[mpax]

Hi there, engine management on and off intermittently over the last few weeks on my 2018 2.0 TDi
No performance loss, etc or smokey exhaust gas...
Took it to Audi for a "diagnostic" (robbing sods) and came back with the recommendation of "EGR Cooler and all associated parts - P200200" for almost £3,000 inc VAT (!)
Looking up "P200200" it seems to be DPF related, not the EGR Cooler (I know it's all part of the downstream exhaust so may be a more detailed fault code analysis than the one they put in Audi Cam)
That price seems horrific given the cooler plus the gaskets etc itself is about £400+VAT (OEM), is it a huge labour job or am I being robbed big time?

 

[missile]

Welcome to our forum Before replacing parts, I would suggest get your own fault code reader and take it for Italian tune up. Avoid using cheap fuel.

 

[Richard_Lincoln]

I got a quote for a replacement EGR and all associated parts for my 3.0 tdi from an independent VW / Audi specialist (VAG Auto care services Lincoln). £1,300 (price of last year). First I tried a terralean which helped a little. Solved my egr issue with a half a tank of fuel with egr cleaner additive and a can of wynns egr cleaner squirted up the intake manifold. Problem solved to date.

 

[mpax]

I've got it booked at an indy now for a more detailed assessment. Audi made the call based on the fault code only. Seems a lot more nuanced than this, and I wanna know before I drop potentially thousands of pounds that a simple clean wasn't all that was needed!

 

[Richard_Lincoln]

New egr plus all parts will fix. Terraclean and fuel additive plus egr spray into intake may not. Cost wise it was a no brainer for me. For less than £100 it was worth a try and worked. Bonus was with egr working properly my car stopped losing coolant. Egr can be stripped and cleaned if removed. The unit is easily renovated when removed (removal is the expensive part).

 

[mpax]

Indy said the EGR cooler should be replaced
The worrying part was they said sometimes in 20% of cases, the DPF is affected, and if this was the case, it might need completely replacing - the cost of that they suggested could be £3k-4k - car's only worth 20k! I nearly died...

 

[missile]

Ridiculous. Try another inde

 

[mpax]

Dunno who to trust... these guys were super technical and seemed to know their stuff (Audi specialist, not just a random garage)

 

[missile]

Replacing DPF is very expensive.

Before replacing, I would try cleaning. This has been proven to work for many other owners. My local inde offers a number of cleaning options at a very reasonable price.

However not every garage will have the knowledge, equipment and/or expertise. Much easier (for them) and expensive (for you) to fit replacement parts.

 

[Richard_Lincoln]

Or for less than £100 you could try my suggestion. I do not know of anyone who has replaced the egr. Some have removed and cleaned at most. It doesn't wear..... just gets sooty. Same with dpf. As above garages love customers who replace!

 

[mpax]

this is the cooler not the EGR valve itself but yes looking at how the gas flow goes through it seems it either fails and leaks coolant into the recirculation path (leading to a cloud of steam from the coolant evaporating in the exhaust) or it’s got a blockage which reduces the gas flow and perhaps increases the EGT at the sensors due to the more inefficient cooling? I can’t see how fhe DPF is affected… except marginally higher EGT and pressures ? Of course I could be wrong !! I’m not a mechanic

 

[missile]

I understand that. However, I do not understand why your dealer would diagnose failed EGR cooler by fault code P200200 without some other indication or stripping for internal examination. Have you been losing coolant?

Restricted EGR cooler and DPF can both be cleaned. Even if your cooler is toast this does not mean your DPF needs replacing as your inde suggested.

Take it to a competent & honest inde

 

[mpax]

Not losing coolant, no smoke in the exhaust, no obvious performance issues. No DPF dash light on just EML and it comes and goes every couple of days.
Indie is quoting the Audi TPI which has two parts

1. replace EGR cooler
2. replace DPF and temp sensors

Seems rather a sledgehammer to a nut

 

[missile]

Good luck