Would a Sept 2007 A4 2.0t have potential chain issues?

Would a Sept 2007 A4 2.0t have potential chain issues?

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W201_190e

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

220 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
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I have to decide fairly swiftly if I want this car (one owner fsh)

I know chains may be an issue? Any guidance appreciated!

sherman

13,838 posts

222 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
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What milage?

Chain drive engines are usually good for 100k before needing any maintenance.


W201_190e

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

220 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
sherman said:
What milage?

Chain drive engines are usually good for 100k before needing any maintenance.
101k!

Krikkit

27,000 posts

188 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
sherman said:
Chain drive engines are usually good for 100k before needing any maintenance.
Rubbish.

W201_190e said:
I know chains may be an issue? Any guidance appreciated!
If it's the 2.0 EA888 engine as-used in lots of VW models then it might need the timing tensioner replacing, or at very least checking. Otherwise I don't believe they specifically have chain issues.

Start it from completely cold, if you hear a rattle from the engine which doesn't disappear within 5s then walk away. A little chain noise isn't unusual so a little at startup is fine, but it should be completely gone by the time the tensioners get oil pressure a handful of seconds after startup.

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 8th December 15:09

sherman

13,838 posts

222 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
sherman said:
Chain drive engines are usually good for 100k before needing any maintenance.
Rubbish.

W201_190e said:
I know chains may be an issue? Any guidance appreciated!
If it's the 2.0 EA888 engine as-used in lots of VW models then it might need the timing tensioner replacing, or at very least checking. Otherwise I don't believe they specifically have chain issues.

Start it from completely cold, if you hear a rattle from the engine which doesn't disappear within 5s then walk away. A little chain noise isn't unusual so a little at startup is fine, but it should be completely gone by the time the tensioners get oil pressure a handful of seconds after startup.

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 8th December 15:09
If you notice my wording 'maintenance' would also encompass your suggestion of tightening/replacing tensioners rolleyes

Krikkit

27,000 posts

188 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
sherman said:
If you notice my wording 'maintenance' would also encompass your suggestion of tightening/replacing tensioners rolleyes
Specifically for this engine mentioned which is known to have a bad design of tensioner between 2007 and 2009, yes.

Just saying every chain-driven engine needs some kind of maintenance by 100k is rubbish. I've owned 7 cars with chains, all over 100k miles, none have needed any chain maintenance at all. Not that any of that's exceptional for PH.

W201_190e

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

220 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
If it's the 2.0 EA888 engine as-used in lots of VW models then it might need the timing tensioner replacing, or at very least checking. Otherwise I don't believe they specifically have chain issues.

Start it from completely cold, if you hear a rattle from the engine which doesn't disappear within 5s then walk away. A little chain noise isn't unusual so a little at startup is fine, but it should be completely gone by the time the tensioners get oil pressure a handful of seconds after startup.

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 8th December 15:09
It was an ice bucket when I started it this morning. It was fairly quiet. The car drove well, turbo seemed to kick in normally. The engine number starts BUL008. It’s only a £2k car, but it fits the bill for our needs.

W201_190e

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

220 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
sherman said:
Chain drive engines are usually good for 100k before needing any maintenance.
Rubbish.

W201_190e said:
I know chains may be an issue? Any guidance appreciated!
If it's the 2.0 EA888 engine as-used in lots of VW models then it might need the timing tensioner replacing, or at very least checking. Otherwise I don't believe they specifically have chain issues.

Start it from completely cold, if you hear a rattle from the engine which doesn't disappear within 5s then walk away. A little chain noise isn't unusual so a little at startup is fine, but it should be completely gone by the time the tensioners get oil pressure a handful of seconds after startup.

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 8th December 15:09
It’s not that engine, the one you refer to started production March 2008.

Appreciate the advise so far.

Krikkit

27,000 posts

188 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
W201_190e said:
It was an ice bucket when I started it this morning. It was fairly quiet. The car drove well, turbo seemed to kick in normally. The engine number starts BUL008. It’s only a £2k car, but it fits the bill for our needs.
Crack on then, sounds like a decent enough purchase.

W201_190e

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

220 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Crack on then, sounds like a decent enough purchase.
Cheers! It’s ours subject to a health check.

W201_190e

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

220 months

Sunday 11th December 2022
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I have since found out it would be impossible for this car to have timing chain issues as it doesn’t have one! Doh!

Also apparently this engine doesn’t suffer from the oil consumption issues that the later engine could do.

rottenegg

805 posts

70 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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2007 would be the EA113, which is cambelt AND chain. Both need doing.