RobY330i

Well, it seems that the 3.2 has accumulated carbon deposits in one of the valves and needs to be cleaned. At only 36000 km, this was shocking. Apparently, gas in Canada is very dirty especially S**** petrol.
They're going to open up the engine and will be in the shop for 3-5 days. Very disappointing.

On the positive side, the dealer provided a loaner. A 2012 A4 with the 2.0 turbo! A comparison will follow.

BCD-1

Where have you been filling her Up

BCD-1

BCD-1

Over the last 2 years I have been filling up my Q at Petro Canada with SuperClean 94

Grade
Octane Level
Petro-Canada Brand Name

Regular
87 octane
RegularClean

Mid-grade
89 octane
PlusClean

Premium
91 octane
SuperClean™

Super premium
94 octane

SuperClean 94, available in Montréal
Super premium
94 octane

Ultra 94™, available in Ontario

RobY330i

Been using Shell 91 since day one.

Now I've switched Petro94.

BirdmanQ5

I mostly use petro 94, but sometimes 91 if I'm at a station that doesn't have any.

loscoz

but is the actual engine work being done under warranty?
if not then that could hit the wallet very harshly!

did the dealership also inform you that this is something that happens but more so at a different (much higher) mileage?

HaveBullDogWillTravel

Not to dismiss the assertion of the dealer but this makes no sense; that there would be acculmulation IN ONE of the valves. Valves get accumulation "ON" not "in" and what would affect one valve should affect ALL valves. That is, unless there is some sort of a problem with the engine mechanics...
a leaky injector on the affected cylinder, for example.

So I suppose I AM dismissing the dealer's asertion as it has been represented in the OP. Hmmm...

johncaravello

I agree with Bulldog that something is amiss here.

CrustyNoodle

Total BS from the dealer. The reason why you get carbon on the inlet valves is because the engine is a DI (Direct Injection) hence there is no fuel sprayed on the back of valves to keep them clean like a regular FI engine. Hence it can't have anything to do with your fuel - it's all to do with the Audi design. The carbon comes from the PCV retuning into the inlet manifold - that carbon is from oil vapour and blow by gasses in the crank case.

RobY330i

This is the reason why the "check engine" light intermittently comes on. The dealer states that due to the poor quality of the gasoline in Canada, this problem is not unheard of.

Regardless, the complete costs are covered under warranty.

Happy to return the A4. The 2.0 is not as refined as the 3.2, and needs to "work" for it's performance. The ZF 8-speed transmission is awesome!