Does anybody else hear an slight flutter or fast ticking in their 3.0 engine? Ours seems to have one that sounds like maybe it's coming from the cams. If you stand in front of the car and/or put your ear down to the near the rings, it's fairly audible (or, should I say "Audi-able"?).

Normal? Cause for concern? Something that can be remedied?

 

I've heard it too and wondered the same thing. So I assume it's normal? Otherwise you and I might have the same problem

 

Ha! nice try. No, it's a normal sound, I spoke to the technician and he said it was normal.

 

That noise is from the direct injection system. It causes a rapid clicking noise due to the high-pressure fuel system.

I had direct injection on my previous Mazdaspeed6. It was even louder on that car...almost sounded like a diesel at idle even though it was a gasoline engine. The fuel pressure in the Mazda was around 400 psi at idle and around 2000 psi while fully boosting the turbo.

However, if you are hearing clattering, that would be different...and not normal.

 

Thank you -- good info to know. Too bad Audi can't do something about the sound -- you don't hear that kind of noise on a $20,000 Honda, and I'd think you wouldn't need to hear it on a $60,000 Audi, either.

 

Agreed, already had a few people question the noise. Before I got this car, my friend got a Jetta, I made fun the noise, because it sounded nothing like German engineering.

 

Someone once pointed out to me that both Honda and BMW started out as engine companies (Honda began as piston ring supplier to Toyota, and BMW was first an aircraft engine manufacturer) as opposed to Audi, whose automotive forebears all started life building complete vehicles, and that Honda and BMW still reflect their roots to this day when it comes to what gets dropped under the hood and the nuances of how it behaves.

Thus, Honda churns out highly reliable, extremely quiet engines (per my previous post, I doubt seriously that Honda would turn loose an engine that made audible injector noise), and BMW still produces class-leading power plants like their 3.0 litre straight 6.

By contrast, with Audi you get great engines like the 3.0 that most on this forum are enjoying, although with a couple of minor nitpicks like injector clicking. And of course, on the upside, Audi's on-road 4-wheel-drive expertise is without peer (in much the same way that Land Rover's off-road 4-wheel-drive expertise is without peer), Audi has established a multi-decade record of innovative styling dating back to the mid-80s Audi 5000, Audi is emerging as a technology innovator (I suspect it will be several years before any other manufacturer comes up with anything to rival Audi's LED headlamps), and Audi is also setting benchmarks in terms of interior design and fit and finish.

 

2012 Mercedes E350 uses same technology from thread below few complained about similar engine sounds:
http://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w2...ine-noise.html

I have not noticed that sound in y 1 month old A6 as cabin is very quiet, probably will listen while I'm outside, but compared to BMW 535i (2009) which is my second car A6 cabin is quieter.

 

I agree that the A6 cabin is extremely quiet, however the noise in question is audible when standing outside the car while it's at idle, especially standing outside near the hood of the car.

 

Yeah I heard the noise when I first went and looked at the A-6. I lifted the hood on the test drive car while it was running and it sounded like a diesel. This was not the first time I've heard this, it's common in direct injection and no big deal. I agree the sound is a bit more prominent in the A-6, but I ain't sweating it.