V6, can I replace only 3 injectors?

[sriyegna]

Hi,

2009 Audi A4, 3.2L V6.
I asked this question a while ago but I didn't really get a response to my question, and I didn't bother fixing it since it still runs fine.
Just recently with the cold weather, when I stopped at a light, my engine shut down. I had to put it in park, and restart. That wasn't fun...
I'm Canadian and prices I post reflect that.
The shop I took it to is Foreign Automotive and they have a pretty damn good rating/reviews.

Problems:
P0304 Misfire Cylinder 4
P0303 Misfire Cylinder 3
P0302 Misfire Cylinder 2
P0272 Fuel Injector #4 contribution/balance fault

Recommended solution:
Replace all 6 injectors (06E906036F), new seal kits, throttle body cleaning, throttle body adaptation. 1740+tax.
They also recommend replacing the fuel filter, but I can't remember the price they gave me for that.
Also recommended a carbon cleaning but I had that done just a year ago at a dealer.

Shop Price breakdown is:
Cost per injector : 210
Cost per injector seal : 33
Parts : 1458
Labour : 282
Total : 1740+tax
Cost of replacing only 3 : 1010+tax

If I bring my own parts, they won't warranty their work, which is understandable.
Price is :
Cost per injector : 125
Cost per injector seal : 33
Parts : 948
Labour : 320
Total : 1268+tax
Cost of replacing only 3 : 794+tax


VCDS snippets:

4 Faults Found:
7119 - Cylinder 4 
          P0304 00 [232] - Misfire Detected
          MIL ON - Intermittent - Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
             Freeze Frame:
                    Fault Status: 00000001
                    Fault Priority: 2
                    Fault Frequency: 16
                    Mileage: 148269 km
                    Date: 2017.09.27
                    Time: 16:32:18

                    Engine speed: 761.00 /min
                    Normed load value: 18.8 %
                    Vehicle speed: 0 km/h
                    Coolant temperature: 63 °C
                    Intake air temperature: 57 °C
                    Ambient air pressure: 990 mbar
                    Voltage terminal 30: 11.780 V
                    Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
                    Engine speed: actual: 800 /min
                    MAF_ENVD: 98.04706 mg/stroke
                    Coolant temperature (unfiltered): 50.3 °C
                    Engine: operating status: IS
                    T_AST_ENVD: 0.00 s
                    Vehicle speed: actual: 0 km/h

7117 - Cylinder 3 
          P0303 00 [232] - Misfire Detected
          MIL ON - Intermittent - Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
             Freeze Frame:
                    Fault Status: 00000001
                    Fault Priority: 2
                    Fault Frequency: 16
                    Mileage: 148269 km
                    Date: 2017.09.27
                    Time: 16:32:18

                    Engine speed: 761.00 /min
                    Normed load value: 18.8 %
                    Vehicle speed: 0 km/h
                    Coolant temperature: 63 °C
                    Intake air temperature: 57 °C
                    Ambient air pressure: 990 mbar
                    Voltage terminal 30: 11.780 V
                    Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
                    Engine speed: actual: 800 /min
                    MAF_ENVD: 98.04706 mg/stroke
                    Coolant temperature (unfiltered): 50.3 °C
                    Engine: operating status: IS
                    T_AST_ENVD: 0.00 s
                    Vehicle speed: actual: 0 km/h

6371 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected 
          P0300 00 [104] - -
          Intermittent - Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
             Freeze Frame:
                    Fault Status: 00000001
                    Fault Priority: 2
                    Fault Frequency: 14
                    Mileage: 148495 km
                    Date: 2017.09.29
                    Time: 10:02:48

                    Engine speed: 719.00 /min
                    Normed load value: 28.2 %
                    Vehicle speed: 0 km/h
                    Coolant temperature: 35 °C
                    Intake air temperature: 25 °C
                    Ambient air pressure: 980 mbar
                    Voltage terminal 30: 13.812 V
                    Unlearning counter according OBD: 39
                    Engine speed: actual: 800 /min
                    MAF_ENVD: 163.41176 mg/stroke
                    Coolant temperature (unfiltered): 60.8 °C
                    Engine: operating status: PL
                    T_AST_ENVD: 77.10 s
                    Vehicle speed: actual: 4 km/h

6128 - Fuel Injector #4 (N33) 
          P0272 00 [096] - Contribution/Balance Fault
          Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
             Freeze Frame:
                    Fault Status: 00000001
                    Fault Priority: 2
                    Fault Frequency: 1
                    Mileage: 150658 km
                    Date: 2017.10.28
                    Time: 18:26:02

                    Engine speed: 1477.00 /min
                    Normed load value: 45.5 %
                    Vehicle speed: 72 km/h
                    Coolant temperature: 93 °C
                    Intake air temperature: 15 °C
                    Ambient air pressure: 990 mbar
                    Voltage terminal 30: 14.421 V
                    Unlearning counter according OBD: 23
                    Engine speed: actual: 1472 /min
                    MAF_ENVD: 212.43529 mg/stroke
                    Coolant temperature (unfiltered): 93.8 °C
                    Engine: operating status: PL
                    Engine load: 45.312500 %
                    Vehicle speed: actual: 72 km/h

The problem is misfires on cylinders 2,3,4.
1,5,6 seem to have no issues with misfires.
If I buy my own parts, I will be going from (likely) OEM to also OEM Hitachi FIJ0035 from rockauto.com.
The shop will use audi genuine parts.

Questions:

1. Can I just replace the injectors on 2,3,4 and not change 1,5,6? The parts cost is substantial, but I don't want to spend twice as much in the long run. Any recommendations?
2. With a replacement of this magnitude, should I get the parts from the shop so I get their warranty on labour? Is it safe to buy my own parts?
3. Will it make a difference (drive/engine wise) if I have 3 old injectors and 3 new injectors? Is it bad?
4. What is the expected life of these (old) fuel injectors? Mine is already at 150k km.
5. Should I change the fuel filter? Is that something I should get out of the way now with the engine open?

Thank you

[Spawne32]

Can I just replace the injectors on 2,3,4 and not change 1,5,6? The parts cost is substantial, but I don't want to spend twice as much in the long run. Any recommendations?

yes you can replace just 3, but its not recommended as the likelihood of failure on the other 3 increases.

With a replacement of this magnitude, should I get the parts from the shop so I get their warranty on labour? Is it safe to buy my own parts?

yes, i would highly recommend this, because if they use their own parts and one is bad or goes bad shortly thereafter, you wont get stuck paying to have new injectors put in AGAIN with your own parts

Will it make a difference (drive/engine wise) if I have 3 old injectors and 3 new injectors? Is it bad?

it should not make a difference in drivability unless there is already something wrong with the other 3 you are not replacing

What is the expected life of these (old) fuel injectors? Mine is already at 150k km.

ive seen anywhere from 75-200k on these injectors, they are hit or miss, but I believe they have improved with more recent revisions

Should I change the fuel filter? Is that something I should get out of the way now with the engine open?

fuel filter is not a serviceable part under normal circumstances, but would require removing the entire fuel pump assembly from the tank

[audrobotic]

Yeah I would change all 6 injectors if youre planning to keep the car for a while. I dont know specifically about the V6, but the standard 2.0 is notorious for injector failures in the early B8 years.

[Uwon]

Here is a DIY fuel filter write up from Pelican Parts that may be helpful.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...cdbe7-71300853

Cheers,
Johan

[sriyegna]

Can I just replace the injectors on 2,3,4 and not change 1,5,6? The parts cost is substantial, but I don't want to spend twice as much in the long run. Any recommendations?

yes you can replace just 3, but its not recommended as the likelihood of failure on the other 3 increases.

With a replacement of this magnitude, should I get the parts from the shop so I get their warranty on labour? Is it safe to buy my own parts?

yes, i would highly recommend this, because if they use their own parts and one is bad or goes bad shortly thereafter, you wont get stuck paying to have new injectors put in AGAIN with your own parts

Will it make a difference (drive/engine wise) if I have 3 old injectors and 3 new injectors? Is it bad?

it should not make a difference in drivability unless there is already something wrong with the other 3 you are not replacing

What is the expected life of these (old) fuel injectors? Mine is already at 150k km.

ive seen anywhere from 75-200k on these injectors, they are hit or miss, but I believe they have improved with more recent revisions

Should I change the fuel filter? Is that something I should get out of the way now with the engine open?

fuel filter is not a serviceable part under normal circumstances, but would require removing the entire fuel pump assembly from the tank

Thank you. Is the fuel filter something I should consider doing now if I plan to keep the car another 50k km?

Yeah I would change all 6 injectors if youre planning to keep the car for a while. I dont know specifically about the V6, but the standard 2.0 is notorious for injector failures in the early B8 years.

Good to know. I think I'll keep it for another 2 years so I guess I'll have to fix it all.

Here is a DIY fuel filter write up from Pelican Parts that may be helpful.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...cdbe7-71300853

Cheers,
Johan

Thank you