Wagon Stoke

[Mustonen]

A previous owner of my b8.5 was lax on maintenance. I got it around 65k miles and the timing chain was slipping cogs due to how stretched out it was before I put 10k on it. Had the timing chain replaced at ~73k and went to 5k intervals and crossed my fingers that the camshaft/crankshaft gears wouldn’t be worn enough to create future problems. I’m at 160k miles now and it’s been smooth sailing.

Mine doesn’t have a dipstick. Can’t check oil levels in any traditional way, just wait for the thing to yell at you that it needs a quart. I said it upthread, but I was going through a quart every 900-1,300 miles or so until I switched to liquimoly, and now I’m less than a quart every 5k.

I never did scrub it with any almonds or anything. How would I know that’s needed? It will still be in the stable as my son’s car, though I have some transmission concerns. See if they go away when I turn the tune off.

I don’t have an Audi dealer within a few hundred miles, so my local Indy will probably see my new ride a few times even before warranty is up.

[Mustonen]

And goddamn….

[liv2ski]

Your new ride?

[Mustonen]

Yup.

Private party sale across country with a shipping company is one of the sketchier-feeling transactions I’ve ever engaged in. Russian dude who spoke practically no English cheerfully delivered it to the hotel we are staying at in St. Paul, MN. Right now it’s chilling out of sight in the parking garage…

[El Chupacabra]

Have you seen the price of good oil lately? I've been getting 5qt jugs of Castrol Edge (high mileage formula) for about $30 for a few years, this week it's over $60 and individual quarts are $13-14. Euro car oils are over $15/qt and are $75 for the 5 qt jug.

Are you buying Euro spec oil for the minivan?

[gravitylover]

Heh, no. When I saw the price on the Edge I looked to see what that was running because a Polestar tuned Volvo T6 deserves good oil. I replaced the PCV/oil trap, cleaned everything up under there, replaced the gasket too and the plugs and boots and since there's a thing about oil consumption with these I change the oil at 5k. It also got its first full fluid change, diffs, Haldex and tranny fluid exchange that took 12 quarts before it ran clean.

I took it for a ride around some fun twisty, hilly stuff early this morning and, ooohh it's finally running the way I thought it should've since we got it in January 22.

[basinbeater]

For those DI engines, if you really want to prevent carbon buildup, stop it at the source. Get a fancy catch can connected to the cooling system to really separate out the vapors and return them to the oil pan. The heated systems will also separate out the water vapor from the oil and return that back through the intake with the nasty oil. That should dramatically reduce if not eliminate the carbon buildup.

[liv2ski]

Yup.

Private party sale across country with a shipping company is one of the sketchier-feeling transactions I’ve ever engaged in. Russian dude who spoke practically no English cheerfully delivered it to the hotel we are staying at in St. Paul, MN. Right now it’s chilling out of sight in the parking garage…

Noice, very nice looking wagon. Enjoy the ride.

[huckbucket]

Yup.

Private party sale across country with a shipping company is one of the sketchier-feeling transactions I’ve ever engaged in. Russian dude who spoke practically no English cheerfully delivered it to the hotel we are staying at in St. Paul, MN. Right now it’s chilling out of sight in the parking garage…

Rock on!

[johnnyg82]

For those DI engines, if you really want to prevent carbon buildup, stop it at the source. Get a fancy catch can connected to the cooling system to really separate out the vapors and return them to the oil pan. The heated systems will also separate out the water vapor from the oil and return that back through the intake with the nasty oil. That should dramatically reduce if not eliminate the carbon buildup.

Yup, and I think more manufacturers should go the Toyota/Subaru route like they did on the 86/BRZ, and have both port and direct injection. But that’s extra parts that cost money and accountants don’t like to do that at OEM’s, but I digress.

[BmillsSkier]

And goddamn….

Oh yeah!!!

Looks mean just sittin there! Love the rotor wheels on that rig.

[huckbucket]

What are people's recs for the best site to car shop? Been using autotrader. Seems to have more than cars.com. I've heard that truecar is better about listing only cars that are really in inventory. Also been using audiusa's site but not sure if those cars are really there.

[Djongo Unchained]

Try Cargurus

[huckbucket]

Try Cargurus

Thanks. Has everything autotrader does, but I'll put it in the rotation.

[gravitylover]

I like Carfax, everything listed has a free report. They have some good filters too so you can narrow it down nicely.

[bagtagley]

You’re on the right track. Determining stock of new vehicles is tricky right now. Even the dealerships aren’t sure what they do and don’t have.

[zion zig zag]

I like Carfax, everything listed has a free report. They have some good filters too so you can narrow it down nicely.

I was just casually looking on CARFAX at some certified pre-owned Volvo V60’s and noticed lots of them are listed as corporate owned. What’s up with that? Rentals? They were all 2022 and newer with pretty low miles.

[gravitylover]

Salespeople's cars and dealer loaners. I've bought a few cpo cars, one was the salesman's personal use car for 11 months and the other (the Volvo C30) was a loaner with 6800 miles.

[4matic]

I find Autotrader always has few that CG doesn’t have.

Depending on what you’re looking for, manufacturer websites list cars available at dealers.

[MontuckyFried]

What are people's recs for the best site to car shop? Been using autotrader. Seems to have more than cars.com. I've heard that truecar is better about listing only cars that are really in inventory. Also been using audiusa's site but not sure if those cars are really there.

Answer? (D): All of the above.

When searching for our last couple cars, I used Autotempest (a search engine that covers multiple sites at once), but I also used Autotrader, CL, Cars.com directly as well. I ended up finding our newest car on Autotrader by toggling the private party only option. THAT narrowed down the list by a ton and I've seen by far some of the best cars that way. You'll go from like 300 results to like 3. I also of course always do nationwide searches since we're not exactly looking for common CUVs over here, so we kind of have to. Looks like that's how BMills and Mustonen had to roll too to get what they wanted. What are you shopping for, huck?

[MontuckyFried]

And goddamn….

Dooooooooooood!!!! Congratulations! That's one sexy piece of sheet metal right there. /drool

[twomartinis]

And goddamn….

mmmmmm, is that stripper sweat coming off the back of the trailer?? lookin’ very fast even at a standstill


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[liv2ski]

And goddamn….

If you plan to drive her in the snow, have something to clean out those wheel well arches, as there is no room in there and the snow will pack in there quick.

[huckbucket]

If you plan to drive her in the snow, have something to clean out those wheel well arches, as there is no room in there and the snow will pack in there quick.

That's what the air suspension is for. Looks to be at its lowest. Raise that thing right up and you're gtg.

[twomartinis]

Heh, no. When I saw the price on the Edge I looked to see what that was running because a Polestar tuned Volvo T6 deserves good oil. I replaced the PCV/oil trap, cleaned everything up under there, replaced the gasket too and the plugs and boots and since there's a thing about oil consumption with these I change the oil at 5k. It also got its first full fluid change, diffs, Haldex and tranny fluid exchange that took 12 quarts before it ran clean.

I took it for a ride around some fun twisty, hilly stuff early this morning and, ooohh it's finally running the way I thought it should've since we got it in January 22.

what oil are you running? been reading this
Dealer a5/b5 oil and this
Help understanding A5 / B5 certification / spec


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