Should i also replace the cam chain tensioners? car is 2.8 1999 with 69000 miles. I am doing the timing belt and leaking valve cover gaskets and really don't feel like breaking the valve covers open again in the next year if i can avoid it by doing it now. Just trying to sort what I NEED and what I do not when ordering parts.
Not sure what the replacement intervals are for these.
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Jess

 

Replace the tensioner gaskets while you're in there, no need to replace the tensioners.

 

I am doing my head gasket and timing belt and seals this weekend myself on my 99 A4 1.8, not the same, but probably pretty similar, but I ordered the enhanced valve cover gasket kit from Blau and it comes with the tensioner gasket(s) and the wear blocks on the tensioners. That seems to be the wear item on the tensioners and it is not nearly as expensive as buying the higher upgrade package with the whole tensioner.

You have to unbolt the cam shafts to raise them up, but I never had to take them all the way out, just lift them up a little to sneak the tensioners out and then the wear blocks just snap on in place.

 

thanks mekeraudi,
i suspected the whole unit would still be good to go minus the wear blocks. i just didn't want to have to reopen everything up 15,000 miles from now.
thanks much!
_Jess

 

They seem to fail much more on the 1.8T (probably because of the slugging issues that engine has). Mine have 206k miles on them (99 2.8) and they're going strong. Yours probably are as well.

 

I have 116,xxx miles on my 1.8 and they were not bad at all, but replaced them since in there. I also did my timing belt, water pump and tensioners since I had it all torn apart and new seals on cams, crank and intermediate shaft. Got the kit from Blau and one smart thing I did was I rented their tool kit with it, but that was more for the timing belt items and seals.

 

do a diy of the valve cover gaskets. Mine need to be done asap.

 

Just do a google search for it. Here are a couple allready done.

https://www.audiforums.com/forum/diy...-tomritt-8418/

Audi Valve Cover Gasket Kit - Audi Cam Tensioner Gasket Replacement - Blauparts

https://www.audiforums.com/forum/diy...et-diy-152114/

https://www.audiforums.com/forum/diy...er-diy-112177/