Are Audi Aluminium engines prone to corrosion from alcohol added fuel?
According to an in depth study on the use of ethanol, one of the by products of combustion is acetic acid which is extremely corrosive to Aluminium and Lead surfaces causing it to leech and become porous.
Audi is using all ALU engines. Any comments on this?
It vary's greatly. In the aircraft industry, theres 2024, 6061, 7075, to mention a few.
Much depends on Audi's smelting methods when the produce the heads, and blocks.
I'd be willing to bet, Audi Engineers have already considered the effects of ethanol on the engines and have already taken care of the problem ;O)
"High integrity aluminum cylinder block with cast-in thin wall gray iron liners"
You could argue some washdown would make it past the rings into the crankcase, but as you said I'm sure the Audi Engineers have investigated and tested that.








