Maintenance List

[Misticvega]

Hey all, ever since I had to swap my B8 engine for a B8.5 I've become very intentional with maintaining and servicing my vehicles. I just purchased a 2018 Q5 for my wife and am putting together a maintenance list where I can track and monitor service history.

I'm very much a rookie at all of this, so please let me know what I'm missing or if you have any recommendation for my current list. Thanks all.

Service List/Service Frequency (miles):
Oil Change / 5,000
Rotate Tires / 5,000
Replace Spark Plugs / 30,000
Replace Engine Air Filter / 60,000
Replace Cabin Air Filter / 60,000
Flush Radiator Fluid / 60,000
Transmission Oil Change / 60,000
Front/Rear Differential Oil Change / 60,000
Transfer Case Oil Change / 60,000


Flush Brake Fluid with purchase of new tires
Align Car with purchase of new tires
Check Rotors & Brake Pads with each tire rotation
Monitor Serpentine Belt wear
Fuel injectors?
PCV Valve?

[TLR_0125]

Let me save you some time.

https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/...-Year-2013.pdf

[silver_tt]

2018 Q5 is B9 so you would need to head over to that forum.... but Audi publishes service schedules. Many of the items you have listed are on there.
https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/...ges_022317.pdf

Transmission ATF should be done every 75K miles per the manufacturer if you have the ZF 8HP. Same with diffs. Doing it earlier like 60K or 50K is not a terrible idea if you are so inclined. Also change the filter and put on a new gasket -- both OE.

Always get an alignment with new tires.

Check brake fluid moisture % before just blindly changing it.

Yes 5,000 oil change interval is good.

I do the PCV every 50K as a general rule of thumb... else if you want you can use a manometer to monitor your crankcase vacuum to know when it needs to be replaced.

Good luck

[Misticvega]

Just trying to pick everyone's brains here. My intention is to help my cars run smooth and for many many years. I can only take Audi's suggestions with a grain of salt after my issues with my engine and their "lifetime transmission fluid".

PCV every 50k, I like it. Cheers.

[Smac770]

But a B8 Q5 would have a ZF transmission. A B9 Q5 would have a DSG transmission. Very different maintenance concerns. My ZF is still on the original fluid at 223k miles. An Audi DSG would never survive that. And the DSG in the B9 (DL382) is different from the one in the B8 (DL501). Audi would still qualify the front and rear diff fluids as lifetime, but the ATF in the DSG is most certainly not marked lifetime.

Likewise, the EA888 Gen2 engine in the US B8 is different enough from the EA888 Gen3 evo/b-cycle in the B9 that you shouldn't relate too much about the common issues of each. Except the coolant pump it seems.

The B9 A4 forum here is pretty dead compared to the one at audiworld. While it's the opposite for the B8 A4 forum. I have no clue about the B9 Q5 forums; I don't drop into those.

Also remember that a B9 Q5 has the quattro "ultra", so you don't have a real center diff. Just a slip clutch that electronics engage when they feel like it.

[Theiceman]

always best to stick to the correct forum ...

[Misticvega]

Sorry if I was misleading, the list is for my A4. The thought came to mind because I recently purchased a new car. While of course there are variations between the A4 B8 and Q5 B9 platforms, I was speaking in more general terms (while they may have different transmissions you should still service the fluid, and whether that's 60k vs 70k miles, it doesn't matter to me, I'd rather do it at 60k then).

[hamfisted]

I'd add cleaning the carbon from the intake valves. Every 75k or so?

[Zeroed]

I'd add cleaning the carbon from the intake valves. Every 75k or so?

Is this the same as "carbon cleaning / walnut blasting"? If so, I had noticeable gas/mileage drop of around 12% at 55k before getting one done at 70k miles.
I was then told by my very reputable Audi mechanic in Houston that it's better to get one done at 60k miles - based off my experience, I'd have to agree with him!

If you aren't referring to carbon cleaning, ignore my overreaching reply!

[Zeroed]

Just trying to pick everyone's brains here. My intention is to help my cars run smooth and for many many years. I can only take Audi's suggestions with a grain of salt after my issues with my engine and their "lifetime transmission fluid".

PCV every 50k, I like it. Cheers.

I have a b8.5 allroad and also am very proactive in maintenance - I was recommended by one of the best audi mechanics in my city (take that with a grain of salt, of course) that even the "lifetime transmission fluid" should be changed around every 75k miles. Not sure if this includes getting the filter changed as well. But I went ahead and flushed mine at 35k miles (no filter replacement), because I purchased mine used. However, I'm going to do the fluid replacement and filter around the 75k mark just based off his recommendation.

[silver_tt]

I have a b8.5 allroad and also am very proactive in maintenance - I was recommended by one of the best audi mechanics in my city (take that with a grain of salt, of course) that even the "lifetime transmission fluid" should be changed around every 75k miles. Not sure if this includes getting the filter changed as well. But I went ahead and flushed mine at 35k miles (no filter replacement), because I purchased mine used. However, I'm going to do the fluid replacement and filter around the 75k mark just based off his recommendation.

Your mechanic is just relaying the information from the manufacturer. Assuming you have the ZF 8HP, changing the fluid and filter both every 75K is the recommendation of the manufacturer. "Lifetime" to Audi only means until it's not their problem anymore. Pretty much there is no such thing as any lifetime fluid......

[Chillaxin]

Is this the same as "carbon cleaning / walnut blasting"? If so, I had noticeable gas/mileage drop of around 12% at 55k before getting one done at 70k miles.
I was then told by my very reputable Audi mechanic in Houston that it's better to get one done at 60k miles - based off my experience, I'd have to agree with him!

If you aren't referring to carbon cleaning, ignore my overreaching reply!

Or before every oil change: http://www.crcindustries.com/gdi/

[Spawne32]

Or before every oil change: http://www.crcindustries.com/gdi/

junk.

[Chillaxin]

junk.

How many times have you used it? Solid trolling bro.

[Spawne32]

How many times have you used it? Solid trolling bro.

Suggesting something with no evidence supporting it working is a troll in itself. Anyone with any sort of mechanical experience knows that these sprays don't work on this kind of carbon buildup.

[hamfisted]

Is this the same as "carbon cleaning / walnut blasting"? If so, I had noticeable gas/mileage drop of around 12% at 55k before getting one done at 70k miles.
I was then told by my very reputable Audi mechanic in Houston that it's better to get one done at 60k miles - based off my experience, I'd have to agree with him!

Yes, that's what I was referring to. The buildup is gradual so the cleaning interval mileage isn't critical. (not like an oil change or anything)

This video shows that chemical treatments don't really work:
https://youtu.be/PkUq5mp2plc

Shouldn't be surprising to anyone that's actually done a true carbon cleaning. It gets baked on the valves and needs some sort of mechanical removal to really get it off. Not the same as cleaning throttle bodies or whatever. When I've done it I've used throttle body cleaner to try and loosen any crud before using the picks & walnut blast, but the cleaner doesn't really do much.

[Misticvega]

I'd add cleaning the carbon from the intake valves. Every 75k or so?

Good thinking. Thank you!

If I made it this far, is it worth taking a look at fuel injectors or not until they become a problem?

[silver_tt]

Don't mess with the fuel injectors if there is nothing wrong with them. But don't ever run anything other than top tier name-brand gas........ the #1 killer of injectors is cheap quality gas with cheap detergent packages. You can also run a bottle of Techron once per oil change, just before the oil change.

[bb-tt]

But a B8 Q5 would have a ZF transmission. A B9 Q5 would have a DSG transmission. Very different maintenance concerns. My ZF is still on the original fluid at 223k miles. An Audi DSG would never survive that. And the DSG in the B9 (DL382) is different from the one in the B8 (DL501). Audi would still qualify the front and rear diff fluids as lifetime, but the ATF in the DSG is most certainly not marked lifetime.

Likewise, the EA888 Gen2 engine in the US B8 is different enough from the EA888 Gen3 evo/b-cycle in the B9 that you shouldn't relate too much about the common issues of each. Except the coolant pump it seems.

The B9 A4 forum here is pretty dead compared to the one at audiworld. While it's the opposite for the B8 A4 forum. I have no clue about the B9 Q5 forums; I don't drop into those.

Also remember that a B9 Q5 has the quattro "ultra", so you don't have a real center diff. Just a slip clutch that electronics engage when they feel like it.

omg SMAC i am disappointed in you!!!!!! just did mine (zf) last week in the garage on jack stands, was a PITA but really not that hard. Snaked a tube between engine and firewall and had daughter pour the fluid since i dont have a fluid extractor/pump. Think it was previous over-serviced (or maybe from factory) with the transmission at ambient temp i opened the fill port before trying to open the drain. Fluid cam gushing out.

[Chillaxin]

Way to answer the question bud. I've logged lower misfire counts, better fuel trims, and better mileage after using the product, but again, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU USED IT? Just because you read something about carbon buildup doesn't make you a chemical engineer does it?

[Spawne32]

Are you talking to me? Because if you are you better come with better evidence than that snarky attitude and youtube videos from chrisfix.

[Chillaxin]

Are you talking to me? Because if you are you better come with better evidence than that snarky attitude and youtube videos from chrisfix.

Are you talking to me? If you are, you'd better come with better evidence that this product doesn't work than a derpy attitude and youtube videos from this guy.