st century Benzes and the current A8/A8L/S8 with just adequate all around safety.
In this regard, the current A4/S4/RS 4 is a huge step up from the first A4/S4, which had bad or very bad quality, reliability, durability and dependability, but far better than most 21st century Benzes and the current A8/A8L/S8 with just adequate all around safety.
03-25-2008, 06:19 AM
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The issue was only with the 1.8T...
... and maybe one or other two Audi/VW engines. Shortly after the sludging issue started to creep up, dealers were informed by Audi via a TSB to use full synthetic oil on the 1.8T and other engines. This would have been a few years ago.
Use the proper oil and you shouldn't have any issue. Use the improper oil and you could end up with a sludging issue.
Use the proper oil and you shouldn't have any issue. Use the improper oil and you could end up with a sludging issue.
