Buying my 1st turbo engine car, what to inspect?

[facer]

Hi everyone! I'm buying my first turbo engine Audi (looking at couple of 1.8T B6's and couple 1.8T B5's, also C5 A6 with 2.7T). I never had a turbo engine car and never worked on them. But have lots of experience with 2.8 and 4.2 engines and drive trains. Could you please spare some advice in the matter of what should I check, where to look, how to check the turbos in the right way? I have VagCom cable and experience of using it as well. Any input appreciated!

[facer]

Did I ask a stupid question or no one has any advice?..

[rohit13]

Originally Posted by facer

Hi everyone! I'm buying my first turbo engine Audi (looking at couple of 1.8T B6's and couple 1.8T B5's, also C5 A6 with 2.7T). I never had a turbo engine car and never worked on them. But have lots of experience with 2.8 and 4.2 engines and drive trains. Could you please spare some advice in the matter of what should I check, where to look, how to check the turbos in the right way? I have VagCom cable and experience of using it as well. Any input appreciated!

The 1.8 has known issues with sludge. open the oil cap and check for tarish black crud. the 1.8t is easier to mod (turbo wise) than the 2.7 which requires an engine pull to access the turbos. but stock for stock the 2.7 is a beast just the labor is harder.

[silverd2]

Originally Posted by facer

Hi everyone! I'm buying my first turbo engine Audi (looking at couple of 1.8T B6's and couple 1.8T B5's, also C5 A6 with 2.7T). I never had a turbo engine car and never worked on them. But have lots of experience with 2.8 and 4.2 engines and drive trains. Could you please spare some advice in the matter of what should I check, where to look, how to check the turbos in the right way? I have VagCom cable and experience of using it as well. Any input appreciated!

Just got my 1st turbo engine (wife's 2.7t Allroad)...have always avoided them because of rep for heat related problems.
Vagcom is good, esp if you can hook it up before buying, which I didn't (out of state buy).
She likes the car...no CEL, but I noticed that it got even worse than advertised mpg (Allroad 2.7T sucks MORE gas than a 4.2L 40V in an A8, with 60 less horsepower!!)and noticed sweet smell from exhaust (rich) even when warmed up.
I put my Vagcom to it, mainly to reprogram her central locking module to open/close the windows from a distance. I found a code for an EGT sensor (exhaust gas temp...a turbo thing) saying it was shorted to ground...when this happens it goes into default mode, assuming that the exhaust gas (before turbo) is at it hottest...so it throws as much gasoline at it as it can burn, in an attempt to cool it down..assuming it needs it (rich = cool burn...lean = hot burn).
Not only are they a pain to get to (esp drivers side), but a single sensor is about $300...a pair (recommended) is $455 at cheapest supplier I could find....and failing sensors do NOT trip the CEL...a loose gas cap will, but NOT those!

That's just my 1st discovery...I'm sure there's more to come...I'll take a normally aspirated V8 (or V6) ANY day.

Fun with turbos...and maintaining them

[rohit13]

Originally Posted by silverd2

Just got my 1st turbo engine (wife's 2.7t Allroad)...have always avoided them because of rep for heat related problems.
Vagcom is good, esp if you can hook it up before buying, which I didn't (out of state buy).
She likes the car...no CEL, but I noticed that it got even worse than advertised mpg (Allroad 2.7T sucks MORE gas than a 4.2L 40V in an A8, with 60 less horsepower!!)and noticed sweet smell from exhaust (rich) even when warmed up.
I put my Vagcom to it, mainly to reprogram her central locking module to open/close the windows from a distance. I found a code for an EGT sensor (exhaust gas temp...a turbo thing) saying it was shorted to ground...when this happens it goes into default mode, assuming that the exhaust gas (before turbo) is at it hottest...so it throws as much gasoline at it as it can burn, in an attempt to cool it down..assuming it needs it (rich = cool burn...lean = hot burn).
Not only are they a pain to get to (esp drivers side), but a single sensor is about $300...a pair (recommended) is $455 at cheapest supplier I could find....and failing sensors do NOT trip the CEL...a loose gas cap will, but NOT those!

That's just my 1st discovery...I'm sure there's more to come...I'll take a normally aspirated V8 (or V6) ANY day.

Fun with turbos...and maintaining them

The egts dont throw a check engine but do throw a code in the ecu right?

[silverd2]

Originally Posted by rohit13

The egts dont throw a check engine but do throw a code in the ecu right?

Yes...and I just have the freebie version VCDS-Lite and a cheap Chinese cable, but amazing what you can do (and read) with it.

[jasonallen]

Originally Posted by facer

Hi everyone! I'm buying my first turbo engine Audi (looking at couple of 1.8T B6's and couple 1.8T B5's, also C5 A6 with 2.7T). I never had a turbo engine car and never worked on them. But have lots of experience with 2.8 and 4.2 engines and drive trains. Could you please spare some advice in the matter of what should I check, where to look, how to check the turbos in the right way? I have VagCom cable and experience of using it as well. Any input appreciated!

Go with a B6 ultrasport 6sp, sludge issues are fixed and its a great car for a turbo engine with plenty of oppurtunity for plenty of power. Things to look for on the 1.8t timing belt kit done every 75,xxx miles, check the upper control arms those are known to need replacement, just make sure to check the car over thouroughly look at the coilpacks and down into the head where the plugs are. All these things are relatively easy fixes but i gives you an idea of what your in for.

[jasonallen]

Oh and AVOID the 2.7t unless you have a fat pocketbook for repair hence my SIG picture lol