2006 ('56) B7 A4 TDiQ 170 BRE - smoking, possible oil pump issue?

Hi all

Thanks for reading - appreciate it. I know there are many threads on the BRE 170 oil pump issues and I've read a fair number of them...

Someone kindly left a note on my car saying it was smoking, that they had the same car, and to check the oil pump. I know it's suddenly started using oil, and there is a distinct hiccup/hesitancy every so often - a bit like it drops a cylinder for a split-second then recovers.

Mine's a 2006 '56 plate B7 A4 TDiQ 170 BRE, and as I understood it (possibly incorrectly) the later B7 models switched to a revised oil pump design, to eliminate oil pump woes.

My question is, would a failing/defective oil pump cause the engine to burn oil? My limited understanding of the dirty diesel lump tells me that oil is only present for lubrication, so if the oil pump is on its last legs surely I'd be getting a very hot engine that struggled to rev etc? It pulls cleanly to 3.5k / 4k if pushed although I usually drive like miss daisy to help economy (short run to work on A roads then a slow stretch of M25/M4).

DPF regens have been frequent, and it feels more like the DPF is clogged and can't regen, so there's back pressure in the system as a result. I can probably access VCDS to confirm this if I buy someone a drink, and I have a scan gauge in the car to monitor oil pressure.

Any and all thoughts/comments/abuse gratefully received

Cheers all,

Lafarge

Cheers Steve - my gut tells me the DPF is clogged, because the car goes into regen at least once a week. VCDS showed zero successful AND failed regens which doesn't make sense, and regen status was 000004. The car has 100k on it so it's a prime target for a failed DPF from what I understand.

Presumably if it is that, the increased back pressure will strain the turbo including its seals, which could be where oil is being burned.

All conjecture I appreciate, but it seems to make sense :/

Thinking I'll get the DPF looked at this weekend...Cheers for the info on oil pumps too.

Driving home from work the car was hesitant and stuttered randomly up to about 2600 or 2800 RPM, which also suggests EGR, but I've had that off, and cleaned it, and the date code shows it being a 2012 part. It wasn't clogged much at all when I cleaned it, but again that's worth another look.

Appreciate your thoughts mate, cheers.

Thanks Steve...read the Mr Muscle approach to turbo cleaning seems to work, but the concept worries me

Your DPF approach seems the same as mine...let's see what the weekend brings.

Singh - you're absolutely correct, checked the sticker under the rear seat (why is it there!?!?) and it's a BRD. My bad...

Yep, done and dusted that one Steve - thanks again mate

DPF gutted with stage 1 remap today courtesy of Avon Tuning in Bristol. Good guys, they know their stuff and their work seems pretty damn good. Journey there - 39.5mpg, journey home - 44.5 mpg. Extra poke when needed is very refreshing, really kicks you in the back. Overall power delivery is much, much smoother, which is exactly what I was hoping for. EGR deleted and blanked too.

Think I've sussed out why I'm using oil - gasket on the tandem fuel pump is suspect as they fail and leak oil into the fuel system right before the filter. I'll change the filter and gut it - if it's black that's what's been causing the oil consumption.

Cleaning the inlet manifold tomorrow