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Tech Article

Audi C5 A6 Quattro 4.2 V8 Timing Belt Levels of Diligence

Last Updated: 09/24/2017

Parts Group: Timing belt tensioner

While doing a timing belt replacement, we could also replace the water pump, thermostat, camshaft seals and crankshaft seals. Our "tier 1" level of diligence replaces these only if we see symptoms that suggest they are needed. We own the speciality tools we need and we have a pit, so for us to redo the work and swap whichever part we need is not a big deal whereas for the average owner, it no doubt is. Then again, we have ten of these cars, so installing the additional $90's worth of parts for the water pump and thermostat means an extra $900, which for us currently is a lot of money.

The seals are not expensive ($2 per camshaft seal, of which we need 4, and $5 for the crankshaft seal) but everything we do also means an increased risk of breaking or damaging something serious, which is why we replace those seals only when we observe an oil leak or seepage.

For our "tier 1" work the parts we need are, with FCP Euro prices as of 7/27/2017:

- Timing belt (CRP-TB297) 24.49
- Timing belt tensioner lever (077109485E-OEM): 66.79
- Timing belt roller (INA-5320236100): 20.39 ...one only though the kit comes with two, since some engines use two
- Timing belt roller (INA-5320239100): 52.39
- Timing belt tensioner adjuster (059109479B for early models, 077109479D for later models): 65.59 or so

This comes out to about $230 -- very nicely affordable.

For our "tier 2" work we'd add the camshaft and cranskshaft seals.

For our "tier 3" work we'd add the water pump and thermostat.