Does your supercharged Audi sound like a diesel tractor for the first second or two of every cold start, then settle into a perfectly happy idle? That is the classic Audi 3.0T timing chain rattle, and you have plenty of company. It is common, Audi wrote a service bulletin about it, and the cheapest fix to try first is not a timing job. It is a pair of oil check valves that help keep the chain tensioners primed, like our 3.0T oil check valve set for the timing chain tensioners. Here is how to tell a quirk from a problem.
Short answer: that 1 to 3 second clatter usually means oil drained out of the chain tensioners overnight. Audi says it does not lead to damage, and the cheapest fix to try is a pair of oil check valves.
What the Audi 3.0T Cold-Start Rattle Sounds Like
- ✅ A metallic rattle or clatter for about 1 to 3 seconds right after a cold start
- ✅ It comes from the back of the engine, where the timing chains live
- ✅ It is worst after the car sits overnight or for several hours
- ✅ It stops as soon as oil pressure builds, then the engine idles normally
- ✅ No warning lights and no change in how the car drives
Sound familiar? Audi's own bulletin describes it almost word for word.
Why the 3.0T Rattles on a Cold Start
The supercharged 3.0T (EA837) drives its camshafts with chains at the rear of the engine, right against the transmission. Hydraulic tensioners keep them tight, and hydraulic means oil pressure. When the engine sits, oil can drain out of the heads and tensioners, so on the next start the chains run slack until the oil pump refills everything. That moment is the rattle.
What Audi TSB 2039995 Says
Audi's service bulletin 2039995, dated March 3, 2015, covers 2011 to 2014 models with the V6 3.0 TFSI. It describes rattling from the timing chain drive for about 1 to 3 seconds after the first start of the day and blames the upper chain tensioners. The dealer fix is replacing both with improved parts: 06E109218AJ for bank 1 and 06E109217AH for bank 2. The bulletin also states that the noises do not lead to damage, and for cars outside warranty it is informational only.
The Oil Check Valves Under the PCV Valve
The second piece of the puzzle sits in the engine valley. Owners who have pulled the PCV valve on B8 cars report two oil check valves underneath it, there to stop oil draining back out of the feed to the heads and tensioners while the engine is off. On B8.5 cars, owners report two blank plugs in those same spots, with the check function moved into the tensioner. A worn or sticking valve, or a loose plug, lets oil drain back overnight, and the tensioners start the day half empty.
Not sure which 3.0T you have? Our Audi 3.0T supercharged engine guide explains Gen 1 versus CREC.
Normal Quirk or Real Problem?
Owners report living with the brief rattle for 50,000 miles or more, and dealers often call it normal. We would still rather the chains had oil pressure from the first turn of the key, because less slap means less wear on the plastic guides.
Treat it as a different problem if you notice any of these:
- ✅ The rattle lasts well past 3 seconds or shows up on a warm engine
- ✅ Noise that comes back under load or at a steady cruise
- ✅ A check engine light with cam and crank correlation codes P0016 to P0019
- ✅ Misfires, rough running or a lazy, down-on-power feel
Those point to stretched chains, worn guides or a failed tensioner, and repair guides warn that a chain that jumps a tooth can cause serious engine damage. Diagnose first: our Audi camshaft sensor and P0016 guide walks through the codes, and our list of Audi check engine light causes covers the rest.
What It Costs: Check Valves vs Tensioners vs a Timing Job
Think of the fixes as a ladder:
- ✅ Oil check valves: our German-made set is $99.99 for both. If the supercharger is not already off, owners report shop quotes of roughly $750 to $1,200 for PCV-area jobs that need it removed.
- ✅ Upper tensioner update per the TSB: owners report dealer bills and quotes of about $2,300 to more than $3,500.
- ✅ Full timing chain job: owner and shop quotes run roughly $5,500 to $10,000, usually with the engine out.
Checked the oil level yet? Owners report the rattle gets more frequent when the oil is low, and that check is free.
What to Look For in a 3.0T Check Valve Fix
- ✅ A real check valve in each port, not a blank plug
- ✅ Both valves at once. Same heat, same age, same fate.
- ✅ Quality springs and seals, because they do the actual sealing
- ✅ The right engine: the supercharged EA837, not the turbo EA839
- ✅ Smart timing: fit them while the supercharger is already off
- ✅ Fresh oil to the right level and spec when you finish
Vorsprung Check Valves vs Name-Brand vs Genuine Audi
In short: our German-made 3.0T oil check valve set is $99.99 for both valves. Typical name-brand replacement valves sell for about $55 to $86 each, so roughly $110 to $170 a pair. Genuine Audi valves (059103175F, listed for the B8 and B8.5 S4) list at about $123 each, or roughly $245 a pair. That is the Audi Tax in miniature.
| Vorsprung check valve set | Typical name-brand valves | Genuine Audi valves | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 for both valves | About $55 to $86 each | About $123 each at list |
| Valves | Two German-made valves with German-built springs and seals | Varies by brand | Factory part, 059103175F on the S4 |
| Sold as | A set of two | Usually priced each | Priced each |
| Fitment help | VIN check by email | Varies by seller | Dealer parts counter |
Ready to try the cheap fix first? Grab the Vorsprung Audi 3.0T oil check valve set and fit it the next time the supercharger comes off.
Shop the 3.0T Oil Check Valve Set, $99.99
✅ German-made check valves, plus Graf, Hengst and Elring in our valley kits · ✅ Fitment help by VIN at help@vorsprungautowerk.com · ✅ Free US shipping on orders over $425
What Is in Our 3.0T Oil Check Valve Set
- ✅ Two check valves, enough for a complete valley service
- ✅ German-made valves with German-built internal springs and seals
- ✅ Designed to meet or exceed factory specifications
- ✅ Fitted in the engine valley, under the PCV valve
We also list a lower-priced Vorsprung 3.0T oil check valve set at $39.99. It also includes two valves with the same fitment, but its listing does not say where the valves are made. Want the German-made pieces? Pick the $99.99 set.
Audi 3.0T Oil Check Valve Fitment
Our 3.0T oil check valve set is listed for the supercharged EA837 3.0T in the Audi S4, S5, SQ5, A6, A7 and Q7, model years 2009 to 2017 depending on the car (S5 2010 to 2017, SQ5 2014 to 2017). For the S5, 2010 to 2012 means the Cabriolet only, since the coupe ran the 4.2 V8. It is not for the turbocharged EA839 3.0T in the B9 S4 and S5. Own a Q5 3.0T or an A8 3.0T? Those are not in the listing's fitment table, so email your VIN to help@vorsprungautowerk.com first.
Install Notes: Do It While the Supercharger Is Off
The valves sit under the PCV valve, which sits under the supercharger, so both come off first. A popular DIY guide for the PCV job says to set aside a full day, and owners say a skilled tech needs about 3 hours while everyone else should plan on 5 or more. So fit the valves during a PCV, thermostat or water pump job you were already paying for.
- ✅ Drain the intercooler loop coolant and label every hose and connector before the supercharger comes off
- ✅ Rag the intake ports and vacuum the valley before you open anything
- ✅ Clean around each valve or plug so nothing drops into the oil passages
- ✅ On a B8.5, check the factory plugs: one owner found them loose, with no O-rings in their grooves
- ✅ Replace every gasket and O-ring you disturb, torque to factory spec and top up with fresh oil
Doing the valley anyway? Pair the valves with our B8.5 under supercharger kit (2013 to 2016 S4, 2013 to 2017 S5 and Q5, 2014 to 2017 SQ5), the B8 and C6 under supercharger kit (2010 to 2012 S4 and S5 Cabriolet, 2009 to 2011 A6) or the C7 A6, A7 and 4L Q7 under supercharger kit. The B8.5 kit bundles a billet thermostat housing and thermostat, a Graf water pump, a Hengst PCV valve and Elring gaskets, and our Audi 3.0T PCV valve replacement guide walks through the job.
Audi 3.0T Timing Chain Rattle FAQ
What causes an Audi 3.0T timing chain rattle on a cold start?
Oil drains out of the heads and hydraulic chain tensioners while the car sits, so the chains run slack for 1 to 3 seconds until oil pressure builds. Audi TSB 2039995 blames the upper tensioners, and owners also point to worn oil check valves under the PCV valve.
Is a 1 to 3 second rattle on startup bad for the engine?
Audi's bulletin says the noise does not lead to damage, and many owners live with it for years. A longer rattle, a warm rattle or timing codes are a different problem, so diagnose those before you drive far.
Will oil check valves stop the cold-start rattle?
Owners report the rattle shortened or stopped after fitting check valves, including one 2015 3.0 TFSI owner whose rattle went away completely. Results vary: one B8.5 owner saw it creep back after long sits a year later, and worn tensioners or chains need more than valves.
What does Audi TSB 2039995 cover?
It covers 2011 to 2014 models with the V6 3.0 TFSI that rattle from the timing chain area for about 1 to 3 seconds after the first start of the day. The fix is two improved upper chain tensioners, 06E109218AJ and 06E109217AH. Outside warranty, it is informational only.
How much does it cost to fix an Audi 3.0T timing chain rattle?
Our check valve set is $99.99, plus labor if the supercharger is not already off. Owners report about $2,300 to more than $3,500 for the upper tensioner update, and roughly $5,500 to $10,000 for a full timing chain job.
Do you have to remove the supercharger to install the check valves?
Yes. The valves sit under the PCV valve, and the PCV valve sits under the supercharger, which is why most owners fit them during a PCV, thermostat or water pump job.
Does the B8.5 S4 have oil check valves?
Owners who have opened B8.5 engines report two blank plugs where B8 cars have check valves, with the check function moved into the tensioner. Our check valve set is listed for the B8.5, and the valves go in those two ports.
Can oil level or oil type change the rattle?
Owners report the rattle gets more frequent when the oil is low and shorter after a fresh change. Keep the level right, use the spec in your owner's manual and do not stretch oil changes.
Bottom Line on the Audi 3.0T Timing Chain Rattle
A short Audi 3.0T timing chain rattle on a cold start is common, documented by Audi and usually not an emergency. A long rattle, a warm rattle or timing codes deserve a diagnosis first. For the classic 1 to 3 second clatter, start on the bottom rung: our 3.0T oil check valve set for the timing chain tensioners, fitted while the valley is open, for a lot less Audi Tax than a timing job. Need more parts? Browse our Audi engine parts.
Shop the 3.0T Oil Check Valve Set, $99.99
Drive the difference. Drive Vorsprung.
Prices checked October 23, 2026 and subject to change. Labor and repair figures are owner-reported or typical shop quotes, not Vorsprung pricing.
