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Audi A5 Quattro Engine Camshaft Housings

Audi A5 Quattro Engine camshaft housings

Starting at low prices, AutoBuffy stocks multiple engine camshaft housings from top OE-quality brands for the Audi A5 Quattro. The camshaft housing seals and positions the camshaft within the cylinder head, maintaining precise oil pressure to cam bearings and lobes. When it cracks, warps, or develops oil leaks, valve timing suffers, oil loss accelerates, and engine damage can follow quickly.

Signs your Audi A5 Quattro needs a new engine camshaft housing

  • Visible oil seeping or pooling at the top of the cylinder head near the valve cover mating surface
  • Ticking or clattering from the valvetrain at startup that may quiet once oil pressure builds
  • Check Engine or low oil pressure warning light triggered by insufficient lubrication reaching cam bearings
  • Rough idle or misfires caused by cam position sensor contamination from housing oil leaks
  • Burning oil smell from oil dripping onto hot exhaust components below the housing
  • Failed oil pressure test or excessive blow-by traced to a warped or cracked housing bore

Which engine camshaft housing should you buy for your Audi A5 Quattro?

The most important decisions are OE-equivalent fit versus upgraded material, and whether you need the housing alone or a kit that includes gaskets and seals. Some Audi A5 Quattro applications also use separate intake and exhaust cam housings, so confirm which position—or whether a complete upper housing assembly—is required before ordering.

OE-Replacement Housing
Best for
Daily drivers and stock rebuilds
What you get
Direct factory-spec fit, correct bearing clearances, matches original sealing surfaces
Housing with Gasket & Seal Kit
Best for
Full leak repair in one purchase
What you get
Housing plus all mating gaskets, cam seals, and fastener hardware needed for the job
Intake-Side Housing Only
Best for
Engines with split cam housings and a leak isolated to the intake cam
What you get
Position-specific casting; lighter, lower-cost fix when only one side is damaged
Exhaust-Side Housing Only
Best for
Engines with split cam housings and damage or warpage at the exhaust cam bore
What you get
Position-specific casting; often required when heat cycles warp the exhaust-side bore first

Replacing the engine camshaft housing on a Audi A5 Quattro

Advanced⏱ 2–4 hoursCamshaft locking/timing pin set specific to the Audi engine familyTorque wrenchSocket and ratchet set (metric)Plastic scraper or gasket removal toolClean lint-free rags and brake cleaner for surface prep

Replacing a camshaft housing involves removing the valve cover, securing the camshaft in the timed position with locking tools, unbolting and lifting off the housing, then cleaning all mating surfaces before installing the new housing with a fresh gasket. Fasteners must be tightened in the manufacturer's specified sequence to achieve even clamping without distorting the bearing bores. Because cam timing must be confirmed before starting the engine, this job is best suited to experienced DIYers or a professional shop.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to replace engine camshaft housings on a Audi A5 Quattro?
Parts start at low prices for the Audi A5 Quattro at AutoBuffy. Total repair cost depends on whether you need one or both housings, associated gaskets and seals, and labor. Because the job typically involves removing the valve cover and may require cam timing procedures, professional labor can add significantly to the parts cost alone.
Can I drive my Audi A5 Quattro with a leaking camshaft housing?
Driving with a leaking camshaft housing is not recommended. Even a slow leak can drop oil pressure to cam bearings over time, accelerating wear on lobes and journals. If the low-oil-pressure warning activates, stop driving immediately—continued operation risks scoring the camshaft or damaging the cylinder head.
Is the camshaft housing the same as the valve cover on my Audi A5 Quattro?
No—they are different components. The valve cover is a non-structural cap that simply encloses the top of the head. The camshaft housing is a structural casting that supports and precisely locates the camshaft, maintains bearing oil film, and is torqued to exacting specifications to control cam bearing clearance.
Does replacing the camshaft housing on a Audi A5 Quattro require retiming the engine?
In most cases, yes. Removing the camshaft housing disturbs the camshaft position, so cam timing must be verified or reset using locking tools and the manufacturer's timing procedure before the engine is started. Skipping this step risks bent valves or a no-start condition on interference engines.
What causes a camshaft housing to fail on a Audi A5 Quattro?
The most common causes are prolonged oil change intervals that degrade gasket material, overheating episodes that warp the aluminum casting, and physical damage from over-torqued fasteners cracking the housing bore. Corrosion from moisture ingestion or coolant contamination of the oil can also erode sealing surfaces prematurely.
How do I know if I need a camshaft housing or just a housing gasket for my Audi A5 Quattro?
Inspect the housing carefully after cleaning. If the sealing surface is flat, unscored, and undamaged, a new gasket and seal set is usually sufficient. If the housing bore shows cracks, scoring around the cam journals, or measurable warpage beyond the manufacturer's service limit, the housing itself must be replaced.

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