B8.5 making a weird ticking noise and sometimes misfiring

[lownslow4.2]

I have a 2014 a4 apr stage 2 tuned, it's been running through a quart of oil roughly around 2000-2500 miles for the past 5k miles roughly.

Other than that, the car has started to make a weird ticking noise, and it is not at idle. It occurs under acceleration, but not at wide open throttle. I would say the noise is more prominent between 2500-4000 rpms while accelerating somewhat spirited. Another issue that I have noticed is that when I open the car up fully from 1-2 gear it's fine but once Im going into third gear it gets up to about 5500 rpms about to hit redline and it starts to misfire a little, then into 3rd gear it does the same thing around 5500 rpm and so on for the rest of gears. Again this only happens sometimes and not all the times. I'd say 50 percent of the time.

I was reading around on the forums that a bad batch of E85 could be to blame as to why the car is acting up, I saw someone was having troubles with their car running relativley rough and misfiring with the same tune and e85 but I forgot who it was.

My next step once this tank is done is to run it out completely, and fill it all the way up with 93 and see what that does


Any other suggestions? Or has anyone encountered this problem before ?

[bluefox280]

Checked your spark plugs for proper gap?
Checked your turbocharge wastegate flapper / actuator rod for looseness?

What, if any, are the fault codes when you scan with a VAG-COM / VCDS?

- Erik

[lownslow4.2]

Checked your spark plugs for proper gap?
Checked your turbocharge wastegate flapper / actuator rod for looseness?

What, if any, are the fault codes when you scan with a VAG-COM / VCDS?

- Erik

I don't have a a VAG-COM but I was planning on buying one recently. There is no check engine light on the dash though, if I were to run the vag-com on the car would it show anything since theres no check engine light?

[bluefox280]

I don't have a a VAG-COM but I was planning on buying one recently.

Do it; if you're want to do any help diagnosis, you will want it.

There is no check engine light on the dash though, if I were to run the vag-com on the car would it show anything since theres no check engine light?

It's very possible fault codes are present without a CEL being illuminated.
Scan, copy results, and post back up.

- Erik

[lownslow4.2]

Do it; if you're want to do any help diagnosis, you will want it.


It's very possible fault codes are present without a CEL being illuminated.
Scan, copy results, and post back up.

- Erik

Sounds good I will go ahead and buy one, forgot to also add that I recently took off one of the spark plugs to check if there was any oil burning through the cylinder, it could be the that we did not tighten it back correctly, the noise did start to happen right after we did this so it could very well be the issue

[lownslow4.2]

Checked your spark plugs for proper gap?
Checked your turbocharge wastegate flapper / actuator rod for looseness?

What, if any, are the fault codes when you scan with a VAG-COM / VCDS?

- Erik

when we checked the plug for any oil bringing there was none, also what is the proper gap for these plus? It is a 2014 a4

[bluefox280]

also what is the proper gap for these plus? It is a 2014 a4

Stock plugs with stock ECU programming is 0.032".

- Erik

[lownslow4.2]

Stock plugs with stock ECU programming is 0.032".

- Erik

okay and what would you say with a apr stage 2 tune?

[bluefox280]

okay and what would you say with a apr stage 2 tune?

A step colder plug and a gap size ranging between 0.024" - 0.028".

- Erik

[lownslow4.2]

A step colder plug and a gap size ranging between 0.024" - 0.028".

- Erik

Okay thank you for the advice, also my car has around 50k miles now so I think changing the spark plugs right now would be a good idea.

Would you recommend these NGK spark plugs? http://www.new-part.com/product/4-pc...FY08gQodEtoNmA

[bluefox280]

Would you recommend these NGK spark plugs? http://www.new-part.com/product/4-pc...FY08gQodEtoNmA

The NGK PFR7S8EG are the OEM stock plugs for stock ECU programming.
Would recommend either NGK BKR7E (4644) or NGK BKR8EIX (2668) with modified ECU programming.

See my recent thread on the plugs I used for my APR Stage 1:
* http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...K-BKR8EIX-2668

- Erik

[lownslow4.2]

The NGK PFR7S8EG are the OEM stock plugs for stock ECU programming.
Would recommend either NGK BKR7E (4644) or NGK BKR8EIX (2668) with modified ECU programming.

See my recent thread on the plugs I used for my APR Stage 1:
* http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...K-BKR8EIX-2668

- Erik

Thank you, appreciate the help. And if I'm doing this all my self I would assume I'm going to need a torque wrench to measure the gap correct?

[bluefox280]

Thank you, appreciate the help. And if I'm doing this all my self I would assume I'm going to need a torque wrench correct?

It's recommended - see torque specs here:
* http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ug-Replacement

- Erik

[Coldcarnival]

Did you ever solve or diagnose your problem? I have the same problem my car has been at Audi for a week, and they have no idea what's wrong with it. Also same tune running e85. I did switch the ignition coil on the cylinder that was misfiring and all 4 spark plugs , but I didn't gap them 😮