A rattling noise on a 2019 Audi A8 50 TDI Quattro quickly escalated into a £13,000 engine rebuild for technician Gytis at The Car Edition after a collapsed tensioner damaged the camshafts.
Gaining access to the rear-mounted timing assembly required dropping the entire front subframe and separating the 3.0-litre V6 diesel from its transmission before mounting the bare block on an engine stand.
Once inside, Gytis uncovered shattered plastic chain guides and a seized tensioner that allowed severe chain stretch, wearing down the camshaft sprockets and heavily scoring the cam lobes.
The rebuild required replacement camshafts, a complete timing kit, fresh oil pump, and extensive gaskets, with Gytis noting that inadequate factory oil pressure often accelerates premature top-end wear on these units.
