B7 Cam Chain Warning - Calling Dr G
Discussion
So my B7 2.0 TFSI BUL engine went in for oil change recently. The indy warned it may need cam chain tensioner, plus oil pump tensioner & pipe pick up, so around £1k of preventative maintenence.
Now while I accept the tensioner can be an issue, I'm unclear whether this is a generic warning for more work or whether its something that forewarns you if its likley in advance?
My engine has only just covered 50k with oil changes every 3-4k using appropriate 507 spec F/s 5/30 and is genrally very well maintained. My engine on start up sounds no different to when it was newish with 20k & certainly does not have the noises I've heard on various Utube links. Its also the BUL engine (GMBH 220hp) variant with the modified cam lobes.
While i'm keen on preventative maintenance as i tend to keep my cars, i do wonder if the chain tensioner is becoming 'an opportunity' for work rather than affecting every engine, perhaps those engines with higher miles and not so well maintained? A touch of professional clarity or personal experience would be appreciated here.
Now while I accept the tensioner can be an issue, I'm unclear whether this is a generic warning for more work or whether its something that forewarns you if its likley in advance?
My engine has only just covered 50k with oil changes every 3-4k using appropriate 507 spec F/s 5/30 and is genrally very well maintained. My engine on start up sounds no different to when it was newish with 20k & certainly does not have the noises I've heard on various Utube links. Its also the BUL engine (GMBH 220hp) variant with the modified cam lobes.
While i'm keen on preventative maintenance as i tend to keep my cars, i do wonder if the chain tensioner is becoming 'an opportunity' for work rather than affecting every engine, perhaps those engines with higher miles and not so well maintained? A touch of professional clarity or personal experience would be appreciated here.
Andy JB said:
The indy warned it may need...
Any idea why? Belt on those engines as ManOpener has pointed out.They're due for routine replacement every 5 years or 75,000 miles. Whichever is the sooner. The kit includes a new belt tensioner but does not include a water pump which should be changed at the same time.
Andy JB said:
So my B7 2.0 TFSI BUL engine went in for oil change recently. The indy warned it may need cam chain tensioner, plus oil pump tensioner & pipe pick up, so around £1k of preventative maintenence.
Now while I accept the tensioner can be an issue, I'm unclear whether this is a generic warning for more work or whether its something that forewarns you if its likley in advance?
My engine has only just covered 50k with oil changes every 3-4k using appropriate 507 spec F/s 5/30 and is genrally very well maintained. My engine on start up sounds no different to when it was newish with 20k & certainly does not have the noises I've heard on various Utube links. Its also the BUL engine (GMBH 220hp) variant with the modified cam lobes.
While i'm keen on preventative maintenance as i tend to keep my cars, i do wonder if the chain tensioner is becoming 'an opportunity' for work rather than affecting every engine, perhaps those engines with higher miles and not so well maintained? A touch of professional clarity or personal experience would be appreciated here.
We still see alot of these cars, B7 BUL its the one with the drilled discs right. Now while I accept the tensioner can be an issue, I'm unclear whether this is a generic warning for more work or whether its something that forewarns you if its likley in advance?
My engine has only just covered 50k with oil changes every 3-4k using appropriate 507 spec F/s 5/30 and is genrally very well maintained. My engine on start up sounds no different to when it was newish with 20k & certainly does not have the noises I've heard on various Utube links. Its also the BUL engine (GMBH 220hp) variant with the modified cam lobes.
While i'm keen on preventative maintenance as i tend to keep my cars, i do wonder if the chain tensioner is becoming 'an opportunity' for work rather than affecting every engine, perhaps those engines with higher miles and not so well maintained? A touch of professional clarity or personal experience would be appreciated here.
The oil pick up pipe would be good preventative maintenance on an old 1.8T but not really an issue on the 2.0
Never changed the chain between the cams, which might be what he meant, surley the guy would know the engine was belt driven.
We have had a number of these with a resenance that sounds like an exhaust heat sheild vibrating, but infact its the waste gate on the turbo, fixed with a sprung clip. Does your car make this noise? has the indy heard it and misdiagnosed a cam chain issue??
Edited by Tame Technician on Wednesday 4th February 18:38
Tame Technician said:
We have had a number of these with a resenance that sounds like an exhaust heat sheild vibrating, but infact its the waste gate on the turbo, fixed with a sprung clip. Does your car make this noise? has the indy heard it and misdiagnosed a chaim chain issue??
That's a very good call, not seen one of those in ages but I do remember the very first time we saw that rattle. Bright yellow A4 DTM that we couldn't make shut up (until embarrasingly finding the above 20p fix).Never replaced the 'inner' cam chain, only do the very occasional one of those on old B5 RS4s.
Thanks for replies - likely it was Cam belt tensioner at the back of the engine - not the cam belt /water pump etc (which i had changed at 40k).
The indy tech said it was noisy/rattly suggesting the belt would skip due to the tensioner wearing (a common issue on TFSI apparently). It seems well documented on the net but mainly in higher mileage long service type cars and they are very noisy when failing based on you tube clips which, would be quite apparent to me.
I did ask tech to indicate it to me but said it had gone quieter, however, it sounds fine to me & no different to when it was a year or so old. I am merely looking to ascertain whether I need this work if engine is quiet or if its a common issue & good advice to prevent belt slip & a new engine?
As for Cam follower wear - BUL engines were less impacted it seems due to modfied cam lobe set up. I agree with oil pick up pipe comments, seems unikley unless a design fault.
The indy tech said it was noisy/rattly suggesting the belt would skip due to the tensioner wearing (a common issue on TFSI apparently). It seems well documented on the net but mainly in higher mileage long service type cars and they are very noisy when failing based on you tube clips which, would be quite apparent to me.
I did ask tech to indicate it to me but said it had gone quieter, however, it sounds fine to me & no different to when it was a year or so old. I am merely looking to ascertain whether I need this work if engine is quiet or if its a common issue & good advice to prevent belt slip & a new engine?
As for Cam follower wear - BUL engines were less impacted it seems due to modfied cam lobe set up. I agree with oil pick up pipe comments, seems unikley unless a design fault.
Dr G said:
Given a stellar maintenance record that's quite a surprising failure/fault.
Is the ECU reporting any timing issues?
No ECU fault & nothing has actually happened detrimentaly. Is the ECU reporting any timing issues?
Basically at the last service the tech stated there was a noise at the back of the engine (which i cannot hear) which may require a cam chain & tensioner replacing plus oil pump & pick up pipe as preventative slippage = £1k. As i can't hear any anomolies I was enquiring whether this was good advice for a common problem on the TFSI to change the tensioner, or if it was a rare problem affecting only certain TFSI's ?
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