Minor Damage on A4 IC

[mathetas]

So, doing a deeper inspection on my new A4 ... and I find a minor (???) injury on my IC.
- 2013 A4 Quattro Premium Plus Sport Suspension

[IMG][/IMG]

I don't notice any issues driving it, and it certainly is not flashing any check engine light. What are your thoughts on whether to replace the IC or leave as is? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

[old guy]

If it isn't leaking I would not worry about it. If it is leaking you will start to see an oily film on the intercooler wherever the crack occurred. It may take awhile so keep checking back over the next few weeks.

[elscotto80]

If it isn't leaking I would not worry about it. If it is leaking you will start to see an oily film on the intercooler wherever the crack occurred. It may take awhile so keep checking back over the next few weeks.

Agreed. Looks bad, but if you aren't seeing little oily areas you should be fine. I found a small oily spot on my IC and replaced it with the ECS setup. Even with the hike from some kind of debris, I didn't have any noticable engine issues.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Spawne32]

Agreed. Looks bad, but if you aren't seeing little oily areas you should be fine. I found a small oily spot on my IC and replaced it with the ECS setup. Even with the hike from some kind of debris, I didn't have any noticable engine issues.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

intercoolers only have oil in them when the turbo is shot lol

[mathetas]

If I do replace the IC, any suggestions on OEM vs CSF/Nissens/Behr? Unless I am missing something, I am not inclined to drop $600-1000 on an upgraded IC. Thanks again for the help.

[elscotto80]

intercoolers only have oil in them when the turbo is shot lol

Ok! Seems there is a wide range of opinions on how much oil is acceptable in the charge system. You might be right, but i don't notice any issues with how my motor runs with 122k on the clock!

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[old guy]

intercoolers only have oil in them when the turbo is shot lol

There is always an oily film coating the intake track. It's just a part of the PVC block breathing system. An excessive amount could indicate a bad turbo but a small amount is normal.

[elscotto80]

If I do replace the IC, any suggestions on OEM vs CSF/Nissens/Behr? Unless I am missing something, I am not inclined to drop $600-1000 on an upgraded IC. Thanks again for the help.

I'm sure you could find a used OEM IC on eBay, etc. I got the ECS kit on sale for 480 shipped.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Spawne32]

If I do replace the IC, any suggestions on OEM vs CSF/Nissens/Behr? Unless I am missing something, I am not inclined to drop $600-1000 on an upgraded IC. Thanks again for the help.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...02894ecs01kt2/

[snaky69]

intercoolers only have oil in them when the turbo is shot lol

Not true. The pcv system shoots oil into the intake tract. You’ll get oil in the intercooler on a brand new engine and turbo.

[Bbonz001]

Not true. The pcv system shoots oil into the intake tract. You’ll get oil in the intercooler on a brand new engine and turbo.

You aren't wrong, however the amount depends. I recently replaced my intercooler with the ECS kit, dropped the charge pipe and had a puddle form on the floor. Also had oil all through the turbo muffler. This is not IMO a 'normal' amount of oil from a PCV. Especially with 18000 miles on the clock.

To OP. Get the ECS kit. Its the best bank for buck out there.

[snaky69]

You aren't wrong, however the amount depends. I recently replaced my intercooler with the ECS kit, dropped the charge pipe and had a puddle form on the floor. Also had oil all through the turbo muffler. This is not IMO a 'normal' amount of oil from a PCV. Especially with 18000 miles on the clock.

To OP. Get the ECS kit. Its the best bank for buck out there.

The amount of oil you found isn’t all that surprising, the pcv sucks part of the oil consumption in those cars and the amount of carbon cleaning needed both stem from it.

[Bbonz001]

The amount of oil you found isn’t all that surprising, the pcv sucks part of the oil consumption in those cars and the amount of carbon cleaning needed both stem from it.

:( Im beginning to wonder if i should even bother having it checked. The Audi tech i spoke to tried to tell me the turbos have multiple oil diverter valves in them lol. And then said they would have to have a tech inspect it take photos, then send them off to determine if it was "outside influence" that caused it.

[Spawne32]

Not true. The pcv system shoots oil into the intake tract. You’ll get oil in the intercooler on a brand new engine and turbo.

No, only on a brand new audi engine and turbo is this true. lol Not to mention the fact that when I did my ECS IC at around 90k miles I had ZERO oil in my oem intercooler, but that was about 30k after having the turbo replaced and the engine rebuilt for oil consumption. No PCV system should be "shooting" oil into the intake tract. The PCV is designed to vent vapor not liquid into the intake.

[Spawne32]

:( Im beginning to wonder if i should even bother having it checked. The Audi tech i spoke to tried to tell me the turbos have multiple oil diverter valves in them lol. And then said they would have to have a tech inspect it take photos, then send them off to determine if it was "outside influence" that caused it.

It's normal for an Audi, i can tell you that, and the redesign of the defective PCV usually results in a redesign of the redesign and a redesign of the redesign of the redesign. So on and so forth. There is an unspoken "acceptable terms" policy you sign onto when you buy one of these cars. Consumption of oil, from any part of the motor, be it in the exhaust, or the intake, is considered "normal". I mean christ, to qualify for the oil consumption recall you had to be burning a quart every 800 miles or so, ive had honda's from the early 90s that had 200k or more miles on them that would go 5000 miles on an oil change without losing an 1/8th of a quart of oil. lol

[snaky69]

No, only on a brand new audi engine and turbo is this true. lol Not to mention the fact that when I did my ECS IC at around 90k miles I had ZERO oil in my oem intercooler, but that was about 30k after having the turbo replaced and the engine rebuilt for oil consumption. No PCV system should be "shooting" oil into the intake tract. The PCV is designed to vent vapor not liquid into the intake.

Open up your hood and take off your turbo inlet.

This is what you’ll see https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...in-turbo-inlet

Does this look like oil mist to you?

Shoots oil might be a hyperbole but there is still quite a bit making it past the separator.

[Spawne32]

Open up your hood and take off your turbo inlet.

This is what you’ll see https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...in-turbo-inlet

Does this look like oil mist to you?

Shoots oil might be a hyperbole but there is still quite a bit making it past the separator.

Yes, I had my turbo inlet open last week when cleaning my K&N filter. It did not look like that. You know why? It's not broke. The reason it looks like the one in the picture is the exact reason these engines are considered defective for oil consumption, because this is not normal.