2013 B8 Audi A4 2.0T

[Nick2011B8S4]

Hi Guys,

I recently brought my 2013 B8 A4 2.0t in for a service at Audi Nyack (former Palisades Audi) and the tech noted on the service recommendations that my car has an oil leak from the Cam Cover. I know that the Valve Cover Gaskets are weak on the 2.0T motors and am not familiar with the Cam Cover being a weak point. They quoted me $1,450 (the part is around $160 with the rest being labor). They didn't give me any part numbers or anything, but i wanted to see if this made any sense.

Any recommendation is appreciated!

[shellraider]

That doesn't surprise me at all, seems to be on track since there is quite a few items to get involved in to be able to access.

[Smac770]

cylinder head cover -> "RTV" sealant gasket -> cylinder head -> metal gasket -> block
Problem is in our cars, the upper half of the cam shaft bearings are molded into the cylinder head cover. So to pull the cylinder head cover to reseal the cylinder head cover to the cylinder head, you have to do all this timing crap to unstress the cams and keep them from moving while do so. You also have to pull the high pressure fuel pump and vacuum pump from the back end of the cylinder head. So yeah, not a simple thing like it might be in less "German" motors. The parts should be nothing more than the "RTV" and some other little seals they should replace while they are there (HPFP o-ring, vacuum pump gasket, N205 o-rings, etc). Price doesn't surprise me for on-premise dealership parts. Is it a $1300 labor job? Beyond my experience to critique that. But I'd rather buy the specialized tools and do it myself (which actually, I will be, sometime).

[Nick2011B8S4]

cylinder head cover -> "RTV" sealant gasket -> cylinder head -> metal gasket -> block
Problem is in our cars, the upper half of the cam shaft bearings are molded into the cylinder head cover. So to pull the cylinder head cover to reseal the cylinder head cover to the cylinder head, you have to do all this timing crap to unstress the cams and keep them from moving while do so. You also have to pull the high pressure fuel pump and vacuum pump from the back end of the cylinder head. So yeah, not a simple thing like it might be in less "German" motors. The parts should be nothing more than the "RTV" and some other little seals they should replace while they are there (HPFP o-ring, vacuum pump gasket, N205 o-rings, etc). Price doesn't surprise me for on-premise dealership parts. Is it a $1300 labor job? Beyond my experience to critique that. But I'd rather buy the specialized tools and do it myself (which actually, I will be, sometime).

Thank you for the detailed overview of how to access the Cam Cover. Is this really a weak point on the B8 2.0T motors, even with 53k miles? I am coming from a B7 A4 2.0T and don't ever recall that being a weak point. The valve cover gasket I was aware of and had to replace 2 times during my ownership of my b7.

[Smac770]

When they did my rings/pistons at 84k, they pulled the engine and worked from there, including removing the cylinder head. But the cylinder head can be removed without opening up the cover or removing the cams from the cylinder head. So it's most likely I still have the factory cylinder head cover seal in place. At 11 years and 202k miles.

[Theiceman]

Thank you for the detailed overview of how to access the Cam Cover. Is this really a weak point on the B8 2.0T motors, even with 53k miles? I am coming from a B7 A4 2.0T and don't ever recall that being a weak point. The valve cover gasket I was aware of and had to replace 2 times during my ownership of my b7.

the first thing you need to realize is you are comparing apples with oranges. these are completely different engines with the only thing being the same is the displacement.
the valve cover gasket is NOT a weak point in the FSI engine. its just a rubber gasket that needs replacing once a decade or so , maybe a little more in some environments. a 20 dollar part and no big deal.

the tfsi engine has mentioned has the cam journals built into it and it is not a gasket. this is a torqued flange surface rather than just a cover. it uses Anerobic flange sealant. this can be done at a good independant. i would never pay dealer prices for any job. shop around and get a second opinion.

mine was still sealed solid at 220k km