ss123

Apologies I should have been clearer. I got 3.82 on the way home, then when I parked and was stationary at the end of the drive I had 3.78.

I think it is the 3.78 reading which matters from the responses I have had so far, and that seems to be acceptable. I will check the tensioner from the inspection port next time I service the car (which is due in about a month). I do 6-monthly oil changes which I like to think helps promote longevity, I just want to make sure that I do the chain as and when it is needed.

SMac770

Well, the value while the car is in motion is fine, so long as it's updated by the ECM. If you get in the car cold, start it, then just drive constantly and never come back to idle, the value will maintain at 0.0 probably, as it'll only be updated by the ECM once up to temp and once idling again. There might be more caveats to the update event, but those are the main two.

But it seems yours varies not significantly (my variation range was less than 0.1; yours only half of that), and so it seems you're no where near the -5 concern yet.

Oil is made to store sludge and keep it from depositing around the engine. But that contamination, as it increases in aged oil, becomes more of an issue for objects of tight tolerances, like the chain links. Using a more reasonable OCI like 5k miles than the Audi 10k miles will go a long way towards helping that concern.

mzeb

Odd question: is the specification for the timing chain for the 2.0 TFSI Engine the same across models? My 2011 A3 is showing a 3.92º. If it is consistent across models I'll not worry too much yet but I wanted to double check. Thanks much!

SMac770

It's the spec for EA888 Gen1 and Gen2 engines, regardless of the vehicle the engine is in. EA113 are not chain drive, and EA888 Gen3 and Gen4 have a different mechanism. An 8P A3 with CCTA or CBFA? Those are Gen1 EA888, so same concept as we're talking here for the Gen2 CDN/CAE/CFK/CPM.

ss123

I checked the tensioner through the inspection port yesterday, unsure how to interpret it properly but this is what it looks like currently:

SMac770

You only have "4.5" exposed grooves, you're fine. When that clip ends up in last groove, you've got problems.
Yeah, I made it as an animated gif, so can't stop it in browser, but you get the idea.