I'm a new A6 owner. A few days ago i noticed a noise in the engine on start up and sometimes while driving. If I am on an incline going down, the sounds seems to stop but when i level back it would return and sometimes when turning. With the turning, i immediately thought it was the power steering, but the fluid is just fine and isn't hard to turn at all.

2003 A6 3.0 Tiptronic
FWD -Automatic - 80,000 Miles

I uploaded a video which you can see and hear where the sound is coming from.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2v4p_srE7I

Brian

 

Those are the intake change over valves, they change the intake runners from either short or long for powerband reasons. It sounds like its leaking or one of those are stuck, hard to tell on the video though.

 

I have the EXACT same problem with my 3.0.... im this close to replacing my power steering pump...or is it something else?