Audi Q7 4L 2005 - 2015 - Used, TDI engines

Audi Q7 4L

Audi Q7 4L

Audi Q7 was introduced in late 2005. The interest of drivers was great and the Audi Q7 started selling well right after the presentation. The success of the model is proven by more than 9 years of production. Among the reasons for the great popularity of the Q7 can be very good marketing, brand image, robustness, a large selection of equipment and powerful engines. The Audi Q7 also enjoys great popularity as a used car, despite higher prices and significant driving costs. In practice, it is often not provided with adequate servicing, which will, of course, reflect on the poorer performance and reliability of the vehicle.
The Euro-NCAP test of the Audi Q7 was passed in 2006. To protect the crew, four stars of five (30 points) and the same four stars of five (39 points) are the protection of baby seats. The score for pedestrians is two stars out of four (15 points).
Audi Q7 4L

Audi Q7 4L

 However, the size of the vehicle sometimes brings complications, especially when it is necessary to park and maneuver along city streets or underground garages in shopping malls.
The seats are relatively ubiquitous in all directions, though the massive instrument panel, along with the solid door, feels like you're sitting in smaller cars than the exterior dimensions suggest.

Audi Q7 4L

The volume of the trunk is 330 liters in the case of seven seats. By lowering the third row, the volume increases to 775 liters, and the second row of seats further reduces the flat loading area and the volume that carries up to 2035 liters of luggage. There is also a well-designed luggage compartment as well as internal dimensions when the width of the entrance reaches 1221 mm, the length in the case of seven seats is 563 mm, five seats 1201 mm and two seats 2038 mm. Also satisfied with the electric opening of the lid, a minor drawback is the height of the loading edge, which is 839 mm above the ground. However, in the case of air springs, it is possible to lower the loading edge by 45 mm at the push of a button.
As mentioned above, the Audi Q7 also offers a third row of seats that easily folds and enlarges the boot. However, access to them is a little tricky and there is plenty of seating for smaller people, that is, children. Designers also thought about storage spaces and their usability.
Audi Q7 4L

Audi Q7 4L

Steering, though at a decent level, at high speeds, however, we should not forget the size and almost 2,5 tons of weight of the vehicle.
Although the Audi Q7 is primarily designed for driving on classic asphalt, it can also handle difficult roads. Ready to help are ABS with EBD, ASR traction control, Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), ESP, RPS - Vehicle rollover prevention and there is a system that helps climb up the hill. In practice, there will be no problem driving along a dirt road or driving on snowy, steep slopes.
Both Quattro axles drive a Torsen differential, which asymmetrically distributes torque in normal driving. That means 42 percent on the front axle and 58 percent on the rear axle. The Audi Q7's central differential, which consists of six planetary gears, can, if required, transmit up to 60 percent of the torque, and vice versa, if necessary, up to 80 percent of the rear-wheel drive engine. Audi has further enhanced this by locking the front or rear axle, allowing the front and rear axles to transmit up to 100 percent engine power.
Audi Q7 4L

Audi Q7 4L

The Quattro system is characterized by very robust durability and reliability, but requires care and adequate service. It is recommended to change the oil in the front and rear differential every 60.000 km / 4 years. Excessive wear or defect usually occurs when the vehicle has a large mileage, if the Audi Q7 often pulls a heavy trailer or often drives on the most difficult terrain.

Audi Q7 - engines

Audi TDI Q7 3.0

Audi TDI Q7 3.0

The 3.0 TDi turbo diesel with six cylinders is known from the A4, A6 and A8 models, which is characterized by power even at low revs, very good dynamics (especially in A4 and A6), you will also be satisfied with cultivated work and sound acceleration. In the large and almost 2,5 tonne Audi Q7, the engine dynamics are obviously weaker, most noticeable in all three 3.0 TDI engines of 150 kW and 155 kW, both 450 Nm, and the oldest version of 171 kW (500 Nm). For normal driving, however, the engine is sufficient, best dynamics between 2000-3500 rpm. The average fuel consumption is about 11-12 liters, with a power output of 176 kW (550 Nm) or 180 kW (150 kW) is on average 1-1,5 liters less.
On the design side, the 3.0 TDi engine was gradually upgraded during the production of the Audi Q7, with the most significant change in 2010 - 180 kW / 150 kW. The displacement of 2967 cc remains the same. However, the engine itself has undergone a complete change. There is a new cylinder block, crankshaft, forged pistons, aluminum connecting rods, cylinder head and suction. In essence, the internal aerodynamics of the cylinders have been redesigned. The main goal of the designer was to reduce friction loss as much as possible in order to reduce fuel consumption. The drive mechanism was also revised, where four chains replaced two chains. The engine also reduced the weight of the engine by 25 kg, and thanks to a more economical drive mechanism, the length of the engine was reduced by 100 mm. Internal friction is also reduced, fuel injection is provided by a 4th generation Common rail with eight piezo injectors operating at pressures up to 2000 bar. The turbocharger also underwent a modification, which had a positive effect on acceleration at low engine speeds. The modified intake pipe has only two instead of six wings, which means that only one wing regulates the air flow for one row of cylinders (3 cylinders).
It should be added that the older version of 171 kW is delivered without a soot particle filter as standard, but is available at an additional cost. It may happen, especially in the case of importing the Audi Q7 from Western European countries, that a vehicle with this engine will be equipped with a DPF. The new version with 176 kQ already has a DPF filter as standard. In 2009, an environmentally friendly version of the 3.0 TDI V6 engine, also known as Clean Diesel, was launched on the market. Thanks to advanced nitrogen oxide elimination technology - injection of Adblue / urea additives into the SCR catalyst, this version complies with the Euro 6 standard.

The reliability of the engine is quite satisfactory, but it is necessary to know and possibly eliminate some weak points. As the number of kilometers increases, problems with the drive chain mechanism appear. Problems with chain tensioners will lead to chain loosening and chain vibration and further chain towing. Excessively loose chain is usually manifested by the sound of the chain rattling at idle, especially after a cold start, it gradually begins to be heard even at rest even when the engine is warmed up at low speeds. These sounds are not worth underestimating, because their neglect and further pulling of the chain can lead to skipping the chain and later fatal damage to the engine. It should be added that the drive chain is more sensitive in the case of older versions of the engine, and with newer two-chain engines 180 HP / 150 kW the drive mechanisms are much more durable. Changing the chain is financially very demanding, it greatly increases the work, because the chain is on the gearbox side in all versions and it is necessary to remove the engine from the vehicle.

An even more sensitive point are the intake valves. Older engines have six flaps that get stuck due to soot deposits - which is mainly reflected by the engine light coming on, increasing consumption and fluctuating power. Occasionally there is a problem with the servomotor, which is overloaded by starting the valves on which the soot is deposited. There is also excessive wear on the valve spindles, which causes sounds and, over time, jams. Newer engines of 180 kW / 150 kW have only two valves. A smaller number in this case means less problems, because their construction is more robust and they resist traps better than soot deposits.
If driven more frequently over shorter distances, there is an increased risk of a EGR valve or DPF filter problem / blockage. EGR valve problems usually occur in the form of an engine light, loss of power, or switch to safe mode. Engine life, turbocharger and injection system also affect the life span of the DPF, in addition to driving mode. The turbocharger is relatively durable.
Leakage occurs in the EGR cooler due to the porosity of the material. The coolant thus enters the engine, where it burns with the diesel. Incineration is not optimal and causes problems with the EGR valve and DPF filter. Occasionally, fluid leakage also occurs through the engine's thermal energy control valve, the manifold leading to the EGR circuit cooler, and sometimes the oil module. Water falls into the interior space between the rows
V-engine linders. There is also an oil leak, usually in the gearbox area. Engine oil leaks at the crankshaft to the transmission. Problems with high pressure injectors or pumps usually only occur with higher mileage.

Audi Q7 4.2 TDi

Another diesel on offer is the eight-cylinder 4.2 TDi with max.240 kW, or after the upgrade 250 kW with the same maximum torque of 740 Nm, which is available at higher speeds in the case of the new version. The engine gives the Audi Q7 really decent dynamics regardless of the number of passengers or the size of the luggage. The improved 250kW version has improved lower engine power and less turbo effect by increasing engine power. In practice, the vehicle begins to accelerate rapidly at about 1200 rpm, with acceleration followed by a dull sound. The older engine is a bit slower with slower speeds, but the increasing torque increases significantly with increasing speeds.
Consumption is on average about 12-13 liters. The reliability of the 4.2 TDI is slightly worse than the 3.0 TDI, which is generally a higher use of engine performance, and often less quality service (especially for other owners) and also more complex / advanced technology. Eight cylinders, eight injectors and heaters, the engine has two turbochargers, two air coolers and also two soot particle filters. For example, if one turbocharger fails and another turbocharger needs to be replaced / refurbished - in pairs to properly balance the charge pressure in the two rows of cylinders. All repairs are even more complex compared to the 3.0 TDI due to the compactness and specific configuration of the engine and it is often necessary to remove the engine from the vehicle. It is unnecessary to forget the higher weight, which in addition to the impact on the driving performance of the vehicle and also affects the somewhat faster wear of the chassis components.

6,0 TDi

The top of the diesel offer is 6.0 TDi V12 with max. 368 kW and 1000 Nm of torque. The engine was developed by the sports department of the Audi Quattro GmBh (currently renamed Audi Sport). The engine has two rows of six cylinders arranged in V, but instead of the conventional 90º, the angles are only 60º. The engine is powered by 4 chains, the engine contains a pair of turbochargers. Fuel injection into the cylinders provides 12 piezo nozzles with max. with a pressure of 2000 bar. Acceleration from 0-100 km / h in 5,5 seconds and top speed is electronically limited as standard at 250 km / h. The driving dynamics are really exciting with this car, but the driver needs to be prepared for more unpredictability and difficulty due to the heavy front of the vehicle. Consumption ranges from 14-15 liters per 100 km in normal use.

Audi Q7 - Petrol engines

Gasoline engines in the case of the Audi Q7 play a secondary role. The base is 3.6 FSI with max. with a power of 206 kW and a torque of 360 Nm. Structurally, it is an evolution of the legendary 2,8 VW 6 VR1992, which had a Golf III or Sharan under the hood. The head is common to both rows of cylinders and the angle of the cylinders is only 10,6 ° degrees. The engine has FSI direct fuel injection, variable regulation of intake and exhaust valves. Despite the solid performance of the engine, the engine with the Audi Q7 has a lot of work, which is most pronounced during acceleration at lower speeds. For faster acceleration, there is therefore a need to keep the engine at higher speeds, which is of course reflected in the increase in average consumption. Which in normal driving is about 12-13 liters, in calmer driving it can fall below 10 liters, with more frequent driving in the city or agile driving on the highway it grows up to 15 liters.
Much more sovereign is the larger eight-cylinder 4.2 FSi with max. 247 kW and torque of 440 Nm. The engine has less work than 3,6 FSi, which is especially noticeable at lower rpm. Consumption is about 14-16 liters in normal use, with better driving dynamics, of course.
In mid-2010, both gasoline engines replaced the new six-cylinder 3.0-liter TFSi EA837 series with mechanical compressors, which were delivered in two power versions, 200 kW (400 Nm) and 245 kW (440 Nm). In practice, the engine starts at low speeds, with a consequent increase in thrust. Consumption is slightly more dependent on driving dynamics than older FSi engines, usually around 12-13 liters.
There is a Tiptronic automatic transmission with six gears, and since 2009 eight gears of the same name Tiptronic. In both cases, it is a classic automatic transmission with a hydraulic torque converter with the possibility of optional speed vanes on the steering wheel. But these are mostly unnecessary, because the actual transmission is relatively fast and logical, and the driver rarely has a reason to change speed. The new eight-speed is automatically a little faster, trying to lock the inverter, and generally efficiently use the potential of the motor. As a result, it is only slightly better driving dynamics, but also slightly lower average consumption. The reliability of both transmissions is maintained in good condition, with regular oil changes and normal use of the vehicle. For the first time, it is recommended to change the oil after 120 km, then every 000 km. If maintenance is neglected in the gearbox (valves, mechanics, etc.), impurities contained in the oil will accumulate faster, which will negatively affect the performance and overall durability. For the older six-speed transmission, combined with a diesel engine (especially the 60 TDI), frequent overloading with driving dynamics leads to gearbox breaks.

Audi Q7 - Reliability and the most common problems

With large and expensive cars, higher operating costs are normal. This applies not only to fuel but also to servicing. In the case of the first owners, most of the service was not a problem and the vehicles were properly serviced by authorized services. This is a significantly different situation with the next owners. It saves on a large part of the service, which of course negatively affects the condition of the vehicle. In case of purchase Audi Q7, service history and previous owner's habits are very important. Poor servicing of the previous owner is costly later.
Problems with electrical equipment may include non-functional MMI control unit, non-bluetooth, door locks, key touch sensor in keyless versions, rear door jamming or mirror heater failure. It is also necessary to check the effect of xenon headlights.
There are occasional hand brake problems due to weaker spring return effects or uneven effects.
On older models, corrosion can occur, most often on the chassis and bottom of the door.
Gasoline engines are characterized by reliability, but it is recommended to follow certain principles of operation and service. First of all, change the oil to 15.000 km, at the latest 20.000 km if you drive more on longer routes. It is recommended that you do not neglect the replacement of spark plugs and replace them by 50.000 km. Otherwise, an overvoltage occurs at the spark plugs, which causes a malfunction of the ignition coils. Meanwhile, problems with the ignition coils are manifested by uneven work on the "smaller" cylinders and weaker engine power.
With TFSi (FSi) motors, more soot builds up in the engine itself or in the intake. The increased amount and soot deposits in the engine generally indicate long intervals between oil changes. Soot deposits in the intake and valves are caused by direct injection. The result is a gradual reduction in engine power and poorer performance, as well as a risk of valve overheating and increased wear on the drive itself. In addition to the timely replacement of engine oil, it is recommended to refill with high-quality gasoline or regularly add (at least once every 3-5.000 km) cleaning additives. Additives also help injectors that are less dirty and reduce the risk of their failure.
Especially if the maintenance intervals and services are neglected, the hydraulic lifters may become clogged with dirt. This problem occurs gradually, the engine power decreases, the engine oscillates in idle speed, then the loss of engine power, damaged valves, wear of the camshaft and increased oil consumption. Exceeding service intervals or using unsuitable oil gradually leads to excessive wear of the drive mechanism - it stretches faster and increases the noise of the chains and also clogs the variable valve control mechanism. This is usually manifested by noisier operation and improper operation of the engine (especially at lower speeds) or error messages (engine light bulbs) and loss of power. In the event of a leak, a water pump may also leak. The problem with lambda probes or catalysts usually occurs after a long mileage.
In the case of a diesel engine, problems are caused by towing the drive chain, which usually occurs by rattling at idle, especially after a cold start, gradually begins to rattle the chain at idle even when the engine warms up and at lower speeds. Due to larger or more frequent driving around the city, there is a problem with the EGR valve, which manifests itself in the car with less traction, uneven operation or going into safety mode, along with the ignition of the engine warning lamp. The EGR valve can fail and leak water into the EGR valve gases, coolant is lost - it penetrates the intake and then burns in the engine, which has negative consequences for EGR and DPF.
Typical problems of modern diesel engines, such as excessively worn injectors (rough and uneven work, poor start, etc.) and worn-out turbocharger usually occur after higher mileage. Problems with the turbine sometimes occur in the non-functional regulation of the blades, which is under the control of the ervomotor. At higher mileages, usually over 250.000 km, there may be a problem with a dirty DPF filter. Shorter service life occurs especially when the vehicle is driven on shorter distances and the filter does not have time to regenerate. There is also the problem of oil leakage around the rear crankshaft sealing. This shortcoming occurs more often with the 3.0 TDi, and repair is quite demanding because the engine must be dismantled, removed from the vehicle.
At higher mileages, neglected services or when towing heavy trailers or more frequent driving on difficult terrain, they can cause automatic transmission failures, which is usually manifested by chopping in driving, shocks or gearbox failures. Neglect of maintenance - oil change, results in faster wear of 4 × 4 drive and differential.

Service

All engines have a maintenance-free chain that has no fixed replacement interval and only changes as needed. The fuel filter has a prescribed replacement interval of 60.000 km, an air filter of 30.000 km, but it is recommended to change it every time you change the oil. Automatic transmission oil is recommended for the first time after 120.000 km and then every 60.000 km. The differential oil requires replacement, preferably every four years or 60.000 km. The air filter should be replaced every 30.000 km, in the event of pollution, even when changing the oil. The fuel filter has an exchange interval of 60.000 km and the pollen filter should be replaced every two years or 30.000 km.
In the case of motor oil, it is recommended to change every 15.000 km / 20,000 km / 1 year if they travel more often on longer lines. As the interval increases, increase all deposits in the engine, excessive wear of some components and subsequent complications. In the case of purchasing a vehicle with an unclear history, or with more than 150.000 km, it is recommended, especially in the case of TFSi / FSi engines, to clean the oil sump and oil pump sieve. Clogged oil pump sieve causes low lubrication oil flow / pressure, which negatively affects the function of the hydraulic chain tensioner - its faster towing and thus increased risk of chain skipping and engine damage, limited hydraulic valve closing functions - accelerated valve and cylinder head wear, engine - faster wear.

Technical parameters - Audi Q7
Body type:
Five-door SUV
Dimensions (L x W x H mm): 5085-5088 x 1983 x 1735-1737
Wheelbase

(Mm):

3002
Luggage space (l): 330/775/2035
Drive
all wheels
Fuel Tank Volume (l) 100
Motor Volume Engine code Power
3.0 TFSI 2995 cc CJTC, CJWC 200 kW
3.0 TFSI 2995 cc CJWE, CTWB 206 kW
3.0 TFSI 2995 cc CJTB, CJWB, CNAA, CTWA 245 kW
3.6 FSI 3597 cc BHK 206 kW
4.2 FSI 4163 cc BAR 257 kW
Motor Volume Engine code Power
3.0 TDI 2967 cc CJGC, CJMA 150 kW
3.0 TDI 2967 cc BUN, CASB 155 kW
3.0 TDI 2967 cc CATA 165 kW
3.0 TDI 2967 cc BUG 171 kW
3.0 TDI 2967 cc CASA, CCMA, CJGA, CNRB 176 kW
3.0 TDI 2967 cc CJGD, CRCA, CLZB 180 kW
4.2 TDI 4134 cc BTR 240 kW
4.2 TDI 4134 cc CCFA, CCFC 250 kW
6.0 TDI 5934 cc CCGAMore 368 kW

Audi Q7 prices - used preview


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