Well i just bought an A4 1.8t fwd with 60,000 miles on it today, guy said he replaced timing belt less than 200 miles ago. Everything seems to be fine with the car except that there is a slight but constant clicking noise coming from the engine. I wasnt able to have someone press the gas while i had my head over the engine, but doing the best i could it seemed like the clicking was increasing with engine speed, although at practically anything above idle the clicking is drowned out by the radiator fan. Also you can't hear the clicking unless the hood is open, so it is not very loud. The guy told me he is running 10w30 regular castrol. Also the car is on 89 octane gas, could that be the problem? I bought the car for a very good price so I am hoping this isnt the reason why. Any help at all is greatly appreciated as I am an audi nooby, but I hope to learn to work on this car myself.

 

Well i just did more extensive searching, and i read that a clicking noise coming from underneith the valve cover is normal for audi's, but any confirmation would still be great. I can't believe my first post here was a result of me not searching enough. Anyway just to let you guys know i should be hanging around doin my best to help, but i have a better base in japanese cars. I was pretty freakin worried about that tapping too, but like I said im new so if anyone can confirm my findings, and hello to everyone that reads this.

 

What kind of crap fuel do you buy that it is 89 octane? The minimum in Australia is 91 but in an Audi you should always use the highest available (normally 98). It prevents engine knocking & makes you go faster.

 

well im not made of money, but i guess your right, as soon as i run this tank out i will start filling with at least 91 or maybe 93(highest available in my area). I just hate to spend all that extra money when i am currently working for 6 dollars an hour and trying to go to school.

 

perhaps just try and have a mix? Or maybe add an octane booster to your tank. If you add half of one to every tank you will be fine. . . . . . Where do you live? I haven't heard about a 93 Octane being the highest before?

 

here in the States, the normal octane ratings for pump gas are: 87, 89, 91, and 93. You can buy racing fuel or higher octane fuel at some gas stations but it's not widely available at every corner station.

 

yea use atleast 91 oct, i use 94 only (highest i can find), and try changing ur oil. not sure bout a4's but i use 5w40 castrol full synthetic, maybe try a different oil?

 

You should really, really, really not use anything but premium. If your car starts pinging and you knock a hole in the cylinder or something and have to pay to replace that, you won't have made up enough money by saving two dollars per tank getting 89 octane instead of 91.