Preventative maintenance at 200k miles?
Discussion
I've owned my 2010 Audi A5 3.0tdi for 5 years and 60k miles. It ticked over 200k miles last month and has been largely great other than a couple of incidents...
18 months ago the main crankshaft pulley failed taking the aux belt with it. Managed to limp it to the garage and cost around £400 to repair.
Last week it started badly leaking coolant on the M4 and I had to call recovery.
It's booked in for a garage to look at it tomorrow and on inspecting the service records I have for the car, I think it may still be on its original water pump, which might explain things!
In fact the only non-routine maintenance work the car has had in its 14 years is:
• both front wheel bearings (2016)
• DPF sensor (2019)
• crankshaft pulley and aux belt (2022)
• centre exhaust clamp replacement (2022)
• original battery replaced (2023)
Tomorrow I was planning to ask the garage to replace any obviously aging coolant components while they have access.
Is there any other obvious preventative maintenance I should be getting done? What tips do other high-mileage drivers have?
I still love the car. It suits my needs perfectly and is generally in great cosmetic condition (it's never had so much as an advisory on its MOTs), so was hoping to get at least another 3 years and 50k miles out of it!
TIA!
18 months ago the main crankshaft pulley failed taking the aux belt with it. Managed to limp it to the garage and cost around £400 to repair.
Last week it started badly leaking coolant on the M4 and I had to call recovery.
It's booked in for a garage to look at it tomorrow and on inspecting the service records I have for the car, I think it may still be on its original water pump, which might explain things!
In fact the only non-routine maintenance work the car has had in its 14 years is:
• both front wheel bearings (2016)
• DPF sensor (2019)
• crankshaft pulley and aux belt (2022)
• centre exhaust clamp replacement (2022)
• original battery replaced (2023)
Tomorrow I was planning to ask the garage to replace any obviously aging coolant components while they have access.
Is there any other obvious preventative maintenance I should be getting done? What tips do other high-mileage drivers have?
I still love the car. It suits my needs perfectly and is generally in great cosmetic condition (it's never had so much as an advisory on its MOTs), so was hoping to get at least another 3 years and 50k miles out of it!
TIA!
Here are some tips:
. Since the water pump may be original, it's a good idea to just replace it along with the thermostat and coolant hoses.
. Flush the engine coolant system thoroughly and replace it with fresh coolant. Use the correct G12 spec coolant for Audis.
. Check if the timing belt has been changed. If not, it's overdue and should be replaced as a precaution along with the tensioners and pulleys.
. Check transmission fluid level and condition. If not done recently, have it flushed out completely. Use the recommended Audi/ZF Lifeguard fluid.
. Change engine oil and filter. Consider using a higher quality oil like Audi-approved 504/507 oil.
. Check spark plugs. Replace if worn or hasn't been changed within last 60-80k miles. Use original Audi or NGK platinum plugs.
. Check differential fluid level and have it changed if over 60k miles.
. Check brake fluid for contamination and have it flushed if > 2 years old.
. Inspect suspension components for any play, leakage or wear. Consider changing dampers if ride comfort is compromised.
. Check battery health and charging system operation. Consider replacing the battery if > 5 years old.
. Pay attention to any new noises/vibrations and don't ignore dash warning lights. Address issues promptly.
Prioritizing cooling system and drive-line fluid changes should give you many more years of enjoyable service. Good luck!
. Since the water pump may be original, it's a good idea to just replace it along with the thermostat and coolant hoses.
. Flush the engine coolant system thoroughly and replace it with fresh coolant. Use the correct G12 spec coolant for Audis.
. Check if the timing belt has been changed. If not, it's overdue and should be replaced as a precaution along with the tensioners and pulleys.
. Check transmission fluid level and condition. If not done recently, have it flushed out completely. Use the recommended Audi/ZF Lifeguard fluid.
. Change engine oil and filter. Consider using a higher quality oil like Audi-approved 504/507 oil.
. Check spark plugs. Replace if worn or hasn't been changed within last 60-80k miles. Use original Audi or NGK platinum plugs.
. Check differential fluid level and have it changed if over 60k miles.
. Check brake fluid for contamination and have it flushed if > 2 years old.
. Inspect suspension components for any play, leakage or wear. Consider changing dampers if ride comfort is compromised.
. Check battery health and charging system operation. Consider replacing the battery if > 5 years old.
. Pay attention to any new noises/vibrations and don't ignore dash warning lights. Address issues promptly.
Prioritizing cooling system and drive-line fluid changes should give you many more years of enjoyable service. Good luck!
paddy1970 said:
Here are some tips:
. Since the water pump may be original, it's a good idea to just replace it along with the thermostat and coolant hoses.
. Flush the engine coolant system thoroughly and replace it with fresh coolant. Use the correct G12 spec coolant for Audis.
. Check if the timing belt has been changed. If not, it's overdue and should be replaced as a precaution along with the tensioners and pulleys.
. Check transmission fluid level and condition. If not done recently, have it flushed out completely. Use the recommended Audi/ZF Lifeguard fluid.
. Change engine oil and filter. Consider using a higher quality oil like Audi-approved 504/507 oil.
. Check spark plugs. Replace if worn or hasn't been changed within last 60-80k miles. Use original Audi or NGK platinum plugs.
. Check differential fluid level and have it changed if over 60k miles.
. Check brake fluid for contamination and have it flushed if > 2 years old.
. Inspect suspension components for any play, leakage or wear. Consider changing dampers if ride comfort is compromised.
. Check battery health and charging system operation. Consider replacing the battery if > 5 years old.
. Pay attention to any new noises/vibrations and don't ignore dash warning lights. Address issues promptly.
Prioritizing cooling system and drive-line fluid changes should give you many more years of enjoyable service. Good luck!
Yep definitely do them spark plugs and timing belt. Since the water pump may be original, it's a good idea to just replace it along with the thermostat and coolant hoses.
. Flush the engine coolant system thoroughly and replace it with fresh coolant. Use the correct G12 spec coolant for Audis.
. Check if the timing belt has been changed. If not, it's overdue and should be replaced as a precaution along with the tensioners and pulleys.
. Check transmission fluid level and condition. If not done recently, have it flushed out completely. Use the recommended Audi/ZF Lifeguard fluid.
. Change engine oil and filter. Consider using a higher quality oil like Audi-approved 504/507 oil.
. Check spark plugs. Replace if worn or hasn't been changed within last 60-80k miles. Use original Audi or NGK platinum plugs.
. Check differential fluid level and have it changed if over 60k miles.
. Check brake fluid for contamination and have it flushed if > 2 years old.
. Inspect suspension components for any play, leakage or wear. Consider changing dampers if ride comfort is compromised.
. Check battery health and charging system operation. Consider replacing the battery if > 5 years old.
. Pay attention to any new noises/vibrations and don't ignore dash warning lights. Address issues promptly.
Prioritizing cooling system and drive-line fluid changes should give you many more years of enjoyable service. Good luck!
richhead said:
the only things that really kill a car are timing belt, overheating and lack of oil pressure, stay on top of those things then it should go on for a long time.
And maybe automatic gearbox failure? Plus hitting something hard after something brake, tyre or suspension related fails, although ironically that is typically insurable!
It's probably long overdue a timing chain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_so6yhV5qXE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=272PBPSS2no
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_so6yhV5qXE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=272PBPSS2no
Edited by stevieturbo on Monday 4th March 20:10
stevieturbo said:
It's probably long overdue a timing chain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_so6yhV5qXE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=272PBPSS2no
Yikes, with sooo many potential failure points you've got me wondering if it's worth doing any preventative maintenance!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_so6yhV5qXE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=272PBPSS2no
Edited by stevieturbo on Monday 4th March 20:10
I listen out for any chain rattle, and change my oil every 6 months or 10k miles. Chain and tensioner replacement is £2000+, would you really recommend spending that on a 14yo 200k mile car?
Jimi.K. said:
Yikes, with sooo many potential failure points you've got me wondering if it's worth doing any preventative maintenance!
I listen out for any chain rattle, and change my oil every 6 months or 10k miles. Chain and tensioner replacement is £2000+, would you really recommend spending that on a 14yo 200k mile car?
What else can you get for £2k these days? I listen out for any chain rattle, and change my oil every 6 months or 10k miles. Chain and tensioner replacement is £2000+, would you really recommend spending that on a 14yo 200k mile car?
How much do you think your car will be worth before/after having the work done?
Better the devil you know, etc.
As you have seen is basically limitless what you could identify on a 200k car. Equally a 200k car could encounter a major mechanical failure which you can't mitigate for or prevent. It basically needs to be condition based so the first step is a thorough inspection of the car and a recap of what has been done in the proceeding years. No good spending hundreds replacing all the fluids if the exhaust is about to fall off or it's about to fail its next MOT on suspension.
If the timing chain is quiet there is probably no need to do it as a preventative.
If you're draining down the coolant to replace the water pump I'd probably have a new thermostat at the same time.
I would echo brake and clutch fluid depending on when it was last done. Cheap to do, often neglected, and protects the calipers and clutch slave cylinder.
If the timing chain is quiet there is probably no need to do it as a preventative.
If you're draining down the coolant to replace the water pump I'd probably have a new thermostat at the same time.
I would echo brake and clutch fluid depending on when it was last done. Cheap to do, often neglected, and protects the calipers and clutch slave cylinder.
Edited by Hustle_ on Tuesday 5th March 11:51
Jimi.K. said:
Yikes, with sooo many potential failure points you've got me wondering if it's worth doing any preventative maintenance!
I listen out for any chain rattle, and change my oil every 6 months or 10k miles. Chain and tensioner replacement is £2000+, would you really recommend spending that on a 14yo 200k mile car?
You're asking for preventative maintenance. I'm saying it's long overdue a chain. I listen out for any chain rattle, and change my oil every 6 months or 10k miles. Chain and tensioner replacement is £2000+, would you really recommend spending that on a 14yo 200k mile car?
What will it be worth if the chain fails ?
Anything you spend is a cost, that might prevent further failure and or cost in the future, and it's hard to weigh up any given one.
Brake fluid change is a no brainer, because it's seriously cheap and will very likely extend the life of the reasonably expensive brake components.
Timing belts are also no brainers, because they are not that expensive, do fail, and would write the car off if they did.
Timing chains are more expensive and less likely to break, but the effect is the same. I have the same dilemma on my 200k E46 330ci.
Brake fluid change is a no brainer, because it's seriously cheap and will very likely extend the life of the reasonably expensive brake components.
Timing belts are also no brainers, because they are not that expensive, do fail, and would write the car off if they did.
Timing chains are more expensive and less likely to break, but the effect is the same. I have the same dilemma on my 200k E46 330ci.
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