[200q20v] dubious distinction?

[Mihnea Cotet]

At 07:46 6/02/2002 -0500, Noelle Beaudin wrote:
>My questions are:
>
>1. What is the regular scheduled replacement for the t-belt?

Audi says 90k/5 years but it's safer to do it every 60k. The belt wear
depends a lot on the driving conditions, oil leaks from cam seal (very bad
for rubber!), outside temps, etc...

>2. Is the 20v engine an interference engine (i.e. will my valves
>and pistons crash together if my t-belt does break?)

Yes it is and it won't miss! SOme people have luck and only bend valves but
when the belt breaks at high RPMs, it will usually break pistons as
well...so don't take too much risks here, a 20v engine/head is very
expensive and there are no exchange policies at Audi for 20v engines
(though I've heard in Belgium 20vt engines are available on
exchange....I'll have to check this one!)

>3. And is the t-belt a job that can be done at home, or does it
>require a certain skill level?

It requires the famous double and even triple-checking technique :-), tools
(VAG 2084, crank pulley locking tool, though one could use the tranny bolt
method as well when the 2084 isn't available, I've done it twice this way
and it works very nicely! see the detailed procedure on Phil Payne's site
at: http://www.isham-research.com/quattro/crank_locking.html), patience and
attention...lots of attention because if you screw up, you screw the engine
up! :(((

>Thanks again as always for putting up with inane questions. ;-)

HTH,

Mihnea