Latest round... finally got tools to replace the plug in Cylinder 5. I still just keep having problems with that cylinder which is good I guess. Pulled it and while I haven't seen a lot of used spark plugs in my life this one seemed to look bad after two months of use. Pretty burnt up. Put new one in there and will see what tomorrow morning holds... If i get the same morning shudder i'm going to try switching around plugs and coils.

When I remove the oil cap, it definitely sucks the cap back down. Is that a sign of anything?

 

Yep... I bet the PCV Valve is bad. It's a common failure. I've put two on mine in the past 3 years. Good God, man. I just checked the price on them for your car. $100. At Partsgeek. Even more at Advance Auto.. Ridiculous. Anyway, the PCV Valve is supposed to shut at idle. Sometimes the diaphragm inside will tear and allow air to be sucked in from both the crank case and the outside. This will give a lean condition.

Actually, the plug looks like it has glazed since the ceramic insulator around the electrode looks a bit too clean. The lean condition from the PCV Valve leaking could be allowing that cylinder to run a bit hot and glaze that plug in short order.

The PVC (or Crankcase Vent Valve) is located on top to the engine near the rear toward the throttle body. It round and about 3" in diameter. I bet if you crank the car up, you might feel and hear air being sucked into the small opening on the top of it. This means the diaphragm is ripped inside.

 

Looking at the PCV Valve for the 2007 versus the 2002 unit like mine, the only difference I see is the tubing coming out of the center. I bet that comes off your unit and slips on the one without it (cheaper). I'd remove the one from your car and take it to the store you're getting parts from and see if that tubing will attach to a 2002 unit.

 

Okay, I believe I have already bought two versions of it which both say they fit my car... the problem is I can't seem to locate the existing one. I've looked pretty extensively... please point it out to me.

 

Wow.. I'm not seeing anything familiar back there. I think that's a 2008 engine. What is the engine code? BVJ or something like that?

 

I'm changing my signature too: A8L 4.2L BVJ D3

I don't know what other information I can provide. I actually bought the Audi online mechanics manual back in the day and believe the breather valve is buried behind the back of the engine and is nothing like the pancake thing. I doubt I would be able to replace it, even with the mechanics notes.

https://www.amazon.com/Separator-Cra.../dp/B01GCSM00Q

I did get my Carista and have been taking all sorts of logs with it along with Torque. I don't know if anyone on here can analyze/interpret the logs or tell me where it should be operating. At a minimum, I turned off the seatbelt ding lol

 

It does look a bit involved but I bet you could handle it. Just take your time and don't force anything. I think I can see the top of it just behind that round dome object (looks like crank case vent cover or something).

 

For the fun of it, my Carista dump. Not sure if I might actually have other problems:

OBD2 - confirmed:
P0174 - System Too Lean Bank 2
P0305 - Cylinder 5 Misfire Detected

OBD2 - pending:
P0174 - System Too Lean Bank 2

Battery regulator:
02274 - Static (Quiescent) current stage 3
02272 - Static (Quiescent) current stage 1
02273 - Static (Quiescent) current stage 2
02277 - Static (Quiescent) current stage 6
02256 - Quiescent current

Tire pressure monitor:
01521 - Sensor for Tire Pressure

Heater & air conditioning:
00065 - Left Rear Footwell Heater (Z42)
00066 - Right Rear Footwell Heater (Z43)

Airbags:
01212 - Belt Tensioner Igniter; Rear Passenger Side (N197)

Engine:
P2179 - Bank 2, System too Lean off Idle
P0300 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0305 - Cylinder 5, Misfire Detected

 

I need to check into the Carista thing. Either that or the Ross Tech item.


Crap.. Just checked an you can only get the Basic Tools for the D2 like mine for Carista.

 

Update! So my car hasn't gotten any better despite what the dealership suggested of "just use the car and it will adjust." Yesterday I dropped it off at a local German garage and they inspected the P304 and P305 codes... the spark plug was sitting in oil in the cylinder 4 chamber and the coil end was corroded from the oil/arching. They basically stopped work and suggested I take it back to Audi Westmont for them to address the ORIGINAL work of addressing the "low oil light" from November.

I mean, I can't believe this... If anything I'm going to insist on a refund for that work and have the local place do it. Needless to say, their suggestion of "replacing all the spark plugs" that didn't fix the problem might need to be addressed too.