Pat Torpey

Can anybody confirm the correct cambelt change interval for an Audi
4.2 V8 engine in a 1996 Audi A8?
I have the Bentley CD which shows a routine service interval of 7500
miles and a cambelt change interval of 90000 miles. This is a US
publication and refers to US market cars only.
My motor mechanic here in Ireland says that his documentation shows a
routine service interval of 10000 miles for this engine, and a cambelt
change at 60000
miles.
My Audi dealer unofficially says also a 60000 interval


Which is correct?


Thanks

JPF

The original stated US interval was 75K. It's on the sticker under
the hood of a US car. It's a big red one.
90K is a fair interval, but I have seen a few fail before. 60K seems
a bit premature, as the component quality went up over time.

2-valve engines, 90K. (Except turbo, 60K)
4-valve engines, 60K
5-valve engines 75K.

As your car is a 1996, I'd say now is appropriate. 40-valve engines
make a huge mess when the belt lets go.

The official US interval for timingbelts is now 105K. It's due to
some California law. Like some state legislator knows about
engines. We have to protect the consumer, you know.

On 7 Nov 2003 13:25:13 -0800, ptorpey@iol.ie (Pat Torpey) wrote:

>Can anybody confirm the correct cambelt change interval for an Audi
>4.2 V8 engine in a 1996 Audi A8?
>I have the Bentley CD which shows a routine service interval of 7500
>miles and a cambelt change interval of 90000 miles. This is a US
>publication and refers to US market cars only.
>My motor mechanic here in Ireland says that his documentation shows a
>routine service interval of 10000 miles for this engine, and a cambelt
>change at 60000
>miles.
>My Audi dealer unofficially says also a 60000 interval
>
>
>Which is correct?
>
>
>Thanks

JimR

I concur with JPF. 60-75k miles. I'm about to send in a parts order to do mine.

If you're doing it yourself, look here:
http://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/41679.phtml

Even if you're not, you'll learn some things. There are a lot of parts you
should consider replacing while you're in there. Incremental labor is almost
nil.

JimR

ptorpey@iol.ie (Pat Torpey) wrote:

>Can anybody confirm the correct cambelt change interval for an Audi
>4.2 V8 engine in a 1996 Audi A8?
>I have the Bentley CD which shows a routine service interval of 7500
>miles and a cambelt change interval of 90000 miles. This is a US
>publication and refers to US market cars only.
>My motor mechanic here in Ireland says that his documentation shows a
>routine service interval of 10000 miles for this engine, and a cambelt
>change at 60000
>miles.
>My Audi dealer unofficially says also a 60000 interval
>
>
>Which is correct?
>
>
>Thanks

JPF

On Sun, 09 Nov 2003 08:46:27 -0500, JimR <noone@bellsouth.net> wrote:

>>Snip<<

>There are a lot of parts you
>should consider replacing while you're in there. Incremental labor is almost
>nil.

Good point. It's never the belt that fails. A water pump, some
roller, puking seal, etc. is what takes the belt out.

vze3hbm8@verizon.net

I just acquired a new TT and the manual indicates 10,000 mile routine
service and a 90,000 mile cambelt interval. However, I think that I
will change the oil at 5,000 mile intervals, change the cambelt in the
60k to 75k mile range, and have routine service and inspections
performed at 10k intervals.

On 7 Nov 2003 13:25:13 -0800, ptorpey@iol.ie (Pat Torpey) wrote:

>Can anybody confirm the correct cambelt change interval for an Audi
>4.2 V8 engine in a 1996 Audi A8?
>I have the Bentley CD which shows a routine service interval of 7500
>miles and a cambelt change interval of 90000 miles. This is a US
>publication and refers to US market cars only.
>My motor mechanic here in Ireland says that his documentation shows a
>routine service interval of 10000 miles for this engine, and a cambelt
>change at 60000
>miles.
>My Audi dealer unofficially says also a 60000 interval
>
>
>Which is correct?
>
>
>Thanks

Pat Torpey

Thanks for your various replies.

However I still can't get my head around the issue. Surely someone
must know with certainty the Audi recommended cambelt change interval
for a 1996 4.2l V8 engine? It should be a black and white issue and we
should not have to guess the best change interval.
Presumably no-one would lightly undertake a cambelt change on the Audi
A8, because of the amount of work involved, at any shorter interval
than necessary, just to be "safe"
The other factor is that in my own case, due to the lack of suitable
roads here and the speed limits, the engine rarely sees high revs and
is just pottering along most of the time. This I would have thought
wouyld be a factor in deciding the cambelt life.

Does anyone know for sure if cambelts deteriorate with age (i.e
chronological age an.dt not hours run)?


Thanks

vze3hbm8@verizon.net wrote in message news:<77o1rvgt7lu20v2iiljvqvv6tounc188k8@4ax.com>. ..
> I just acquired a new TT and the manual indicates 10,000 mile routine
> service and a 90,000 mile cambelt interval. However, I think that I
> will change the oil at 5,000 mile intervals, change the cambelt in the
> 60k to 75k mile range, and have routine service and inspections
> performed at 10k intervals.
>
> On 7 Nov 2003 13:25:13 -0800, ptorpey@iol.ie (Pat Torpey) wrote:
>
> >Can anybody confirm the correct cambelt change interval for an Audi
> >4.2 V8 engine in a 1996 Audi A8?
> >I have the Bentley CD which shows a routine service interval of 7500
> >miles and a cambelt change interval of 90000 miles. This is a US
> >publication and refers to US market cars only.
> >My motor mechanic here in Ireland says that his documentation shows a
> >routine service interval of 10000 miles for this engine, and a cambelt
> >change at 60000
> >miles.
> >My Audi dealer unofficially says also a 60000 interval
> >
> >
> >Which is correct?
> >
> >
> >Thanks

Steve Sears

Pat,
In the case of older cars that remain parked for a long time, yes, you
should replace the belt based on time (possibly, say, 5 or 10 years of
inactivity or so). The belts do have rubber in them - rubber does degrade
with time and atmospheric exposure. Actually, in the case of tires
inactivity is somewhat detrimental to the rubber, as the rubber is somewhat
"kneaded" while driving. Take a look at an old car that has been parked for
a long time - look at how cracked and brittle the rubber has become. The
belt would be similar.
Problem is, that saying that "I only drive the car on short trips - never
get up to flat out speeds - etc." I would actually think that the most
strain on a belt would be during starting. Actually - in many cases this is
when the belt fails - turn it over and *snap* nothing catches. Except the
pistons and valves have a little head butting session and the valves
lose....then the whole engine loses...sort of the "Mutually Assured
Destruction" thing the Cold War was based on.
Use the intervals that JPF gives. If you drive on the same belt for
200k....Good for you! you beat the "Bell Curve" of belt failures. I'd pay
the price for the belt and avoid the headache and expense of a new engine.
As far as a "black and white" issue - well, you'll hear many stories on
Audifans, Audiworld and here about premature belt failure and the costs.
It's far from "black and white".
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ - following 60k mi belt change schedule
1980 Audi 5k - following time based belt change schedule
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes - belt? For your pants?
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

"Pat Torpey" <ptorpey@iol.ie> wrote in message
news:f3dea0c7.0311161242.2e1f26d1@posting.google.c om...
> Thanks for your various replies.
>
> However I still can't get my head around the issue. Surely someone
> must know with certainty the Audi recommended cambelt change interval
> for a 1996 4.2l V8 engine? It should be a black and white issue and we
> should not have to guess the best change interval.
> Presumably no-one would lightly undertake a cambelt change on the Audi
> A8, because of the amount of work involved, at any shorter interval
> than necessary, just to be "safe"
> The other factor is that in my own case, due to the lack of suitable
> roads here and the speed limits, the engine rarely sees high revs and
> is just pottering along most of the time. This I would have thought
> wouyld be a factor in deciding the cambelt life.
>
> Does anyone know for sure if cambelts deteriorate with age (i.e
> chronological age an.dt not hours run)?
>
>
> Thanks
>
> vze3hbm8@verizon.net wrote in message
news:<77o1rvgt7lu20v2iiljvqvv6tounc188k8@4ax.com>. ..
> > I just acquired a new TT and the manual indicates 10,000 mile routine
> > service and a 90,000 mile cambelt interval. However, I think that I
> > will change the oil at 5,000 mile intervals, change the cambelt in the
> > 60k to 75k mile range, and have routine service and inspections
> > performed at 10k intervals.
> >
> > On 7 Nov 2003 13:25:13 -0800, ptorpey@iol.ie (Pat Torpey) wrote:
> >
> > >Can anybody confirm the correct cambelt change interval for an Audi
> > >4.2 V8 engine in a 1996 Audi A8?
> > >I have the Bentley CD which shows a routine service interval of 7500
> > >miles and a cambelt change interval of 90000 miles. This is a US
> > >publication and refers to US market cars only.
> > >My motor mechanic here in Ireland says that his documentation shows a
> > >routine service interval of 10000 miles for this engine, and a cambelt
> > >change at 60000
> > >miles.
> > >My Audi dealer unofficially says also a 60000 interval
> > >
> > >
> > >Which is correct?
> > >
> > >
> > >Thanks

Pat Torpey

Thanks once again for your inputs.

JPF says that the original US change iunterval was 75k.
The Bentley CD rom which is presumably either official or
semi-official for 1997 cars is 90K (I was under the impression that
the A8 was not introduced into the US market until 1997, so I assume
also that this is the "first" US recommended change interval)
My European A8 doesn't have any sticker.

Does anyone out there have a European A8 with a positive
identification of the Audi-recommended change interval for a 1995/1996
4.2 V8? (My car was built towards the end of 1995 though first
registered in 1996)?

I have the same mysterious discrepancy between the recommended service
inbtervals- Bentley says 7.5k, European current received wisdom is for
10k.

Agaon does anyone have a 1995/1996 official European Audi service book
or equivalent which states the service intervals?

Thanks

"Steve Sears" <steve.sears@SHOESsoil-mat.on.ca> wrote in message news:<LIRub.11936$iT4.1408697@news20.bellglobal.co m>...
> Pat,
> In the case of older cars that remain parked for a long time, yes, you
> should replace the belt based on time (possibly, say, 5 or 10 years of
> inactivity or so). The belts do have rubber in them - rubber does degrade
> with time and atmospheric exposure. Actually, in the case of tires
> inactivity is somewhat detrimental to the rubber, as the rubber is somewhat
> "kneaded" while driving. Take a look at an old car that has been parked for
> a long time - look at how cracked and brittle the rubber has become. The
> belt would be similar.
> Problem is, that saying that "I only drive the car on short trips - never
> get up to flat out speeds - etc." I would actually think that the most
> strain on a belt would be during starting. Actually - in many cases this is
> when the belt fails - turn it over and *snap* nothing catches. Except the
> pistons and valves have a little head butting session and the valves
> lose....then the whole engine loses...sort of the "Mutually Assured
> Destruction" thing the Cold War was based on.
> Use the intervals that JPF gives. If you drive on the same belt for
> 200k....Good for you! you beat the "Bell Curve" of belt failures. I'd pay
> the price for the belt and avoid the headache and expense of a new engine.
> As far as a "black and white" issue - well, you'll hear many stories on
> Audifans, Audiworld and here about premature belt failure and the costs.
> It's far from "black and white".
> Cheers!
> Steve Sears
> 1987 Audi 5kTQ - following 60k mi belt change schedule
> 1980 Audi 5k - following time based belt change schedule
> 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes - belt? For your pants?
> (SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)
>
> "Pat Torpey" <ptorpey@iol.ie> wrote in message
> news:f3dea0c7.0311161242.2e1f26d1@posting.google.c om...
> > Thanks for your various replies.
> >
> > However I still can't get my head around the issue. Surely someone
> > must know with certainty the Audi recommended cambelt change interval
> > for a 1996 4.2l V8 engine? It should be a black and white issue and we
> > should not have to guess the best change interval.
> > Presumably no-one would lightly undertake a cambelt change on the Audi
> > A8, because of the amount of work involved, at any shorter interval
> > than necessary, just to be "safe"
> > The other factor is that in my own case, due to the lack of suitable
> > roads here and the speed limits, the engine rarely sees high revs and
> > is just pottering along most of the time. This I would have thought
> > wouyld be a factor in deciding the cambelt life.
> >
> > Does anyone know for sure if cambelts deteriorate with age (i.e
> > chronological age an.dt not hours run)?
> >
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > vze3hbm8@verizon.net wrote in message
> news:<77o1rvgt7lu20v2iiljvqvv6tounc188k8@4ax.com>. ..
> > > I just acquired a new TT and the manual indicates 10,000 mile routine
> > > service and a 90,000 mile cambelt interval. However, I think that I
> > > will change the oil at 5,000 mile intervals, change the cambelt in the
> > > 60k to 75k mile range, and have routine service and inspections
> > > performed at 10k intervals.
> > >
> > > On 7 Nov 2003 13:25:13 -0800, ptorpey@iol.ie (Pat Torpey) wrote:
> > >
> > > >Can anybody confirm the correct cambelt change interval for an Audi
> > > >4.2 V8 engine in a 1996 Audi A8?
> > > >I have the Bentley CD which shows a routine service interval of 7500
> > > >miles and a cambelt change interval of 90000 miles. This is a US
> > > >publication and refers to US market cars only.
> > > >My motor mechanic here in Ireland says that his documentation shows a
> > > >routine service interval of 10000 miles for this engine, and a cambelt
> > > >change at 60000
> > > >miles.
> > > >My Audi dealer unofficially says also a 60000 interval
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Which is correct?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Thanks