Dean, I love your channel, not because I understand or love cars anywhere as much as you, but because I very much admire your passion, effort and sheer hard work in striving to what want to achieve. I'm a lot older than you and also really love to fix things but wish I had 10% of the drive, determination and ingenuity you have. Good luck to you and best wishes to your family - your parents must be very proud and I wish you every good fortune for the future. This country needs more people like you and a government which supports them and not hinders them!

Pretty standard fare form for the Audi 2.0TFSI engine. The light scoring on the cam journals is normal for these, as long as you can't feel it with your nails. Check the oil screen in the cam bridge. The have a habit of falling apart and ending up the cam timing actuator valve. These engines also suffer from oil burning due the poor oil control ring design. They gum up. Later years do fare better I believe. Many owners are not on their game re topping up the oil. They run low and boom. That I think is the most likely cause of failure. The crank journal in #2 is toast. It's not super-bad but a regrind would be needed or replace the crank. I have a good 2.0 crank here 🙂 If the bores are OK it could be saved but once metal filings are in the oil you'd need to check everything very carefully and the hot flush as you mentioned is a must. Make sure you replace pistons and/or rings with the latest revised design. Like you I'd love to know where the bearing shells ended up. The backing material is steel so not easy to shred! I detect some more great content in the pipe Dean! 👍

I would look for another good engine. Yes it would be nice to see it being rebuilt but since that bearing has completely disappeared and the amount of fines in the oil also the head being dry it might have clogged oil ways or further metal fragments that could cause problems later on.

Dedication! Certain people get annoyed about scraping windscreen in the morning. This is motivating!

What is left of the bearing is welded to the crank I believe. The fillet rad's are much more pronounced on pin 3 than they are on pin 2. I wouldn't be rebuilding that either, no idea where all the debris has gone, by the time you have spent all the time stripping it to every last part, cleaning them all, some crank machining (it will need it), rod, piston, oil pump, full gasket set, etc. A new engine is the way forward

Set of bearings and send it 💪🤣 I think someones chucked that back together without the bearing in just to sell it as a 'runner'. Never seen one totally disappear before!

I get these in a lot with this damage My guess is coolant has leaked out, it has been driven with low or little to no coolant, engine has ran extremely hot and oil temperature has gotten over 130+ degrees and lost its properties to which I think you will find bearing has span and you will actually find the bearing welded to the top rod bearing and stuck to the back of the crank (side you cannot see)

once the shells in No.2 disintegrated oil pressure/flow throughout the engine would have been drastically reduced as most of it would have escaped through the now open gallery in no. 2 journal, this might explain the low oil pressure code and the timing error assuming the chain is tensioned by oil pressure..... clogging elsewhere should be limited by the pickup filter and main oil filter, a new oil pump is probably a good idea or at least a rebuild, journal on no.2 is the worrying thing so far....completely agree about the cam cover being off and your theory that someone removed most of the old shell and possibly even had the end cap off. if you can get shells cheaply enough might be worth re-assembling with a plastigauge to see how much wear has taken place .... if it looks ok, give the journal a polish and see how it sounds - although there's still coolant loss to consider... sorry for the longest comment ever, great content :)

Definitely looks like the water pump has failed or it’s started to fall lost coolant and then got really hot causing the damage I know a few people who have had the same problem with this engine vw did have a recall on them to fit a stronger water pump this one looks like it gave up before the recall, merry Christmas 🎄 to you mate love these videos it keeps me tinkering on my tt 👍🏻 have a good one.

Weird, would expect to see something left of the bearing... Maybe previous "fixers" forgot to add it back? I'd stick with it... Be good to get to the bottom of the issue. Great content as always Dean!

Tons of gasket goo hanging into the cam box. might have contributed to blocking oil galleries. Cant explain where the other half of the big end shell dissapeared to. I doubt that the original engine would ever be right even with a full rebuild. Great content and I'm hooked on the R8 saga.

Whenever you buy a car from someone who has already tried to fix it, you know they’ve found something very expensive and just want to get shot of it without you finding out the real reason. Usually it’s sold with stories of, “I just got bored” or “I haven’t got the time anymore”…… 😂😂

Brilliant content Dean. Content wise a rebuild would be really good but in reality it could be better to get a good second hand engine if that's possible.

Don't waste your time on it Dean. You have enough projects on the go which we would rather see. Great work on the channel bro. Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you 🎄🎆

Fascinating forensics analysis! I really appreciate the extra effort you spent to show us the good vs. bad bearing caps, as well as the camshaft journals.

Was that Rodney knocking on the door! Looking forward to the repair and seeing this car back on the road. I wonder if lack of oil changes was the cause?

I think that engine's scrap. Best wishes and a merry Christmas to you and yours.

With the rod bearing gone from cylinder 2 and then running it. The piston likely hit the head and valves. It is likely that cylinder has bent valves and damage to the combustion chamber. It is likely the cylinder head is not in good shape after that. Still worth a rebuild though. New head, valves rods, pistons, bore and hone the block. Inspect the oil pump clean and reuse if ok. Rebuild then send it.

Watching your videos i started buying only audi A3 or S3. Rebuild engine by myself, parts in Serbia and head work are about 1000 euro. Original pistons, rods, crank, camshafts.

Great video Dean, I would just cut my losses and get a recon engine, plus the time and hassle for you is far less. Have a great Xmas yourself and I look forward to your forthcoming vids.

New engine would be the safest option. Your banging out some amazing content at the moment 🙌🙌🙌

Crazy how the bering has gone. As you said, you would expect more shards of metal if they had worn out. Probably a cowboy had a look and didn't put them back in. So unless you're willing to strip the whole engine down first to check if it's worth saving (there could possibly be a few gremlins). I'd just bite the bullet and put a new engine in to save time an hassle.

Needs binning to be a better option. Cranks needing a regrind, new rod and piston. Head may have damage . Also mains may show damage , so until you strip fully, the assessment could change your personnel decision if you think its best to repair. Swarf in all the galleries is a nightmare. Scoring of the camshaft journals isn't an issue as can be changed, but the soft head they run in will be scored up. Sadly more trouble than a replacement engine. Also either way is any oil coolers also swarfed up need replacing too. Have a good Xmas break Dean and look forward to the next installments .

Love it when you found the owner on IG: “It just needs a top end and head gasket” Err no. It needs a bin and a new engine. Classic. Great work there fella.

Great content Dean with your first principle forensic approach to solving problems with broken motors. Seems like a lot of cumulative damage on this engine, could end up with a block issue ? I would go for a replacement engine on this one, it is a popular model, and will sell well.👍😎

Previous reassembly error - someone 'forgot' to refit a pair of shells. For the cost of a set of shells (you can be sure that the swarf from No.2 will have travelled around the whole engine) and a bit of emery on No.2 crank, you've nothing to lose!

Replacement engine is the way to go As long as it’s warranted

As sherlock Holmes used to say , if you have eliminated the impossible what ever remains however improbable must be the truth so if them shells have gone somebody has already been in that engine.

Replacement engine. Have a great festive season with your family Dean.

I'm shocked to see that there are no location cutouts for the bearings in the rod or cap to prevent bearing spin.

Definitely new engine. However, would be interesting to just pop in a shell, change the oil and see if it runs (until you fit the new engine). Hope you feel better soon

I admire your tenacity Dean, and your videos are great to watch, but man you are messy… I couldn’t cope with the parts and tools everywhere, my OCD would flip! Keep the content coming, looking forward to the Porsche GT4 progressing 👍🏻

R8 engine rebuild update is good news. Dean, take us on the journey. Love these stories.

Agree it looks like oil starvation alright. In which case just about everything in the motor will have been damaged to a lesser or greater degree due to overheating. Do not even think about rebuilding.

You will get some people wanting the content of an engine rebuild, others would want to just see the new engine and it working...but you need to think about yourself what's easiest, costs less and what the best use of your time will be.

im with you Dean, i would definitely say that someone has been in there and removed the rest of the shell debris, there is no way you would see absolute no remnant of 2 shells in there.

Good money after bad to rebuild that engine Dean, Oil starvation could be scored cylinders also bud. The list of parts would probably surpass the cost of a good 2nd hand engine from a good breaker. Not to mention if it’s been low on oil it’s probably overheated at some stage also 🤷🏼‍♂️ the list is endless. A bare engine is in the region of £1500/£2K for a lowish mile car and with you being trade you probably pick one up close to home. Let’s be honest you’ve enough bigger headaches atm without 2.0tfsi joining the club 😂😂😂😂😂 Wishing you and the family a Merry Christmas 🎄 and a happy new year 🎉 Bud Thanks for all your videos though out the year Dean 👍🏼

New engine! Brave guy good luck. 👍👍👍👍👍have good one.

I wanna see a rebuild. I have the same engine in my Cupra 280. Don't give up on it, such a good platform the S3

I think someone had it apart and I either forgot or couldn't be bothered to put in the shells that are missing. Running the engine like that finished it off. I would trash this engine and get a used one. Great video as always Dean! Enjoy the holidays!!

Check cylinders if they’re really bad since that oils lubricating the cylinder walls. if they’re good, rebuilt the bottom end like you said and I would leave the cam shaft unless it’s way down on power

It's gor to a rebuild dean .... as you know so much about this type of engine. Well v.a.g.s ....so go on rebuild it . !!!! Thx & all the best .

Hi Dean the con rod big end will be ovalled so even you put a new set of shell bearings in the big ends within a few miles it will be rattling again so you need a second hand engine

Maybe a previous owner thought removing the bearing would fix the sound? Certainly answers the low oil pressure code and could well be why one of the cams looked dry as the pressure had run out of steam by the time it got to that cam. That big end journal would need checking for out of round and quite likely need undersizing. I'd be surprised if just a polish would do the trick after having the rod run directly on it. Course, most machinists would want to resize all 4 journals and not just one. Then the cam journals on the dry cam should probably get a polish too and hopefully that doesn't undersize it too much as they don't use bearings. Suppose it comes down to which is cheaper, second hand motor or a rebuild?

I diagnosed "no Shells" on one journal, on hearing your vid last week. Yes it's certainly possible, it's happened to me! I'll bet if you measure the journal it will be LESS than .0060 undersize. Yeah, new crank too

Have a great Xmas, thanks for an enjoyable year on YT, looking forward to 2023 😀

You could hear when you started the car that there was a big end noise, but also something from the top end too, gutted, but really that's too far gone internally, best start hunting for an engine. ps love your content, keep it up bud

Your logic is because you’re applying logic. Unfortunately not everyone has that ability so it’s entirely possible (however unlikely it may seem) that someone has tried new oil in the hope it’ll quieten the engine down enough to sell it on quickly.

This is my favourite channel , And salvage rebuilds chris is a master at what he does . And matt is good aswell he giving me an M3 tonight at 9pm .

Sounds like a lot of work and expense to rebuild and could stiil be problems so a second hand engine might be the best way to go - you are not having a lot of luck with Audi engines at the moment!! Hope you have a good Christmas - thanks for all the great content over the last year👍

I think it has been starved of oil probably got shards or dirt in the oil pump rebuild wouldnt cost as much as a replacement i did one with worn shells amd when i striped the oil pump i found the culprit was a small peice of rubber in the pump replaced the shells had to do a lot of emery cloth sanding on the crank but put it back together and it was all good. good luck cant wait to see what you decide to do.

From a content point of view, engine rebuild. From a sensible point of view, new engine. Have a great Christmas Dean. Looking forward to the new year and a conclusion to your numerous projects 👍👍👍

bang a new engine in... sell that one for parts. You'll never be able to guarantee that engine hasn't got other issues... I reckon it's had a coolant dump due to a leak, causing it to run too hot, probably with low oil level causing it to have oil starvation... Good luck, and have a great new year! :)

Heart says rebuild, Head says a replacement engine. That amount of swarf in the engine may have/will have caused untold damage, you really would have to totally disassemble all components to have half a chance of getting it clean.

Probably more cost effective to replace the engine if u can find good one probably find the crank will need replacing and the rods which were knocking too along with oil pump be a total rebuild plus time etc etc

Some one else has been in there when it started knocking, found a bad big end bearing and removed it, and not put it back in, if had worn and the disintigrated out of the rod, there would be massive heat damage blued crank and rod, most probably before the bearing shell completly gone from its home crank and rod would have welded toghter, and also a missing bearing would also reduce engine oil pressure to the point evey oiled bearing surface would be massively damaged

Hi Dean for content I would love to see a rebuild but perhaps the most economical thing would be to get a new engine and we could have content of the install.

Are those containers all full of dead Audis? I reckon it spun the bearing and they didn’t bother putting them back and just put the sump back.

Think the coolant everywhere is part of the story Dean, overheated it and done the case hardening in on the bearing surfaces, don’t waste money on that motor it’s toast (no pun intended) looks like they’ve had it open found the damage and just thrown it back together to get rid. Recon motor mate is the way to go. Happy Xmas to you and yours

Cheers Dean, Happy Christmas to you and yours too. Really enjoy your videos and especially this S3 series as I have a 67 facelift S3. I’m not mechanically minded but learn little bits here and there, like this video, I now know where the oil filter is on my car! Hopefully it’s not got as many metal flakes in it as yours does though! (Sorry). I’d quite happily watch a series where you rebuild this engine as I’m sure others with EA888 engine would too, but equally, I’m sure I’d learn just as much watching an engine swap.

Rebuild it. Last guy obviously wasn’t competent but you are 👍👍. Have a good Xmas

With the bearing destroyed there’s a risk the piston has hit the cylinder head & possibly cracked it, its probably best to budget for a replacement engine, but it would be nice to pull t apart & see all the damage

For channel content rebuild would be great; but of course you also have to think about the bottom line!

Like the guitar music,you have a scrap yard well done

Looks to me like someone opened it up - pulled the bearing shells - or what was left of them, thought "nah - too risky". I'd suggest looking for a secondhand EA888 from a cat C write off - S3 or golf R. You could then recon that other EA888 and sell it.

Mini R53. Same thing, never found the shells - even after a complete teardown, clean and rebuild.

My missus had 3.0 litre Granada many years ago. She went out for the day in it and returned on the back of an AA truck. I pulled the sump off and found it to be full of silver paint! I lifted the engine out and pulled all the caps off. There were no shells left at all on two of the roads and the crank was blue. When I enquired as to what happened, she said, it got a bit slow and noisy, her solution? Turn the radio up and keep going!

Really enjoyed this video buddy. Have a good Christmas fella

Saving is your gig, brother! Rebuild her!

Great video 2nd hand engine in will probably be best It looks like a boy racer ran it low on oil and damaged the bottom end and probably blocked or starved the cams of oil which could have slightly bent the cams etc. And I can not wait for the r8 update

merry Christmas. thanks for the content all year. ive enjoyed it. the engine i would change.

New engine dean, got to be the easiest way. All the best to you and your family have a great Christmas 🎅🏻

Polish the crank(leave in the engine) and the camshaft, slap a set of bearing in it and an oil pump, can of brake clean to remove as much metal as you can and see how she goes. Second hand engine if that fails but I'm guessing that won't be cheap.

How you know all you do is awesome Dean. Great breakdown of the faults

I think the boring option drop in an engine, perhaps exchange or reconditioned.. Or link up with another channel like Barum engines who could rebuild this while you work on the R8?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family Dean. Love the videos and can't wait for more of them in 2023.

I would love to see you repair and rebuild, but a replacement engine would be tempting !

I think it was knocking and someone took it to a mechanic for a quote. Mechanic took off the big end cap and gave the repair quote, which was declined. Either out of malice or just as a warning for any future owner, said mechanic put it back together minus the shells. It would then sound so bad that nobody would try to run it more than a few seconds.

That engine is a goner Dean. Re-engine mate. Although, keep the old engine. Maybe use it as a project for sale at the end of a rebuild. I know you've got the TVR, the R8, M2 and S3 to do, but you are really good at the technical side of a rebuild, the RS4 is a testament to that. We both know a rebuilt S3 (standard) will fetch at least 10 grand, they're always getting done, a rebuild by you would make FANTASTIC content. Re engine the S3, sell on. You'll get a good drink out of it after the lump swap. That'll get you going on the R8 up until done, they're reaching good money atm. Then you'll have room to finish the M2. Then I'd love to see that engine getting one of your technical rebuilds. Just a thought Dean. Have a fantastic Xmas & new year, thanks for all your brilliant content this year, it's been a bad one for a lot of people this year, but you've kept us entertained all year. I personally am always awaiting a notification from your channel and you don't disappoint. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Clean up crank put in new bearing run for 10 secs to check for knocks, bang it in auction, job done👍

The beginning of a recovery and not continued, rebuilding and giving some more horsepower seems good to me if the purchase was not expensive

Thought it was bottom end dean a crank re grind and over size shells and do mains aswell and new thrust rashers mate

Bin it ! Get another lump put in 😉 But where the f### have the shells gone too ? Thank for some great videos this year Dean 😁 hope you and your family have a great Xmas.

Replacement engine would be my call - can't trust the motor after not finding the shells!

I’d investigate little further and pull the head out and get a further look on the bottom side too. Then for there make a decision. But rebuild it!

For a performance engine it's rough Dean, Its likely been driven on to get the associated consequential damage (that you've seen so far!). Personally I wouldn't put money into repairing it unless You planned to keep it. Stick a replacement motor in it. Good luck...

Unfortunately looks like its toast, in my experience even if you changed the big ends & main bearings it will still knock if pushed hard. Cheaper option is replacing motor.

A rebuild dean good content but price bits up first though could be costly mate all the best for Xmas and the new year 👍

Dean your channel is amazing

Interesting video with great content, looking forward to next one. 👍👍👍👍

Always look forward to your videos, very informative and easy to follow, thanks!

Hi Dean, just been ploughing through all the comments. Some people make you laugh don't they! Anyhow, my humble non-professional-but-learned-the-hard-way-opinion, 100% foul play by others involved, that engine could never be trusted without complete tear-down and re-build, therefore bin it and drop a 2nd hand engine in or sell car on to someone who fancies doing that themselves.

Best of luck . And happy Christmas 🎄

Be nice to see it rebuilt

Recon engine. Go for it !!!

It’s really the cost of parts and time compared to the a cost of a used lump, if you can find one though the way it it’s probably cheaper to go used lump, and I don’t think it will make much difference on resale Doesn’t look too bad though, maybe drop the other big ends and borescope the cylinders to decide Merry Christmas to you too Thanks for all the content

09.28 holy shit!!!!! BROOOOOOO. Check the floor by the ramp. Its like a nut and bolt storage facility. At lease get some tubs. Sure if you get a PO box people will send you some bits and bobos to help

Hey Dean, don't you have too many projects in parallel and wouldn't it be better to focus on 1 to 2 and flip finished projects/cars. This would also allow you to invest more in your facility e.g. make it looking more clean and modern (e.g. check out how Mat Armstrong did upgrade his room and equipment). BR Paddy

Merry Christmas to you and your family Dean. Keep up the content in 2023 👍

Great content mate, l never miss a video. Have good Christmas. Can’t wait to see the R8 finished