Sludge

[urq]

Thanks everyone for the prompt and useful replies!  

I'm just beginning the search and haven't looked at a car yet ... there's a
2002 Avant at a nearby Ford dealer I may use as the start.  I'm pretty sure
they will not have any service records there ... but who knows?  I'm
thinking a non-Audi dealer might be a bit more willing to deal than a
private owner or Audi dealer ... 

I've been considering the VW cousins and others like ovloV ... but I keep
coming back to the subject of FWD vs. AWD.  

What I'd really like to figure out is whether or not there are any
situations like the old Unintended Acceleration brouhaha which lead to
better than usual deals on otherwise good vehicles ... 

Thanks again!
Steve Buchholz

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:34 AM
To: Steve B
Cc: Qlist
Subject: Re: Sludge

I would like to add that you DO NOT wa by to use a engine cleaning product
without being fully ready to have the oil pan off. Part of the sludge issue
is particulate matter; tiny chunks of build up that looks like large grain
black sand. This stuff is too large to fit through the screen on the oil
pickup, but small enough to be suspended in the oil so it gets sucked up and
lodged in said screen. If your cleaner product does its job all of this crud
that was trapped in goo will end up in your oil pickup and leave you with a
lack of oil pressure. Mayhem follows.

-Cody Forbes (mobile)

On May 28, 2013, at 6:27 PM, Cody Forbes wrote:

> It's very hard to really get a great picture unfortunately. A reasonable
indication is the under side of the oil cap. If its decent you have a chance
that the engine is also decent. If its covered in gooey tar like substance
than its likely that everything else is too.  Service records are helpful,
high quality synthetic oil at 5000 mile intervals is a must. 
> 
> If I were buying one here's what I would do. I would right off the bat
plan on some cleaning. I would run some BG engine cleaner for a round trip
from the shop to home and back (50 miles), drain it out, fill with the best
oil I would feel ok with throwing away, add cleaner again, and do two round
trips. Then I would pull the oil pan, replace the oil pickup tube, and clean
everything I could touch. Also would pull the cam cover, clean everything in
there, replace the VVT gasket, replace the cam cover gasket. Reassemble,
fill with Motul 505.01 VW specific, and never worry again. My labor is
"free" however so this method isn't for everybody.
> 
> -Cody Forbes (mobile)
> 
> On May 28, 2013, at 6:14 PM, Steve B wrote:
> 
>> We're looking for another car, and the early 2000's A4 looks like a fit.
It seems that one of the major issues with these cars is the sludge problem
with the 1.8T.  Is there a good way to know whether or not a particular car
may be subject to a problem with sludge?  I'm looking at a 2002 model if
that makes a difference.
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> Steve Buchholz