I need some expert advise on this one. I have been getting a noise that sounds like it is a lifter noise. A noise that seems to be similar to a diesel engine.
I get the noise after about 1000 km after an oil change. The oil seems to be clean and plenty when I checked it. Does anyone experienced this problem before? Is this a normal sound for a 1.8T engine. Please advise.

 

No, this is not normal at all. HOw many miles do you have on your A4? Are you the original owner? Has regular oil ever been put in your engine? Hydraulic lifters are cheap to purchase but it takes about 3 hours for a good mechanic to replace.

 

I am the 3rd owner and the car has 110,000 km. I just changed the oil to synthetic. Could this be the beginning of the sludge problem?

 

Yeah you could have some gunk cought up in the lifters.

Virgin Question: What exactly is a sludge problem.

 

Doose had this problem and need his engine rebuilt. I am not really sure what could cause this problem.
Perhaps do a search on sludge and see what comes up.

 

NO nothing came up. Ill pm ol' doose. Ne ways ive got to go to differential equations class. peace out!

 

Good call Dudley. Yup, I did have this problem. At about 100,000 miles. It required a new oil pump. The problem is that the sump screen on the pickup line gets clogged. Audi has extended the warranty for this issue indefinitely (both time and mileage) so check with the dealer. I'm not sure which years are included, but I got a lettter from Audi saying that if the problem occured prior to receiving the notice, send bills and they would reimburse. Good thing, it ran about $800.00, plus the tow. Before I had the pump replaced I ran automatic transmission fluid in the oil for about 300 miles (one tank of gas). That cleaned a bunch of junk out of there.

 

This isnt that uncommon of a problem. Most engines have the classic "ticking" noise, when they become higher mileage vehicals. What wight oil are you using? You may consider using a lower wieght. It makes mine not tick quite as much.

 

Along those lines Audi came out with a list of "approved" oils to prevent the sludging problem from occuring or reoccuring. I listed them in the archived post somehwhere on the A4 forum. Oddly enough, if I'm not mistaken, 5W 30 Mobil 1 wasn't listed. Course that's what I use. Mobil 1 was one of the oils, but that specific viscosity wasn't listed.

 

yah its actualy a common noise caused by "sticky" lifters I ran motor flush through my car at two oil changes and it took care of it