Re: C7 3.0TDi V6 known issues? –
31-08-2017,06:43 PM
To my knowledge all of the V6 engines are cam chain and have a very long service life - 180 - 200k miles. The cam chain is at the back of the engine so it's an engine out job to change (from what I understand).
The 201bhp allroad that you are looking at is the least powerful... it is s-Tronic 7 speed (so 38k oil changes) but you may find it a bit lacklustre after your 3.2 FSI. I test drove one and felt it performed very close to my old 3.0 Tdi quattro 225bhp avant. Not surprising 'cos it weighs 10% or so less.
DPF - Diesel Particulate Filter. An extra blob of emissions control hardware in diesel exhausts that captures micro particles of soot.. when it is "full" the car initiates a DPF regeneration (regen) to burn off the soot. You can tell when it is happening 'cos the car holds lower gears - and if you park up you hear what sounds like the radiator fan running and it can smell hot. Straggely enough the 2.0Tdi Avant Ultra relief car I had today was trying to do a regen with only 3700 miles on the clock.
DPFs don't like lots of short trips as the regen never completes... it can only continue when there is lots of heat in the exhaust manifold. If you do regular long trips then not an issue. Also if you park up (e.g. at home) and it is apparent it is doing a regen then, time permitting, get back in, stick it in sport mode and go for a 20 minute drive (it's what I do). You can tell when it's done because the car will select top gear at the right point - on my 8 gear BiTdi that is around 60 MPH.. when a regen is happening it holds 7th at that speed. I'd guess a 7 speed s-Tronic would hold 6th at 60 MPH until it had cleared its throat.
If you repeatedly allow the regen to not complete then the theory is that the DPF can gets clogged up.... simply cannot be cleared out. That requires a replacement (££££) or there are companies around that claim they can sort them. I assume they remove the DPF and manhandle it with heat / hot pokers whatever.
A6 allroad BiTdi (MY14, July 2013 - DAB & power tailgate). Glacier white, tech pack (HDD Nav, colour DIS, Parking Plus), sports seats, 4 zone climate, heated seats front and rear, ambient lighting, 75L fuel tank, adaptive Bi Xenon headlights