La-Reno Adventure

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <9705272211.AA00517@mashtun> ptimmerm@mashtun.JPL.NASA.GOV writes:

> I drove home easily, but think I may need some
> serious work.  The noise is NOT present at low boost or
> idle, eliminating a melted cat, I think.  Not much tinkling
> sounds, more or a raspy grinding noise, metallic too!  I babied 
> it home trying to run < 1-2 psi or less home (300 miles more)
> I made it back, now for a post mortem...

Is anyone here counting how many times I've said this?
 
At the slightest sign of potential turbo damage issues - just pull the turbo to 
intercooler hose at the intercooler end and feel inside.
 
Several failure modes generate metal fragments - swarf, in English jargon.  If 
you carry on driving, these will be carried up and will finally (sometimes less 
quickly than others) enter the engine.
 
The statistics need to be balanced against $$$$.  Turbo failures causing 
massive swarf generation are pretty rare.  But they're also pretty $$$$$.  The 
hose check, even though it's unlikely to find a problem, is very cheap.  Look 
on it as a reverse lottery ticket - the Audi gods have bought a ticket, and 
it's _YOU_ that stands to pay out if they win.

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club