Audi 3.0T Valve Cover Gasket & Spark Plug DIY (C7/B8 S4/Sq5)

[@AudiC7Owners]

BTW... YES, I know I say "Valve Cover Gasket" far too many times when I am only trying to say "Valve Cover" lol

[@osamamaddani]

there's also a loosening sequence in the service manual, I don't know if that causes any problem though.

[@davidfriedman9681]

Outstanding DIY thank you. Just completed this on my 2014 A7 Prestige with 138,000 miles. Replaced Spark Plugs and Coils while I was there. Old valve cover gaskets were pretty crispy when I removed them. The PCV vent hose removal trick worked like a charm. Really appreciate this thanks!

[@AudiC7Owners]

Fantastic! You just saved yourself a lot of money 🤘🏻

[@liangyichong3156]

Just did the driver-side gasket job today, your video helps me a lot thank you so so much! There are some parts differences compare to my 2012. Clean up your bay first, definitely need a pick tool and a long flat head may also help. The total takes me 2-2.5 hours to do this work if anyone needs references, just take some time and be patient about this! It's really not that bad!

[@stevenharris1826]

Do you by know any chance of the torque in foot pounds for the valve cover bolts?

[@AudiC7Owners]

Iirc it's 12 ft/lbs. I think I cover it in the video

[@fks-pv8il]

Great video. My wife’s Audi is a 2015 Q7 and looks like most everything is the same. I have found that removing the air intake hose from the air cleaner is more difficult than you’d think. Thanks for posting your videos. Very helpful.

[@fearz4182]

Hey cameron I’ve been waiting for a video like this for so long! Most of the videos on KZbin are not in depth enough or have bad camera angles! Great video!

[@AudiC7Owners]

Thank you!

[@mk_ultrarunner]

Hose clamp trick worked good. Was really easy. Did this last night. I replaced the Oil filter housing gasket too. That was a pain. Just got to get mine all back to together after replacing the PCV body. Supercharger, belt, coolant and leak check everything. Then button it up. Waiting on parts is the most time consuming.

[@alexismatos8286]

I just finish doing a set of valve cover gasket and the resealing the back cover and your trick work thank you

[@AudiC7Owners]

Nice!

[@3M0710N]

if you're extra worried about losing a screw into fishing hell, just put pieces of painters tape over each hole to keep em from jumping out and remove when ready to torquem

[@jonathangipaya]

Content continues to be amazing. One of my favorite channels! Cheers from a 2014 SQ5 owner in WA!

[@AudiC7Owners]

Thank you!

[@Mekanik.b]

So happy I found this channel, especially as you're just starting to look into pcv solutions. I have a lot of complaints about it, like everyone else, but haven't been able to really find a good answer to upgrading the system aside from a catch can to minimize oil consumption. I think this is a really solid platform and I'm excited to see future work.

[@AudiC7Owners]

Thanks man! Welcome to the channel 🤘🏻

[@hashim_iraq]

No need to split anything bro we enjoy watching your long videos 🍿

[@JoeyS5]

Great video man!! I might have missed it but u forgot to mention cleaning the mating surface on the cylinder head. Keep the vids coming bro!!

[@AudiC7Owners]

I talk about it! Thanks dude!

[@bobnotbob5133]

Gonna be using this vid to do my valve cover gaskets in a few days since i found some oil on the coils when i changed my plugs. Appreciate the vids keep up the good work

[@robertashawii]

Great video, thank you! Near the end, I think you may have misspoken about sparkplug torque (you said 22 ft. lbs), but the spec. is in Nm.

[@AudiC7Owners]

Thanks man! Reference the torque Spec, it is 22 ft/lbs according to all data as well as the emanual I use. The spark plugs I used even say 21.6 ft/lbs on the box.

[@kieranbackhouse5668]

Thanks for another great video - I’ll be doing this soon so this is really useful. On the B8.5, the aircon line in your way is moved nearer the wing so not in the way!!

[@cm.5023]

Love your content, it makes me want to keep my A6 or maybe get a newer model. That clip on the lower reservoir hose does not have to be removed to get the hose off. I keep in place as they can be a pain to put back in sometimes and love to fly away to some dark recess of the engine bay.

[@robgarcia1631]

Great video! E- manual and spark plug gap tool are absolutely gems. Thanks

[@AudiC7Owners]

For sure! 💪🏼

[@rogerboles3039]

I have watched this video several times in the last 6 months until I made the time to do gaskets myself. I also have another issue on my 15 a6 prestige 3.0t c7 and wondering if I should attempt replacing the parts recommended on a check engine fix. I have looked through your videos and do not see where you may have had this issue or not and addressed it but found nothing. May have missed it. I am getting a secondary air injection bank 1 and 2 improper air flow. the repair shops said there is a tsb out and suggests replacing the combi valves and a solenoid. I did purchase those but have not attempted because they seem hard to get to. I did ask those shops about a carbon cleaning as well and they said start with this first. I can see some of the combi's now that i have valve covers off but looks still hard to get to with a heat shield in around them. I have almost 140k o vehicle and never really had any issues. the light doesn't seem to affect the running of car but just annoying. I am just outside of Raleigh and could use some help on this matter before I put covers back on. Can you share any thoughts? Thanks. Roger.

[@AudiC7Owners]

The SAI service isn't a diy job. Requires a special pressure washing tool & is a pain to do. That is one you take to a shop to do. Good news is it won't effect your cars performance.

[@rawo5756]

i like the way you are real no bullshit edits

[@AudiC7Owners]

Thanks man!

[@AOAKilerGaming]

Will be doing spark plugs and coils soon thank you!

[@ezequielrivera5658]

Did you end up replacing the rear timing cover too?

[@AudiC7Owners]

Nope. It isn't leaking

[@chasingsteelies]

How did you torque the bottom hard to reach bolts on driver side? Hand tightened with no torque wrench? I installed Elrings and they are leaking. Did you use OEM gaskets? Cheers bro 🍻

[@AudiC7Owners]

Yep. I used elring and just hand tightened them. Next time you replace them you can apply a small amount of rtv to the gaskets

[@sjstlaurent]

You’re in NC huh? Me too.

[@mgilarmo]

Any chance you have footage of cleaning the area before you started? Compressed air, vacuuming, brake cleaner? Thanks!

[@AudiC7Owners]

Nope. It's pretty self explanatory. Use an air hose to blow stuff out of all the areas you are working in, then use a shop vac to vacuum all the areas as best you can.

[@jettkincer633]

Hey Cameron, I have a 14 s4 with 130k on it. Stage 1 034 tune. I am having the same problem that you stated in your oil consumption video as far as blue smoke on decell it has also started smoking if I let it idle. The smoke at idle looks more like moisture so I’m not too worried. I was wondering if the valve stem seals fixed your issue or if it was something else. Thanks!

[@Theguyinthefez]

Before you even start this job, do yourself a favor and get a 3/4 inch inner diameter hose in order to repair the broken PCV breather hose while WILL break if you look at it the wrong way or when you suddenly release the hose from cover. Again get a 3/4 inch inner diameter hose to create the union.

[@Atrociousa3]

Damn. I just changed the plugs on my car a few days ago. Wish I would have known about that spark plug gap tool.

[@AudiC7Owners]

It's a great little tool. Makes life a lot easier

[@mahe1212]

I am following you from Egypt 😊

[@mk_ultrarunner]

About to do this while doing the PCV, water pump and t-stat. A little concerned I may have some upper timing chain cover leakage around the gasket. But if I do that, I'm replacing the guides and tensioners and I really don't want to even go there. Also when you spray brake cleaner on your engine how are you wiping it up? You make it look spotless and I always have residue in the nooks and crannies. What about the the oil filter housing gasket. I have some residue around it but not sure if from spillage or the gasket. How can I tell. Fluids are drained.

[@AudiC7Owners]

I spray then wipe with a blue towel, or spray until everything is clean lol. And you can use liquid moly molygen oil to track leaks with a black light

[@mk_ultrarunner]

@@AudiC7Owners oh nice! Thx!

[@mk_ultrarunner]

@@AudiC7Owners so I bought Liquid Moly but you are saying the Molygen has black light detection? Weird as FCP Euro doesn’t state that as a point of it. And it doesn’t seem to be available for my Q5.

[@AudiC7Owners]

Just get the 5w-40 molygen. It is a decent oil, but I would only run it to detect a leak. After that I would switch to running a higher quality oil like Rowe

[@mk_ultrarunner]

@@AudiC7Ownersoh is regular Liquid Moly synthetic 5w-40 not good? Blue bottle. Also ordered the same spark plugs but I don’t have a tune. They come pre-gapped I assume to .24 not .26 like you do.

[@ProjectArjun]

It’s also advised to replace your valve cover bolts (24 in number), at least that’s what the Indy mechanic says lol

[@RaulClio]

The link to the manual doesn't work for me... how many pounds of torque should they be tightened with???

[@stevek9670]

I cut a piece of a plastic container for vent hose release.....after breaking with cut hose clamp.

[@Burr92345]

Wondering if you were seeing oil consumption with bad valve covers. Just did PCV, t stat, WP, ERG valve, carbon cleaning, new cross over pipe under charger and new gaskets. Seeing about a quart of oil burnt in about 1100 miles of the recent maintenance. Wasn’t burning oil like this before shop repair of PCV and such items listed above

[@AudiC7Owners]

Yes. Def had burning oil issues with the leaking vcg's.

[@Burr92345]

@@AudiC7Owners awesome to know. Just at a loss after all that maintenance it would be eating more oil then it was previously. But I can see some leaking on the driver side VCG

[@gabesky9501]

Does the service manual specify if you need to add any silicone to the seams on the gaskets?

[@AudiC7Owners]

You don't need to.

[@mahe1212]

Can you please put the link for Emanuel because the one on description its not open

[@JoseRamirez-f9t3x]

So you said 9 NM? For torque screw on the valve cover

[@alexodaniel9638]

I just bought a s5 and cylinders 456 and misfiring and will throw a epc light and limp mode. I notice I need my valve cover gasket replaced so I’m doing that but could it be from coolant leaking from the supercharger too?

[@denzeljones7996]

I’m taking my Audi a7 back to Audi Dealership today. My car is still leaking is it because I got it back a day back before the valve gasket cover was dry? Hopefully, some can assist me.

[@adrianflores9380]

I got fel pro gaskets off rock auto and one is blue and one is black is this correct? 2013 S5

[@AudiC7Owners]

I've never seen a blue gasket

[@keimanierush]

Great video ! What's the link for the manual ?

[@AudiC7Owners]

Thank you for the reminder! Emanual Online: bit.ly/36bNzxh

[@capouss]

Thank you for the DIY! Did the gasket resolve your oil consumption issue?

[@AudiC7Owners]

For the most part, yes! I still have a little bit only when I'm really pushing the car. If I drive normal there is almost none

[@hjaniel4428]

I did the valve cover gasket nd a gas test pipes nd the upper timming chain covers i meant the shop for 2,830 labor u think that was a gd price......nd great vid like always keep it going

[@AudiC7Owners]

That seems pretty fair for shop prices

[@lauretiu]

have you checked the gap after you take them out of the little bending tool? mine need to be at 028 and if i do that with the 028 gap measure tool the second i take them out they end up either 029 or 030. in my case i figured i have to use 026 when i bend them to get a pretty constant 028 result

[@AudiC7Owners]

It's been spot on for me so far

[@somaxusa]

Any tips on removing a stock air box? I don’t see any screws there and afraid to brake something by just pulling it up.

[@AudiC7Owners]

Remove the ram air section that connects the box from the radiator support (two t27 screws). Disconnect the air hose from the throttle body to the box. Pull up on the box firmly, but don't yank it bc there is a secondary air intake line connected to the bottom. The easiest way to remove that is to remove your partner wheel and pull back your fender liner to get access to it. There isn't any slack to allow you to pull it out & get your hand on it easily.

[@somaxusa]

@@AudiC7Owners thanks man!

[@ricolam4916]

Did you get any air in the coolant system after putting everything back together ?

[@AudiC7Owners]

Nope. Just reattached the reservoir & topped off. No air was introduced into the loops

[@brettholness9030]

where is the fuel filter on the 2012 a6 c7 3.0t petrol

[@Lizard6376]

Still planning on doing a "piston soak" video?

[@AudiC7Owners]

Yes! Eventually

[@fabioalvarado8088]

Thanks for 😂the tips on the crankcase hoses it works

[@JoHa-dl5zr]

Would've been nice to show the air box removal..lol.. I can't figure the bottom hose disconnect.

[@AudiC7Owners]

The easy way is this: 1) jack up the passenger side front wheel 2) remove passenger front wheel 3) undo & pull back the front wheel lining 4) unclip SAI breather hose sat attaches to bottom of OEM airbox 5) pull oem airbox out of engine bay (takes some force as it is pressed into the frame arm with rubber bushings)

[@JoHa-dl5zr]

@AudiC7Owners Wow..! Thanks for the super fast response..! Unfortunately, I have no room on that side to lift car and too many things removed now to start up car and move.. Thanks again for the response..!!

[@AudiC7Owners]

Good luck!

[@tam35bora]

Does anyone know that retainer piece's part number. My expansion tank sprayed all the coolant from the bottom as the retainer is missing. Hose was loose.Pls let me know if you know how I can find it.

[@AudiC7Owners]

Call your local audi dealership parts dept. If they don't have it in stock they can overnight it

[@stevencogar7393]

spark-plugs and valve cover how many hours to complete this job ?

[@AudiC7Owners]

Depending on your skill level, 3-5 hours

[@stevencogar7393]

Thank you replying back .... @@AudiC7Owners

[@_yoloonthepopo_6561]

Do you have to fill up on oil after this?

[@AudiC7Owners]

If you didn't drain your oil then no

[@mattdimartino648]

I purchased platinum plugs from FCP Euro. I do not have a tune but should I return and get iridium plugs?

[@AudiC7Owners]

Shouldn't matter on stock tuning

[@mattdimartino648]

@@AudiC7Owners I am replacing my valve cover gasket because I noticed lots of oil in my spark plugs and pieces of my gasket melted onto my coils.

[@AudiC7Owners]

Sounds like you definitely need to change them

[@byronjustice7276]

@@AudiC7Owners Do you have any videos changing water pump

[@AudiC7Owners]

No, but fcp euro does

[@XjaggyjoshTYPE]

Does the manual cover tdi specific repairs?. I tried to look up the manual and didn't see anything about tdi. Can you confirm?

[@AudiC7Owners]

The E-manual? I believe it does, but email them & ask. They are fast to respond

[@XjaggyjoshTYPE]

@@AudiC7Owners will do thanks for the reply. Love your content btw

[@dm7559]

No need to oil the new seal?

[@AudiC7Owners]

No. That would insure a leak. But you can put a very small beef of rtv down to help insure a proper seal.

[@bradleyrobertson-ju7sq]

I need help my car is leaking oil but it’s. Not from the pan it’s seem like it’s coming from the bottom of the engine but I really can’t tell I think it’s some kind of seal

[@ecd1585]

@@bradleyrobertson-ju7sq did you resolve this?

[@AudiC7Owners]

You need to trace it to its origin. Could be valve cover gaskets, rear or front main seal, valley pan, pull filter housing gasket, etc

[@bradleyrobertson-ju7sq]

@ okay ima check into it I wish I really could send it to you guys to looks at it and fix it I’m from TN

[@RemyISnow]

So no Permatex Ultra Black RTV? How did the gasket hold up?

[@AudiC7Owners]

It's holding up just fine so far

[@RemyISnow]

@@AudiC7Owners Good to know. I’m about to replace one on a 2013 Audi Q5 I just bought with 197k miles. I know Audi says no sealant, but a lot of people on the forums say just a tiny bit of sealant. Since the part was only $33 from Audi I’ll give it a go without sealant.

[@timbenracing]

I thought brake clean was not good on plastic. Does it dry it out?

[@AudiC7Owners]

It does immediately & you are doing it with oil again. It's fine.