Odd sounding Turbo

**iceman187** · 06-07-2009,01:20 PM

I have recently bought an A4 1.8T Quattro Sport, 2001 with 111,000 miles. I must say it feels a bit sluggish off the mark. Also to me the turbo seems to make an odd sound compared to other turbo petrol cars I have driven. My last one was a 2001 Octavia vRS and it felt considerably quicker and did not have the same unusual sounding turbo. The A4 has recently been in to local Audi dealer for a 'Health Check' and no comment was made on the performance or the noise that the turbo makes. Can anyone shed any light on this??

**Crasher** · 06-07-2009,01:22 PM

What sort of odd sound?

**Mr_Meeks** · 06-07-2009,02:10 PM

Try some of the fuel cleaning products that are on the market as well as using higher grade unleaded petrol (97 / 98 octane) this will improve the performance as well as cleaning out the muck in the engine over time!!

**rhencullen1989** · 06-07-2009,03:35 PM

How does higher octane fuel or fuel additives clean "muck" out of the engine?

I agree to use good fuel e.g shell 98 octane, but to keep a healthy, clean engine requires regular oil and filter changes and letting the turbo spool and cool, nothing to do with the fuel IMO.

**iceman187** · 06-07-2009,03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Crasher

What sort of odd sound?

There's an ever-present humming even at idle speed and all the way through the lower rev range and when under medium to heavy throttle the 'turbo' noise is more of a scream than the usual whistle I would expect. As regards performance I had a 1995 1.8 20v A4 non-turbo a few years ago (immediately before the Octavia vRS), and that was much more lively that this 1.8T. I have tried 3 0-60 dashes on flat level surface, had two attempts with 11.3 sec and one at 10.6 sec. Booked 0-60 is 8.9 sec I believe. Seems rubbish to me!!

**Mr_Meeks** · 06-07-2009,04:56 PM

Originally Posted by rhencullen1989

How does higher octane fuel or fuel additives clean "muck" out of the engine?

I agree to use good fuel e.g shell 98 octane, but to keep a healthy, clean engine requires regular oil and filter changes and letting the turbo spool and cool, nothing to do with the fuel IMO.

the fuel burns more cleanly and contains far less harmful ingredients to your engine, the higher grade ones i.e shell optimax or v power actually cleans your entire fuel line, carb, injectors and valves as you drive and the more you use it the better your engine will perform and in theory could make your engine last longer

**rhencullen1989** · 06-07-2009,09:20 PM

Ok, as we are on the subject of higher octane fuels, do you find you are getting more MPG with the 98 RON fuel than with normal unleaded.

My 1.8T 190 quattro averaged 41 mpg on a 100 mile motorway journey with 98 RON, but its less with normal unleaded.

**iceman187** · 06-07-2009,10:11 PM

Originally Posted by rhencullen1989

Ok, as we are on the subject of higher octane fuels, do you find you are getting more MPG with the 98 RON fuel than with normal unleaded.

My 1.8T 190 quattro averaged 41 mpg on a 100 mile motorway journey with 98 RON, but its less with normal unleaded.

That's also way more MPG than my 163 Quattro. Any suggestions regarding the turbo noise I mentioned or the (lack of) performance??

**rhencullen1989** · 07-07-2009,06:16 PM

To be honest, if you think your car is lacking performance and the turbo is making a wierd sound, you need to take it to a good independant garage for them to listen to. It could be a split hose or the turbo not working properly.

A lot of places could run it on a rolling road/dyno and this will tell you the power etc of your vehicle, if its down on power then you need to start looking further into it.

VAG COM should also be used to see if there are any fault codes stored.

My 41 MPG from my 1.8T Quattro 190 was with a very light foot on a run from Warwick down to somerset using 6th gear and 98 RON unleaded. I usually average about 33 - 36 on a normal A road run. Lots less driving kids to school etc!!

**Dark Horse** · 08-07-2009,11:16 AM

Can anyone describe the sound the turbo should make and at what revs? It just occurred to me that my 1.8T S-Line 190 Multitronic has never made any whistling or screaming noises and now I'm worried

At speed on the motorway (around 2.5-3k revs), the Audi makes a kind of droning buzzing noise, rather like a hive of bees but I put this down to just the noise the engine makes. Under heavy acceleration, I've never heard any turbo kicking in but then again, I'm unsure what I should be listening for

Car has been in Audi dealer garages and nothing was ever reported by them, they're usually quick to point out even the most trivial of probs. Any suggestions as to the best way of hearing this turbo assuming I haven't got a wasps nest in the engine?