Audi Q5: 2.0 TFSI (EA888) excessive oil consumption / piston-ring wear
2.0 TFSI (EA888) excessive oil consumption / piston-ring wear is a very common engine fault on the Audi Q5 on the 2009–2016 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $4,000 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 20 documented faults on the Audi Q5.
- Vehicle
- Audi Q5
- Engine
- 2.0L
- Years
- 2009–2016
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 8R Q5 2.0 TFSI (EA888, especially 2009-2012 build) is a poster child for the VAG oil-consumption problem - undersized oil-control rings and clogged return drillings let oil burn in the cylinders, with a litre per 1,000 km common on affected cars. Run low, it scores the bores. Later builds got revised pistons; overseas goodwill programs are long expired. This is the number-one check on a petrol 8R.
What you would notice
- 'Add 1 litre of oil' message
- Blue-grey smoke on hard acceleration
- Low oil shortly after a service
- Fouled spark plugs
How to check it
Where to look. Engine internals - pistons and rings
Check the oil level and ask, in writing if possible, how much oil it uses per 1,000 km.
Look for blue smoke on a hard third-gear pull.
Ask whether the pistons/rings were replaced under the oil-consumption fix and for the build date (later cars are better).
What it costs to put right
$4,000 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “How much oil does it use between services?”
- “Have the pistons or rings been replaced for oil consumption?”
Now check the Audi Q5 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.
Where this comes from
- AudiWorld '2015 Q5 2.0t oil consumption' thread
- A5OC 2.0 TFSI oil consumption FAQ
- US class action over VW/Audi 2.0T oil consumption
Audi Q5 buyer questions
Is 2.0 tfsi (ea888) excessive oil consumption / piston-ring wear serious on a Audi Q5?
We rate it critical and very common on the Audi Q5. The 8R Q5 2.0 TFSI (EA888, especially 2009-2012 build) is a poster child for the VAG oil-consumption problem - undersized oil-control rings and clogged return drillings let oil burn in the cylinders, with a litre per 1,000 km common on affected cars. Run low, it scores the bores. Later builds got revised pistons; overseas goodwill programs are long expired. This is the number-one check on a petrol 8R.
How much does it cost to fix on a Audi Q5?
$4,000 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 Q5 years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2009–2016 Audi Q5. 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 and ask, in writing if possible, how much oil it uses per 1,000 km. Look for blue smoke on a hard third-gear pull. Ask whether the pistons/rings were replaced under the oil-consumption fix and for the build date (later cars are better). Look here: Engine internals - pistons and rings