Due to the frequency of timing chain failure and the high expense of replacing timing chain components, Audi’s 4.2L V8 has a poor reputation for dependability. Even though these timing chains are a major problem, most of the issues they cause may be avoided by always using the right oil, monitoring oil levels to make sure they don’t go too low, and changing the oil every 5,000 miles rather than at the suggested intervals.
The 4.2 V8 doesn’t have many problems that can result in catastrophic engine failure, aside from the timing chain problems. The majority of the other typical issues are readily and affordably fixable routine maintenance issues that cost less. Transmission breakdown is another notable issue that is unrelated to engines. Around 120,000 miles, the transmissions that go with the 4.2L V8 typically start to have issues.
Nowadays, many S4s and other Audis with the 4.2L V8 are quite affordable. If you cannot afford to replace the timing chain, do not believe you are getting a great deal on a V8 Audi. The likelihood of the timing chain failing increases as the mileage on these engines increases, even if it would be less of a concern on an Audi with low mileage and excellent maintenance.
The 4.2L V8 is a costly automobile to keep up overall. One shouldn’t last more than 120k miles before you have to start spending a lot of money on repairs.
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About Trey
I have a passion for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles and spend my weekends working on them. I also appreciate assisting others by offering insightful and correct knowledge in the field of automobiles. I’ve worked in the automotive sector for at least ten years, and I make it a point to never stop learning new things. I hope that my posts reflect this passion and help the readers.
What is the lifespan of the Audi 4.2 V8?
If you maintain them well, they will typically last well over 200k. The past two automobiles I owned had way over the average mileage of 200k and didn’t cause me any difficulties.
Is the 4.2 V8 an effective motor?
The 4.2-liter V8 is another weird option for a dependable old Audi engine. On the one hand, it is highly regarded by Eurosport Tuning and Ward’s Auto. However, it was utilized by the problematic B7- and B6-gen S4s.
Similar to the EA888 engines, the 4.2-liter Audi V8 is plagued by complaints about timing-chain tensioner failure. Like the EA888, enhanced replacement parts are also accessible, according to RSW. More importantly, newer vehicles with this engine, like the RS5, R8, and B8 Audi S5, don’t appear to have this problem. The S5, R8, RS5, Q7, A6, and A8 tensioners are all designed differently, according to FCPEuro, which may account for this.
A4.2 V8 in what Audi?
There are just three vehicles with the 4.2 Audi engine on the market right now. The A6 Sedan is one of these Audi vehicles. The R8 Spyder is another Audi car powered by the 4.2 engine. The third vehicle to have the Audi 4.2 engine right now is the Audi S5 Coupe.
What are the best Audi engines?
The Top 7 Audi Engines of All Time
- Engine: 5.0 V10 TFSI.
- Engine: 2.7 V6 BITURBO.
- TFSI Engine 2.5.
- FSI Engine 5.2.
- TDI 3.0 Engine
- V8 engine, 4.2.
- Turbo engine, 2.2.
Which Audi is the most dependable?
Audi also has the most models in the top 15, with the A1 making its debut in position 10 and the A3 ranking in position 11, in addition to the A4 being voted the most dependable car of 2019.
The 4.2 V8 Audi engine is it an interference engine?
It is an interference engine, the 4.2L 40V. (a.k.a. non-clearance engine). The timing belt system connecting the crankshaft, camshafts, and cylinder heads stops working if the Audi timing belt breaks. The cylinder head valves may contact the upper side of the pistons in engines with close tolerance designs.
What year Audi A4 is most reliable?
It is generally acknowledged that 2001 is the most dependable year for the Audi A4. The original B5 was produced until this year, and if you can find one with the 1.9 TDI, it’s worth buying. The 1.9 TDI is an extremely dependable engine; some of them have been driven 500,000 miles while receiving routine maintenance and are still on the road.
The 2001 Audi A4’s only drawback is that it lacks some of the more modern equipment seen in more recent models. 2010 is a fantastic year to look at if you’re seeking for something with improved technology. Around that time, Audi was making some excellent vehicles and received the fewest complaints annually.
In terms of dependability, Audi has experienced some ups and downs over the years, but they appear to be returning to the correct track. If you are considering a new A4, I wouldn’t worry about it surviving up to more than 150,000 kilometers.
What Audi A4 years to avoid?
If you’re considering the Audi A4, you should steer clear of 2011 and 2014. Compared to the other years, these had the most complaints. The 2011 A4’s terrible oil consumption is the main issue that has been brought up.
For the 2011 model year, the A4’s oil system became unnecessarily complicated, which caused it to use oil significantly more quickly than other vehicles. As a result, the car eventually runs out of oil. Due to insufficient lubrication, a car with low oil can suffer more engine damage.
Because replacing the oil system in an A4 from 2011 or 2014 would cost roughly $6,000, many people choose to replace the engine instead. The entire engine has to be taken apart in order to be repaired, which takes a lot of time and increases the cost for the business.
Which Audi A4 engine is best?
The 1.9L TDI engine is the greatest one you can purchase for an Audi A4. This excellent diesel engine generates 228 pound-feet of torque and 130 horsepower. Even while it might not seem like much, that is a fantastic choice for the A4, a compact car.
The 1.9L TDI engine excels in this regard. These little diesel motors are some of the most durable ones ever made. There are several of them still on the road today who have driven more than 300,000 miles, and some of them have exceeded 500,000. If they choose to swap engines, many consumers opt to replace the gasoline engines in their A4s with the 1.9L TDI.
Although it’s an older option, the A4’s 1.9L engine has been reliable over the years. If you’re considering an Audi and want it to survive longer, you should think about choosing a diesel model because they have better gas mileage and a longer lifespan than their gasoline counterparts.
Which Audi a6 engine is the best?
The A6 offers two petrol options. The base model has a 2.0-liter petrol engine with 201 horsepower and a 45 TFSI with 261 horsepower is also available if you want a little bit more power. The 55 TFSI petrol, a 335bhp 3.0-litre V6 with a 5.1-second 0-62mph pace, is the model you select if you want the maximum performance, albeit it was phased out in 2021. The Audi RS6 Avant, which has approximately 600 bhp and sits at the top of the A6 range, can be compared to a supercar dressed in more practical clothing.
How trustworthy is the Audi S4?
With a 2.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating, the Audi S4 is ranked 27th out of 31 premium midsize automobiles. Poor ownership expenses are indicated by the $1,171 average yearly repair cost. You can anticipate more major repairs for the S4 because both the frequency and severity of repairs are higher than those for the ordinary vehicle.
Cost
In comparison to the $739 average cost of premium midsize automobiles and the $652 average cost of all vehicle models, the total yearly cost of repairs and maintenance for an Audi S4 is $1,171.
the typical annual sum for unplanned maintenance and repairs for all model years of a car. A vehicle’s greater average cost alone does not imply that it is less dependable. For instance, your car’s parts and labor may be pricey, especially if it’s a European luxury model, but if there are few serious problems and frequent service visits on average each year, that’s a sign of a dependable vehicle.
The typical annual frequency at which a vehicle is taken in for unplanned maintenance and repairs. This metric is produced by monitoring millions of distinctive automobiles over a number of years to ascertain the typical yearly visits for each make and model. Controls were included to prevent small, routine shop visits, such those for oil changes.
The severity element of dependability calculates the likelihood that a repair will cause a significant problem. The cost of a repair is assessed to be excessively expensive given the unscheduled nature of the repair if it is three times the average annual repair cost for all models. Due to their more expensive labor and component expenses, premium and luxury brands have a higher barrier.
Frequency
Owners of Audi S4s need to take their cars in for unplanned repairs on average 0.9 times a year, as opposed to 0.6 times on average for luxury midsize cars and 0.4 times on average for all vehicle models.
Severity
The Audi S4 has a 17 percent chance of having a serious or major repair issue, compared to a 12 percent average for luxury midsize automobiles and 12 percent for all vehicle types.
Which engines from Audi suffer timing chain problems?
The 3.2 and 3.6 liter Audi engines, as well as the 3.6 liter Volkswagen engines, all frequently experience timing chain problems after 60,000 or so miles. This covers the years 2008 through 2015. We offer a 2 Year Nationwide Warranty on Parts and Labor, which is twice as long as the new car dealer, and our crew has well over 100 years of combined experience working on vehicles just like yours!
Failure of the Audi Timing Chain It’s important to pay attention to timing chain problems or Check Engine lights. While the engine is operating, it may result in the intake or exhaust valves making contact with the piston. If this occurs, you will need to remove the cylinder head and replace the valves. Currently, you won’t
Additionally, the pistons, cylinder walls, and cylinder head would need to be inspected to make sure no additional harm was done.
How can you tell if this incident included your car? You may experience any of the following problems if this chain is worn out or fails. engine sounds when starting up, No start condition, fault codes P0016 (Crank/ Cam position sensor correlation), or P0328, as well as timing chain jumping (because of which you probably have major engine damage) (Knock Sensor 1 Circuit High Input).
Which automobiles are impacted? It’s hard to say for sure, but based on all of our expertise, we think that any Audi and VW have problems with their timing chains and tensioners. Never drive with the Check Engine light on; this is a serious warning sign. Have the vehicle inspected. We advise verifying to make sure because we can’t be completely certain.
How widespread is this? Although the frequency of this has yet to be determined, here are my opinions. You should unquestionably have your system tested because this problem is widespread. Why? Engines are far more expensive than a timing chain kit upgrade because driving while your tensioner is out of date is a pretty big gamble.
What should I budget for? Realistically, upgrading the tensioner will take more than half a day of shop time to do. However, completing this will guarantee that your car has the most recent update, which should stop any more problems.