Audi A5 8T 3.0 TDI Service Schedule

The Audi A5 8T 3.0 TDI is a beautiful car. It's got more than enough torque, and the fuel economy is brilliant for what you get. The V6 diesel is a solid engine, but there are a few things I want you to know about. Above all, the timing chains.

Why are the timing chains so important on the 3.0 TDI?

On the 3.0 TDI, the timing chains sit at the back of the engine, next to the gearbox. If the chains stretch or their guides wear out, we have to remove the entire engine to replace them. And believe me, that's no small job. That's why at Das Auto Service, we use diagnostics to check for timing chain stretch before you even hear them rattling. I want us to catch the problem early, not wait until you're facing an expensive repair.

How often should you change the engine oil?

For your 3.0 TDI driven in Bulgaria, I recommend changing the engine oil and oil filter every 10,000 km or once a year, whichever comes first, regardless of the oil used. The oil must meet VW 507 00 specification. Forget those long service intervals. Fresh oil helps protect the timing chains, tensioners and turbo. And on this engine, that really matters.

What do you need to know about the S tronic?

The Audi A5 8T 3.0 TDI with quattro most commonly comes with the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, known as the S tronic 0B5. This gearbox uses two separate oils. One is for the clutch and mechatronic unit – basically the gearbox's brain – while the other lubricates the gears. Both need changing every 60,000 km, and you must use genuine oils. Afterwards, we carry out the gearbox adaptation too. Simply draining the old oil and filling it with fresh oil isn't enough.

What else do we check on the 3.0 TDI?

The thermostat — if the engine takes ages to warm up in winter, we check it.
The glow plugs — if your car struggles to start when it's cold, we check those too.
The EGR valve and DPF — especially if you mostly drive around town.
The intake manifold swirl flaps — we make sure they're working as they should.
The oil cooler — we carefully check around it for oil leaks.

What else is included in the service?

The fuel filter, air filter and cabin filter.
The crankcase ventilation filter — we replace it every 80,000 km.
The brake fluid — we change it every two years.
The coolant — we change it every third heating season.

If you hear rattling from the back of the engine on a cold start, or the check engine light comes on because of a camshaft timing fault, don't keep driving like that. On the 3.0 TDI, if a timing chain jumps, you could be looking at a very serious repair. I'm telling you this because, at the end of the day, you're the one paying the bill out of your own pocket.

Advice from Kris Mladenov: If you've got your eye on an Audi A5 3.0 TDI and you're thinking of buying it, get the timing chains checked with diagnostics first. Trust me, that one check could save you more money than anything else after you've bought the car.

If you drive an Audi A5 3.0 TDI, bring it into Das Auto Service and we'll check the timing chains with diagnostics. We'll see what condition they're in and whether there's anything to worry about. Much better to know now than to find out when the rattling starts.