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Audi A4: Oil consumption from piston rings (2.0 TFSI EA888 Gen3 petrol, B9 A4 2016 on)

Oil consumption from piston rings (2.0 TFSI EA888 Gen3 petrol, B9 A4 2016 on) is a common engine fault on the Audi A4 on the 2016 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $4,000 to $12,000 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 45 documented faults on the Audi A4.

Vehicle
Audi A4
Engine
2.0L
Years
2016 onward
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Audi A4 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 A4 faults45 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 2.0 TFSI EA888 Gen3 petrol in the B9 A4 (2016 on) is the subject of a 2025 US class action alleging that its piston rings lack tension and let oil into the combustion chambers, causing high oil use. The same engine family is named in Volkswagen Tiguan, Passat and Audi Q5 models; no recall or extended warranty has been issued. Check the oil level before the test drive and ask the owner how often it needs topping up between services. Blue smoke on start-up or a fouled spark plug points to oil burning.

What you would notice

  • Excessive oil consumption exceeding 1 litre per 1,000 km
  • Blue-grey smoke from exhaust at cold start or under hard acceleration
  • Oil level warning light illuminating between scheduled service intervals
  • Oil-fouled or oil-coated spark plugs
  • Strong burning oil smell from engine bay after spirited driving

How to check it

Where to look. Engine block — piston rings and cylinder bores across all four cylinders

  1. Check dipstick oil level at purchase and compare after a 20-minute test drive under load.

  2. Inspect exhaust pipe outlet for blue oily residue.

  3. Pull spark plugs and check for oil contamination.

  4. Ask seller for any oil top-up receipts or records between service intervals.

  5. Scan for catalyst efficiency fault codes that often accompany chronic oil burning.

What it costs to put right

$4,000 to $12,000 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 often does the engine oil need to be topped up between scheduled services?”
  • “Has the Audi extended warranty campaign for EA888 oil consumption been applied to this vehicle?”
  • “Have the spark plugs been replaced recently, and were they fouled with oil deposits when removed?”

Now check the Audi A4 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 published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Audi A4 buyer questions

Is oil consumption from piston rings (2.0 tfsi ea888 gen3 petrol, b9 a4 2016 on) serious on a Audi A4?

We rate it major and common on the Audi A4. The 2.0 TFSI EA888 Gen3 petrol in the B9 A4 (2016 on) is the subject of a 2025 US class action alleging that its piston rings lack tension and let oil into the combustion chambers, causing high oil use. The same engine family is named in Volkswagen Tiguan, Passat and Audi Q5 models; no recall or extended warranty has been issued. Check the oil level before the test drive and ask the owner how often it needs topping up between services. Blue smoke on start-up or a fouled spark plug points to oil burning.

How much does it cost to fix on a Audi A4?

$4,000 to $12,000 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 A4 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2016 onward Audi A4. 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 dipstick oil level at purchase and compare after a 20-minute test drive under load. Inspect exhaust pipe outlet for blue oily residue. Pull spark plugs and check for oil contamination. Ask seller for any oil top-up receipts or records between service intervals. Scan for catalyst efficiency fault codes that often accompany chronic oil burning. Look here: Engine block — piston rings and cylinder bores across all four cylinders