A7 issues?

[Hurricane17]

So I recently purchased a 2017 A7 with the 3.0T supercharged motor with 30k miles on it. Checked under the hood last night and saw the tell-take spray pattern of water from the water pump leaking onto the serpentine belts and being sprayed onto the underside of the engine cover and hood. I also did a test I heard about to check the PCV and it seemed to fail. I started the car and removed the oil fill cap and it had a pretty decent amount of suction holding it down. I’ve got just over 1k miles on the car since I purchased it and according to the displays it has burned some oil, but it’s not at the low mark yet. The car is also low on coolant currently.

Now what? Am I losing it, finding problems that aren’t there? What coolant do you guys recommend? Is there anything major that I would need to fix these issues myself? This is my current daily driver and I need it running more often than not.

[Ngb5050]

Your water pump or thermostat needs to be replaced, if it’s your thermostat the supercharger will need to be pulled. If it’s your waterpump, a good Indy shop can replace it without pulling but if you are a DIY guy you’d probably be best putting the car in the service position and pulling the supercharger.

While you have the supercharger pulled you might as well replace the coolant crossover pipe and the pcv while you’re in there and check your intake valves for carbon build up. You can use a chemical cleaner, picks, or walnut blasting to clean them. Or say eff it and just let it be. I use BG induction cleaning regularly and assume mine are okay. Haven’t pulled the supercharger since I’ve started doing this so I have no idea if it works or not.

I’d also replace the coolant bleed screws with nice metal ones from 034 motor sports (I think those are the good ones). The stock screws are terrible.

If you plan on tuning your 3.0T, I’d recommend if you’ve gone so far as dedicated a day to doing this and in the process draining the coolant, you might as well upgrade your heat exchanger and swap this in the process!

If it’s just the water pump leaking (it leaks through a weep hole when it starts to fail) then can feel no pressure to do any of the other stuff.

Also, I’ve heard of the same test for the pcv and also have read and heard from an Audi tech that these engines are supposed to be under pressure so I wouldn’t necessarily go straight to your PCV being bad. BUT you might as well replace it too if you are pulling the SC. (Although with the 2017 the pcv should be fine, it was the early ones that had issues more frequently).

Oh, do yourself a favor and buy your parts from FCP euro starting now. Oil too. Lifetime warranty and free Returns with PayPal.

All of this said, If you are at 30k, is this not going to be covered under factory warranty?

Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

[Hurricane17]

Your water pump or thermostat needs to be replaced, if it’s your thermostat the supercharger will need to be pulled. If it’s your waterpump, a good Indy shop can replace it without pulling but if you are a DIY guy you’d probably be best putting the car in the service position and pulling the supercharger.

While you have the supercharger pulled you might as well replace the coolant crossover pipe and the pcv while you’re in there and check your intake valves for carbon build up. You can use a chemical cleaner, picks, or walnut blasting to clean them. Or say eff it and just let it be. I use BG induction cleaning regularly and assume mine are okay. Haven’t pulled the supercharger since I’ve started doing this so I have no idea if it works or not.

I’d also replace the coolant bleed screws with nice metal ones from 034 motor sports (I think those are the good ones). The stock screws are terrible.

If you plan on tuning your 3.0T, I’d recommend if you’ve gone so far as dedicated a day to doing this and in the process draining the coolant, you might as well upgrade your heat exchanger and swap this in the process!

If it’s just the water pump leaking (it leaks through a weep hole when it starts to fail) then can feel no pressure to do any of the other stuff.

Also, I’ve heard of the same test for the pcv and also have read and heard from an Audi tech that these engines are supposed to be under pressure so I wouldn’t necessarily go straight to your PCV being bad. BUT you might as well replace it too if you are pulling the SC. (Although with the 2017 the pcv should be fine, it was the early ones that had issues more frequently).

Oh, do yourself a favor and buy your parts from FCP euro starting now. Oil too. Lifetime warranty and free Returns with PayPal.

All of this said, If you are at 30k, is this not going to be covered under factory warranty?

Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

The car is 5 years old and as far as I know, factory warranty is toast. Though I could probably call and check either way.

I plan to purchase the 034 bleeder screws when I can, but the current issue with the leaking is taking precedent obviously.

Took it back to the used car dealer I got it from yesterday and their mechanic looked it over for leaks. From what him and I could see, the thermostat was what was leaking, though it looked to me that there was water sprayed everywhere under the supercharged, indicated by water calcium-like stains. I didn’t notice any red/pink coolant anywhere. The mechanic pressurized the coolant tank with 15psi and didn’t see anything leaking anywhere around the thermostat or the water pump.

I do plan to tune the car eventually, once I get this minor issue cleared up. Not sure which tuner I’m gonna pick yet, but I do know FCP Euro is where I’m gonna get all my other parts and stuff from though.

[Valpo A7]

I think factory warranty is 3/36 but not entirely sure on that.

When you purchased did you buy it as is or did they give you a 30 or 90 warranty with it? If you have to take it to Audi you are looking at a couple thousand in labor and parts. less if you take it to and indie. Maybe $500 in parts to DIY. If you decide to DIY then I suggest ordering from FCP Euro as they have a no questions asked 100% replacement warranty on parts they sell.

[Hurricane17]

I think factory warranty is 3/36 but not entirely sure on that.

When you purchased did you buy it as is or did they give you a 30 or 90 warranty with it? If you have to take it to Audi you are looking at a couple thousand in labor and parts. less if you take it to and indie. Maybe $500 in parts to DIY. If you decide to DIY then I suggest ordering from FCP Euro as they have a no questions asked 100% replacement warranty on parts they sell.

I purchased the car as is, no warranty, though the dealership asked me about what I wanted to do about the issue and seemed willing to help me out with it if I wanted to fix it.

And I believe you are correct about the 3/36.

[WhiteA7]

Very common issues even at lower miles. My 2016 was the same. There were some VIN's that Audi magically decided to cover the PCV replacement. Mine wasn't on the list. I'd check the Audi dealer to see what they'd charge and if yours is magically covered. Like they said above. Just do the PCV at the same time because its probably bad too