kelisko

How will you clean the exhaust valves?

Ktran350

I misspoke. Post edited.

kelisko

Okay!

cW6mT mKviGLi

My 2018 CREC Q7 has had on average 3k mile interval oil changes since it had 19k miles. Currently at 71k miles. All other maintenance items, including ZF trans fluid and differentials were done proactively. It even gets a new engine air filter every two oil change intervals.

The oil in those water jugs is new Valvoline 5w40 synthetic with 15 minutes of idle time to flush out the Liqui-Moly Proline motor flush solution. The oil looks as dark as the oil with the motor flush and 3k miles worth of driving.

MoInEd

Questions on using an engine flush (e.g. Liqui Moly): how much do you add, one bottle of 500ml or two? Do you extract some oil so there is room for adding the flush, like expect the MM show half way between min/max before adding 500ml?

2kwik4u

@GlennR @keg97 @petery129@mhoran89 @TheBudgetBaller @silver_tt @kelisko

Updating the log again (new data in red). I'll be flying for the next month or so. Likely to not see much new data for awhile.

• 97,118mi - Changed and full - 2023-09-25
• 99,616mi - added 1qt, light on - 2,498mi since last fill - 2023-10-17
• 102,594mi - added 1qt, light on - 2,978mi since last fill - 2023-11-18
• 103,604mi - added 1qt, light on - 1,010mi since last fill - 2023-12-07
• 104,454mi - added 1qt, light on - 850mi since last fill - 7,336 since last change - 2023-12-24

2024 Data

• 105,105mi - added 1qt, light on - 651mi since last fill - 7,987 since last change - 2024-01-03
  • 8,022mi on change
• 105,140mi - Changed oil. 5W-40 Liqui-Moly, Fresh Filter - 2024-01-13
• 107,534mi - added 1qt, light on - 2,394mi since last fill - 2,394 since last change - 2024-02-04
• 108,928mi - Added 1qt, light on - 1,394mi since last fill - 3,788 since last change - 2024-02-25 (Castrol GTX "Euro" 5W-40 oil from AutoZone)
  • 5,422mi on change
• 110,562mi - Changed oil, 5W-40 Castrol GTX "Euro" 5W-40, fresh filter - 1,634 since last fill - 5,422 since last change - 2024-03-09 (Light came on as I was pulling into the parts store)
• 112,461mi - Added 1qt, light on - 1,899mi since last fill - 1,899 since last change - 2024-03-18 (Castrol GTX "Euro" 5W-40 oil from AutoZone)
• 113,492mi - Added 1qt, light on - 1,031mi since last fill - 2,930 since last change - 2024-04-02 (Castrol GTX "Euro" 5W-40 oil from AutoZone)

I've been watching a thread on Audizine lately. Looks like he guy at Jackal that is doing the tuning has some thoughts about oil blowby and it's association with S/C clutch engagement. Something about how timing is pulled and the piston "slaps" during the transition. Anecdotally, this would align with all the people that have aftermarket tunes, and their lack of oil consumption. Not sure how much stock I put in it though. If I keep the car (see below), then I might consider his tune just to see if there's any change.

Oil details aside, I'm considering trading/selling the Q7. It needs a TON of deferred maintenance (tires, brakes, suspension bushings, S/C Clutch, PCV, fluid changes), to the tune of an easy $7k or so. I can either pot commit to the Q7 for another few years, or trade it away and get into something new. I'm less concerned about the consumption now that I'm logging and finding it to be faster than I like, but not absurdly bad. $7k is just a hard pill to swallow with my current situation of driving so much and having so little spare time. We'll see what shakes out. This is what I get for buying a German car during stupid COVID pricing back in early '21 then just driving it without staying current on maintenance.

keg97

I do love how you're sharing cold hard data with all of us. Thanks!

7K in maintenance, along with your decent oil burn, would likely push me to trading this in as well. Any idea how much you might get for it? What would you look at?

2kwik4u

I've spent a career doing this kind of thing as a Research and Development Engineer (before I was pushed into management)......I'm weird and absolutely LOVE data analysis

Carvana offered me $11k over the weekend. CarMax said $13k. Average amongst KBB/Edmunds/NADA websites is $15.5k for a clean trade in. I owe just over $24k (that's what I get for buying in the middle of COVID crazy market).

$7k in maintenance is if I fix every single little thing that's wrong with it, put a tune on it, lower it, and flush every single fluid. Basically setting it up to run for another 3-4yrs without additional significant intervention. I drive a lot (~30k/yr average over 10yrs), so things like tires, fluids, and brakes are going to be somewhat constant with it. Just so happens they're all due at the same time on this cycle. I bought at 33k miles in March of '21. At 113k miles now, it's honestly been really good to me. Wheel bearing, water pump, brakes, tires, and a few interior bits are all I've really had to mess with. It still looks OK, drives decently, and does all of the "things" I ask of it, including towing a boat to FL once a year, and a myriad of other shenanigans one shouldn't subject a luxury SUV to.

I'm looking hard at a Titan. They are tough as nails and come with a 10yr/100k warranty. I like the look and performance, and they're an exceptional value in that segment. I've also considered a Durango R/T, GX550, and an Armada. I have a pre-order on a Silverado EV RST, but at $110k+ I'm not sure I can swing that budget. Wife is pushing me to trade the Q7 and her Rogue on a new Armada for her, then I take some cash and go find a B7 RS4, or B7 S4 Avant. I like the premise, but I'm growing tired of constant "car stuff", with 2 young kids, and a successful career, I don't want to spend what little free time I have swinging wrenches to keep something running.

We're in the middle of a move from Louisville to Buffalo, so I won't be changing the car until at least the middle of the summer. Just keep it running until then, and I can decide if I really want to fix EVERYTHING, or just get out of it and into something else.

GDawgA4

I'd stay away from a B7 S4 if you're tired of the constant "car stuff". While the 4.2 makes some fantastic noises and is a fun car to drive, the maintenance is nothing like the 3.0T. You think your consumption now is bad? The chain driven 4.2s are notorious for consuming oil (usually due to scored walls) and needing timing service (engine out) because the guides deteriorate/break. I had one and I loved it with the 6 speed but it consumed a qt every 250 miles, basically every tank of gas. Despite it being the troubled one in all the Audi's I've had, it's the one I miss the most. Fun fact, I topped off with 52 qts of oil in the 11 months I owned it. I was the second owner, bought it from a dealer but had no idea at the time of the potential issues.

If you are set on one, I highly recommend a PPI, leak down and compression test, scoping the cylinders to check for scoring and making sure the timing chains and components have been done already. There are unicorns out there for sure but the majority of them likely have issues.

gbgastowers

Wonder what the exhaust valves looked like?