35K service turned into carbon build up removal as well

[MKGIY]

Just got a call from the dealership that my car has carbon build up. Since I am still under warranty, they are removing the build up at no cost. I am stuck with a 2015 black A4 with dark brown leather interior for another day or so. How much would the carbon build up service cost normally?

[AudBoost]

Price will depend on the type of cleaning they perform. A chemical cleaning (which will not do anything on a decent amount of buildup) the dealership probably charges a couple hundred. An manual cleaning (aka... chemical soak and wire brush scrub) would be much more expensive cause there is a lot more involved (like removing the supercharger to get access to the intake manifold).

[droopy1592]

Wasn't it changed to 10/120k on the carbon buildup? Secondary air injection anyway?

[MKGIY]

They are doing the manual cleaning and removing the SC. I asked if they had the parts for the fuel rail recall as my car is on the list, but they are not in stock yet.

[AudBoost]

That's pretty decent of them to do that under warranty.
Did they say how bad the buildup was?

[Audibot]

At an independent shop, my A4 was cost me $550 to get it done. This involved manually cleaning the valves (which involves removal of the intake manifold, etc), and then after that was completed, running a chemical cleaning solution through it (BG treatment). So dealership, I would add a few hundred more, likely just to adjust for labor costs (that's all it is). Also you have more cylinders.



Car felt night and day different. You'll love it when you get it back.

[schirm]

At an independent shop, my A4 was cost me $550 to get it done. This involved manually cleaning the valves (which involves removal of the intake manifold, etc), and then after that was completed, running a chemical cleaning solution through it (BG treatment). So dealership, I would add a few hundred more, likely just to adjust for labor costs (that's all it is). Also you have more cylinders.



Car felt night and day different. You'll love it when you get it back.

My buddies B7 RS4 got dyno'd before and after the carbon cleaning and he gained 50WHP. I know its a different motor any everything, but just saying, if its bad you should notice a difference after.

[Audibot]

Yeah idk what the difference was b/c I didn't get it dyno'd, but it felt so much more free revving and willing to go.

[Pilfer]

Yeah idk what the difference was b/c I didn't get it dyno'd, but it felt so much more free revving and willing to go.

Isn't this issue covered even if you're out of the factory warranty? I thought Audi was covering for quite a few more miles than 50 k

[whts4]

What was the nature/symptom that caused you to identify the need for the carbon removal. Can you describe? Thx.

[raudiace4]

Why would you need carbon cleaning on a 3.0T at 35K miles? These motors aren't even that bad with carbon...

[S4'ed]

Why would you need carbon cleaning on a 3.0T at 35K miles? These motors aren't even that bad with carbon...

Because the dealer can charge Audi for more warrantee work.......

[MrFunk]

Isn't this issue covered even if you're out of the factory warranty? I thought Audi was covering for quite a few more miles than 50 k

+1 - thought this was covered up to 110k now and 10 years...

[chaos2984]

Because the dealer can charge Audi for more warrantee work.......

Umm yea deff not. That dealer won't be in business long if they are doing that. Ive worked in the dealership world for over 10 years now and that stuff doesnt go on that much anymore. There is plenty of safe guards in place to prevent that. What will happen is Audi will see excessive claims from that dealer relating to said issue. That will throw a red flag for review. Then they will compare your warranty numbers of said repair against your local area and if you are higher than that rate by a good amount then an audit is triggered. Then they will come in and look at every work order for that repair and see if it is legit or not and figure out if everything is a ok. if it is then its fine. But if its not. It will trigger a full audit and their team comes in and they start taking thousands of dollars.

I should know our dealer went threw this. We had way higher than normal engine work for our dealer vs our region. They came in and everything was in line and no issues. Just for some reason everyone with engine problems came to our dealership.


But back to the original topic sorry for side tracking. Are you paying for this carbon clean up service or was it an up sell? Also how could they tell you had excessive build up also? Something is not jiving here.

[1Fireforge]

MKGIY, did you end up throwing any EPC codes? I had two thrown, but thought it was related to my clutch before I took it in. Turns out that they said that there was carbon buildup and they wanted to remove the exhaust manifold to flush it all out. Doesn't sound like they were doing any kind of mechanical cleaning, though. It's covered under warranty (probably because of the codes).

Edited to add, 2012 with only 30k miles...

[Audibot]

My car doesn't matter--I was already at 120k when I had it done last year; I'm closing in on 140k right now.

[MKGIY]

My car didnt throw any codes, I dont know what made them check for carbon build up as it was just the 35K service. I did ask them to make sure all updates and previous know issues were checked. This is my first service with the car as I bought it used. They referenced something along the lines of stage 1 carbon build up and that it was no cost to me. I do believe that Audi is covering this past the factory warranty. I will ask some additional questions when I pick up my car and report back.

[gan911]

Yours was free? They offered to do mine @ $250 for my 35k service (early @ 31k)

[MKGIY]

Yours was free? They offered to do mine @ $250 for my 35k service (early @ 31k)

Yes sir, no cost and they are manually removing the carbon building. It seems like for $250 that is just the chemical process to remove it.

[fitzydude]

Stop driving like a grandma!

[Joker S4]

Stop driving like a grandma!

I was going to chime in with something like this. My dealership did it while I was in for the 35k maintenance, no cost. CPO, still under warranty. I like my dealership. Get the service department christmas and gift cards.

[Santorin Dream]

Yes sir, no cost and they are manually removing the carbon building. It seems like for $250 that is just the chemical process to remove it.

I see you're from NJ. Which dealership was this?

[1Fireforge]

MKGIY, just out of curiosity, did they say how long it would take to do? I'm trying to figure out if my dealer is doing the manual or just the flush. My service advisor said it was kind of a difficult process taking about 6 hours or so of work. Does that sound about right for what they're doing for you?

[purelife]

Not walnut blasting?

[MKGIY]

I see you're from NJ. Which dealership was this?

Paul Miller Audi. I know someone people have had horrible experiences with this dealership, but this is where I purchased the car and it is 5 mins from my home.

MKGIY, just out of curiosity, did they say how long it would take to do? I'm trying to figure out if my dealer is doing the manual or just the flush. My service advisor said it was kind of a difficult process taking about 6 hours or so of work. Does that sound about right for what they're doing for you?

He said it would take about half a day, so 6 hours isn't to far off.

Not walnut blasting?

I asked if they were going to blast the carbon away and the reply was yes.

[Ryan_qttro]

+1 - thought this was covered up to 110k now and 10 years...

They are covering the Secondary air port carbon cleaning, the intake valve cleaning is covered if the Check Engine light is on, but I guess some dealers are covering it somehow.

But we work for the stealership, you sure they helped you out? lol

[chaos2984]

That's nice that they are covering it. Maybe their rep stated to look out for it and if they suspect anything go ahead and clean it. To better help with customer satisfaction. Its all about brand satisfaction and survey scores. But that's a good thing to hear that they are going above and beyond. Its really hard now days to find dealers that will do that for the customers.

[ENV²]

The buildup on these motors was on the exhaust side I heard not on the intake side. Good way for dealers to make money off lies. You should ask for pictures.

[1Fireforge]

ENV, exhaust manifold is what my service advisor said, though I thought I might have misheard him...

[chaos2984]

ENV, exhaust manifold is what my service advisor said, though I thought I might have misheard him...

I think you might have just misheard him. I don't think their is any way for carbon to get built up on the exhaust valves. I can see exhaust valves burning but build up. Its like very very unlikely due to where they are in the exhaust stream. The hot exhaust gases will burn that carbon right off of them. Your exhaust manifold can get upwards of 1500 F expecially now since they have the CATS so close to them.


But like you said if I was paying for this service I would want to see it as proof. But if they are taking care of it under warranty who cares. But I would make sure if you get a survey you give them 10's 5's or 4's what ever the highest rating is. Since they went above and beyond for you.

[Ryan_qttro]

The buildup on these motors was on the exhaust side I heard not on the intake side. Good way for dealers to make money off lies. You should ask for pictures.

There is carbon build up on the intake valves
and Build up in the secondary air ports in the exhaust part of the cylinder head. There is no build up on the exhaust valves.

[cW6mT mKviGLi]

My car doesn't matter--I was already at 120k when I had it done last year; I'm closing in on 140k right now.

You have a 140k on a B8 S4? If so I think this is the highest mileage B8 i've seen reported. Have you encountered any major problems with the car?

[MKGIY]

Picked up the car this morning and it was the secondary air port cleaning that was completed. They checked for the carbon build up after they scanned my car. The main thing I noticed was that the vibration at idle was suginificatly less. Also I confirnmed with the SA that this should be covered by Audi up to 120K miles.

[Ryan_qttro]

Picked up the car this morning and it was the secondary air port cleaning that was completed. They checked for the carbon build up after they scanned my car. The main thing I noticed was that the vibration at idle was suginificatly less. Also I confirnmed with the SA that this should be covered by Audi up to 120K miles.

The ECM automatically checks the Secondary air port build up, the test plan automatically pops up on the vehicles when a GFF is ran.

[1Fireforge]

Nice that it's covered up to 120k. Confirmed that I'm getting the walnut treatment as well!

[Ryan_qttro]

Nice that it's covered up to 120k. Confirmed that I'm getting the walnut treatment as well!

They don't use walnuts to clean Secondary air ports, they put vehicle in service position and run high pressure water through exhaust ports in engine.

[Eltoshan]

I wonder if this is still covered for TD1 cars? If not then I should probably budget for the SAI cleaning!

[Ryan_qttro]

I wonder if this is still covered for TD1 cars? If not then I should probably budget for the SAI cleaning!

I would think it would be covered, its a known issue. Mod's aren't gonna cause it to happen more.

[1Fireforge]

Ryan, you're right - confirmed with the tech, and he had to double check. It's a chemical soak followed by a manual brushing and then a flush.

[Ryan_qttro]

Ryan, you're right - confirmed with the tech, and he had to double check. It's a chemical soak followed by a manual brushing and then a flush.

Yea its kinda fun, kinda a dirty job. But like being a dentist to a cars intake valves.