hi, im new to this site and also to audi cars, i have a 1998 audi a3 1.6SE, i only bought it yesterday, when i got home under closer inspection i noticed there is a big fat black pipe or tube that is to the right of the engine that runs from the right to the centre and it splits off with a smaller bore tube that seems to go in to where you top up the oil, i noticed the smaller tube that splits off has split and the previous owner had maskin taped it up, i was just wondering what this tube is for and is it mega important that its changed asap? thanks for any advice, sorry im not very technical, being a woman im a bit worried and i bought the car sold as seen

thanks for any advice
lou

 

Hi Lou

Sounds like the valve cover breather tube. Its there to take pressure away from the engine block which builds up from cold starts. There is a more detailed explanation as to what it does, but safe to say that tightly taping the hose with electrical tape is fine. I would take off the old tape that is there, bend the hose to open the split slightly and apply a small amount of super glue to the edges, then tape it up.

The proper job is to replace the hose for maybe £20 tops for the part.

Luke

 

thanks! thats exactly what i was hoping to hear,
many thanks
louise
xx