Hey, I just bought my first A4. I upgraded from a 1995 audi 90 Q(2.8 12v v6 5 speed)

I bought a 1997, 1.8t 5 speed quattro A4. It was a pretty good deal, I payed $4200. The clutch was replaced 30k ago, and the engine was rebuilt 25k ago due to sludge. The entire front end was sparkeling new. Overall, the body has 141k on it. There is a Borla exhaust on it, and a MTM ECU chip in it(the car is VERY quick). Everything seemed to be in good order. I bought the car and drove it 80 miles home.

Two problems though.

1. When flooring it sometimes, the engine kinda will stuter maybe once or twice.(looses power for a second or two) Honestly, I put 89 octane in it on the way home because thats all the gas station had, and i was desperate. Could this be causing it?

2. The right front end makes some sorta wierd grinding/rubbing noise when i hit bumps. The tie rod ends are fine, but im no front end expert and idk what this is.

Any idea what these problems are caused by? Dangerous or not?

I changed the oil with Mobile 1 synthetic, and also threw on a mobile 1 oil filter(larger than the last one I had on it). Was this a good choice?

Thanks!

 

yes lower octane retards the timing and espacially on a turbo car you want the best burn, fill up with the highest octane. and 2 you gotta give more than a rubbing grinding noise, it may be part of the fender lining getting in the wheel or bad control amr, or it may be nothing. best thing to do is raise the car and see if theres any play or loose objects.

 

The grinding noise is so hard to explain.

On the lift, the front end is extremely solid.

But when driving the front end of the car makes this metal on metal sliding noise.(like only an inch of sliding) but only when i hit potholes.

 

Could be a blown shock.