S4 4.2 tensioner advice please
S4 4.2 tensioner advice please
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Discussion

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,463 posts

190 months

Saturday 9th January 2016
quotequote all
after stumbling on some threads on here and other sites regarding this potentially troublesome issue, I was curious as to how likely it is that they will give up? I've seen threads regarding using 5w 40 oil to prolong the life etc and also read a thread regarding a rattle on cold start which is the tensioners, mine does that so does that mean they are on their way?? The car done 87k and serviced by Audi only

anonymous-user

85 months

Saturday 9th January 2016
quotequote all
The rattle is because the tensioners are not retaining oil pressure when the engine is not running, the longer the rattle goes on is indicative that the tensioners are not pressurising as quickly and this allows the chains to slap around damaging the chain guide which eventually breaks.

The tensioners use oil pressure to tension the chains and are designed to retain the pressure and hence tension when the engine is not running. This is why a rattle more than second or two on startup is bad news.

Changing the tensioners is an engine out job and there are four of them, hence a very expensive job and most of the cost is labour. Best to find a good independant as not a job for the inexperienced.

anonymous-user

85 months

Saturday 9th January 2016
quotequote all
Using a slightly thicker oil helps the tensioner retain oil pressure when the engine is and this reduces the startup rattle but really is only a temporary fix.

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,463 posts

190 months

Saturday 9th January 2016
quotequote all
the rattle is barely for a second to be honest and only on cold start

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,463 posts

190 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
Ok cool so how long would that sort of job take?

MattS3

2,112 posts

222 months

Monday 11th January 2016
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Andy70 said:
Ok cool so how long would that sort of job take?
Looks like Audi quote 28hrs according this thread
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/s4-timing-cha...



Andy70

Original Poster:

1,463 posts

190 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
ok cool, I know a couple of good mechanics, so i'll book it in ASAP then, cheers for your help guys

pinseeker

146 posts

226 months

Monday 11th January 2016
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Andy70 said:
the rattle is barely for a second to be honest and only on cold start
If it's only this don't worry about it, it's as it should be. Get in it and enjoy it! Miss mine.....

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,463 posts

190 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
pinseeker said:
If it's only this don't worry about it, it's as it should be. Get in it and enjoy it! Miss mine.....
So this is normal for healthy cars then?

pinseeker

146 posts

226 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
I believe so. As gotta said and as I understood it during my ownership, the tensioners rattle for a brief moment on start up as as oil pressure builds up. If you hear a prolonged rattle, then start worrying. It's pretty well documented online. Regular oil changes with the correct grade and you're laughing.

Did you know audi did a recall on coil packs for the b6 s4? Mine were changed no quibbles at 70k 8 years later. Take it into audi for a free check, at 60 quid each you could be on to a winner!

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,463 posts

190 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
pinseeker said:
I believe so. As gotta said and as I understood it during my ownership, the tensioners rattle for a brief moment on start up as as oil pressure builds up. If you hear a prolonged rattle, then start worrying. It's pretty well documented online. Regular oil changes with the correct grade and you're laughing.

Did you know audi did a recall on coil packs for the b6 s4? Mine were changed no quibbles at 70k 8 years later. Take it into audi for a free check, at 60 quid each you could be on to a winner!
I did hear something along those lines, I think mine might be out of that, any way 1 did go and picked a new one up on ebay for 15 quid and fitted it myself, but thanks for the tip anyway

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,463 posts

190 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
Relief to know that this could be normal? but any more advice welcome, just eases the urgency of rectifying the problem though

MattS3

2,112 posts

222 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
Mine rattled briefly at 3 years old when I bought it with 38k miles.
It still rattled the very same 7 years later at 97k miles when I sold it.

I had the same clutch in all that time too.

Oil usage increased from 250ml per 1k miles to a litre in 1k miles by the time I sold it.

I decided to cut my losses and get out at that stage, gutted though, I loved it. Just didn't want to end up potentially chucking cash at chains, clutch and still have oil consumption issues.

I then bought an S3 sport back which was a hoot for a year, but it made me drive like a hooligan, but that's a different story.