Jonny from Car Ninja has had his 2012 Audi Q7 sitting around for months, waiting for the right moment to tackle its laundry list of issues. Between customer cars and day-to-day shop operations, finding time to work on his own ride hasn’t been easy. But now, the Q7 is finally getting the attention it deserves—starting with a bad PCV valve.
This Audi, equipped with a 3.0 TFSI engine, came with more than just the usual wear and tear. A B-scope inspection revealed no compression on cylinders two and three, ultimately leading to the discovery of burnt exhaust valves. While fixing the entire engine is a project for another day, today’s focus is on the PCV valve replacement—a relatively simple job that still requires attention to detail.
The Process: Digging into the Q7
First things first: removing the belt. Unlike tighter engine bays like the A6, the Q7 offers a lot more room to work, making the belt removal straightforward. One crucial step Jonny always emphasizes is marking the belt’s direction. Put it back the wrong way, and it’ll squeal like crazy—something he’s learned the hard way over the years.
With the belt off, it’s time to tackle the intake. The supercharger needs to come off next, and Jonny’s approach is methodical. “Only six bolts hold it in place,” he says, making it seem simpler than it really is. Once the supercharger is out of the way, he highlights the intake runners controlled by vacuum lines—an area that often trips people up when reinstalling.
“Here’s the deal,” Jonny explains. “When you’re putting it back together, you gotta make sure those flaps are open before pushing it down. If you don’t, you’re guaranteed a check engine light, and it won’t run properly.” It’s the kind of real-world advice that only comes from hands-on experience—something Car Ninja prides itself on.
Once the intake is out, the PCV valve is finally accessible. But before diving in, Jonny stresses the importance of ensuring no debris falls into the engine and double-checking that nothing has been dropped into the valves.
The PCV Valve Replacement
After years of oil vapors circulating through the crankcase, the PCV valve has seen better days. Replacing it is straightforward, but Jonny always follows up with an oil change to ensure any residual oil contamination from the job doesn’t linger in the engine. “Some of that junk ends up in the crankcase,” he says, “so it’s just good practice to flush it out.”
But as always in a busy shop, Jonny’s personal projects have to take a backseat to paying customers. With the Q7 mid-teardown, it’s time to call it a day. “It’s Friday,” he says with a laugh. “Might come back tomorrow when the doors are closed and knock it out with no interruptions.”
Progress and Looking Ahead
With the Q7’s PCV valve removed and a new one ready to go, the next steps are clear: clean everything thoroughly, reassemble in the reverse order, and hope for no surprises. But for now, it’s all about balancing customer projects and squeezing in personal time where possible.
Jonny’s approach to his own cars is the same as his customers—no shortcuts, no rushing, just honest work done right. And while the Q7’s journey to full health might take a while, it’s another project that will come together, piece by piece.
This is just the beginning of the Audi’s journey. If you want to follow along with Jonny and his team as they tackle real-world repairs with no fluff or nonsense, check out their YouTube channel at Car Ninja and grab some merch at their shop.
At Car Ninja, it’s all about keeping it real—whether it’s a customer’s car or Jonny’s own long-overdue projects.
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