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Audi A3: Excessive oil consumption from piston rings (1.8 TFSI EA888 Gen2 CDAA)

Excessive oil consumption from piston rings (1.8 TFSI EA888 Gen2 CDAA) is a common engine fault on the Audi A3 on the 2009–2012 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 43 documented faults on the Audi A3.

Vehicle
Audi A3
Engine
1.8L
Years
2009–2012
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Audi A3 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Audi A3 faults43 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The 1.8 TFSI EA888 Gen2 petrol (engine code CDAA) in the 8P A3 is known for burning oil because its oil control piston rings do not scrape the bores well enough and clog with carbon. Owners report needing a litre every 500 to 2,000 km. Audi dealers run an oil consumption test, and the only lasting fix is new pistons and rings. Audi issued a related service bulletin for the 2.0 TFSI of the same generation in the USA, but there was no NZ recall.

What you would notice

  • Low oil warning between services
  • Blue or grey smoke on start-up or after idling
  • Oily soot in the tailpipes
  • Rough idle from fouled spark plugs

How to check it

Where to look. Inside the engine, piston rings

  1. Check the oil level on the dipstick or dash display and ask when it was last topped up.

  2. Look inside the tailpipes for oily black soot and watch the exhaust on a cold start and after a period of idling for blue smoke.

  3. Ask how much oil it uses between services and whether Audi ever did an oil consumption test or replaced the pistons.

  4. If a workshop inspection is possible: a compression and leak-down test and a borescope look at the piston crowns will show ring sticking.

What it costs to put right

$4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “How much oil does it use between services?”
  • “Has Audi done an oil consumption test or replaced pistons or rings?”
  • “Do you carry a bottle of oil in the boot?”

Now check the Audi A3 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Audi A3 buyer questions

Is excessive oil consumption from piston rings (1.8 tfsi ea888 gen2 cdaa) serious on a Audi A3?

We rate it major and common on the Audi A3. The 1.8 TFSI EA888 Gen2 petrol (engine code CDAA) in the 8P A3 is known for burning oil because its oil control piston rings do not scrape the bores well enough and clog with carbon. Owners report needing a litre every 500 to 2,000 km. Audi dealers run an oil consumption test, and the only lasting fix is new pistons and rings. Audi issued a related service bulletin for the 2.0 TFSI of the same generation in the USA, but there was no NZ recall.

How much does it cost to fix on a Audi A3?

$4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Audi A3 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2009–2012 Audi A3. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the oil level on the dipstick or dash display and ask when it was last topped up. Look inside the tailpipes for oily black soot and watch the exhaust on a cold start and after a period of idling for blue smoke. Ask how much oil it uses between services and whether Audi ever did an oil consumption test or replaced the pistons. If a workshop inspection is possible: a compression and leak-down test and a borescope look at the piston crowns will show ring sticking. Look here: Inside the engine, piston rings