This car belongs to one of our members here on the forums... Superdoug and I have been tearing this thing apart trying to figure out what's going on since the car is not under any warranty anymore... basically there is am intermittent loud tapping noise coming from the cylinder head... more near the cam adjuster... considering how many stories we've all heard about this sludge issue audi knows about, we decided to get right down to it and drop the pan to check the oil sump for cloggage.... this is what we found...



here it is with a flashlight at the other end.....










it is pretty obvious that the oil sump is a definet problem but my question is, what else could be an issue that i should replace? ... i was thinking the oil pump... i have a new one here on hand...but not sure if it would really need to be replaced...

when i took off the pan... the pan was very clean... no sighns of sludge.... only that you see on the oil pick up...... i also took off the cylinder head cam caps to check the bearing condition... and they looked great... just a little bit of dryness getting to the camshaft in a few areas... i could tell by the camshaft looking a little "milky, or while" most likely from lack of proper lubercation.....

i am thinking oil sump and sea foam.... anyone think oil pump too since i've got this thing all apart???

thank you!!!!!!!!!

 

Oil pump and sea foam will help, but you need to check the oil feed line for the turbo as well. If that gets clogged you'll hear the dentist drill, which is bad.

 

that sounds like a good idea...... actually i wonder how much a new hose would be anyways..... one thing we don't really wanna take our chances with is our turbo... may be a smart investment to just replace it..... any thing else?

 

I'd think that the oil pump would be smart. You're already torn down, you have a sludge issue, and you're seeing problems with the car's running. If you're already at that point, you may as well replace it. It might not end up doing anything for you, but it may also save you from another teardown later on down the road.

 

here's the new one.... lol

 

That's my baby



You both are doing a wonderful job with her....can't tell you how much I owe you both <3

 

ok Jet pump and pick up tube seem to be it. i think the seafoam will take care of the rest.

 

The TSB for repairing a sludge issue includes replacing every single PCV line in the system. Thats a little extreme, but the hoses i would replace is the PCV valve itself, the large 3 point hose at the back of the valve cover (if applicable) and the large PCV hose under the intake manifold that looks like a large "L." Those commonly get crap built up in them and it ends up in the pick up tube.

 

what do you think about the oil pressure line to the turbo auditech79? seafoam will take care of it?? ...take it off and use compressed air>??

 

Them girls... They break everyting!!!
Glad to see your A4 is in good hands!