My 2001 A6 2.8L is running and idling rough. This is a recent development.

It has 118k miles on it. Timing belt was replaced around 100K. Don't have the error codes w/ me, but I'll see if I can dig them up.

RECENT DEVELOPMENT:
Car idling rough and running without normal power. A burning smell was coming out from the engine, smelled like burning rubber or something.

So I checked the engine oil and the oil was pretty much not even registering on the dipstick. For the laste 12 months or so, I have run into situations where the oil seemed to running extremely low, though oil changes have been done on a fairly regular basis. Last oil change was less than a month ago.

Not sure if the oil burning/engine running super hot is related or may have created the problem with the rough idling, lower power. Did a hose burn through?

OIL CHANGE TODAY:
I changed the oil from the 40W to a heavier 50W. Mechanic said this would help. Mentioned that VW/Audi are common for burning oil. Mentioned there was a small leak, but probably bigger problem is the engine burning the oil.

NOW:
The burning smell seems to be better, but the rough idling and lower power is still there if not worse.

PRIOR PROBLEMS:
Last diagnostic showed the catalytic converter needs to be replaced, though not sure if this had any relation to the current rough idling/low power issue.

Any thoughts?

For now I am more concerned about the rough idling/lower power than the oil burning issue, though that seems to be something that will continue to cause problems in the future.

 

Your loss of power is due to bad cats more than likely. Your use of 50w oil is just.....find a new mechanic. How hot is your car running? The burning smell is probably your cam seals leaking and also accounts for your oil loss. Cam seals can dump oil one day and then seep it the next.

Welcome to the forums.

 

Burning smell is def the cam cover gaskets - had this on 2 previous Audis