[sh3lby]

I was doing a bit of digging on the engine in my Q3 Sportback and realized the Q3, with the same engine, is offered in various (higher) states of tune abroad, and we were dumped with the same tune as that in the Kodiaq/Tiguan (190 PS)!

According to what I found, the Q3 (and its variants) have outputs of 230 HP and even 245 HP, in the US and UK.
While watching a video of an American Q3, I took a screenshot of the engine bay and it looks exactly the same as my car's engine bay, but produces 40 more horses! This gave rise to the idea of getting a Stage 1 Tune done in the future, and I had to find out more.


My car's engine bay


US Spec car's engine bay

So I did a bit of research and found that these Q3s, Tiguans, etc. use the VAG EA888 Gen 3 engine. I was able to find the technical specifications, including details about the hardware used, but that wasn't my main aim!

Is it possible for me to compare the hardware used in the engine/driveshaft in the Indian spec Q3 and the foreign ones? Or will it be too complex for me to understand, compare etc? I want to know about differences in the engines (if any), because 245 HP sounds absurd, especially when the Q5 is offered in that state of tune in India. I don't want to compare the Q5 and Q3 since the Q5 uses a Torsen quattro system while the Q3 uses a Haldex quattro system. Perhaps it's completely unrelated but I thought let it be at that.
All I want to know is how much the car can handle. Something like this perhaps (or is this enough?)




There is the question of why Audi would provide the same tune in the Q3, Q3 SB as the Tiguan, Kodiaq, etc, but I guess the average buyers don't care.

Either way, if I get a Stage 1 tune done, it'll probably be 220-30 HP only, since I don't want to push my car too much.

Is it possible to do a comparison like I'm asking or will that not be feasible? Should I not think too much and just get a Stage 1 tune done without worrying? Can any BHPian help? Thanks.

[sh3lby]

Apparently pictures of the engine bay aren't particularly informative since the UK engine producing 245 HP looks the same as well.

Here is what I have found till now, after searching on different forums:
The consensus is that the EA888 gen3 motor is quite capable, and a stage 1 tune isn't of much concern. This detuned, 190 ps engine is only for India. A Stage 1 tune up till 230 or perhaps even 245 HP shouldn't be an issue for the motor to handle if maintained properly, not driven too intensively everyday ,etc.
However, I couldn't find a definite source talking about the difference in engine components like seals, gaskets, injectors etc. Although differences are highly unlikely at power levels like this, because it would warrant setting up an assembly line which isn't feasible.

https://www.q3ownersclub.co.uk/threa...fference.9187/

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a4-...-tfsi-2976323/

Not the same car but... https://www.audihoffmanestates.com/r...gine-specs.htm

Maybe I will start another thread in the future when I do plan to get my car modded, but for now I guess other Q3 owners can confidently go ahead with a tune to match international power levels (230 PS).

[adrift@life]

you can be sure if you get your hands on part numbers for piston rings, piston crowns, crankshaft, and main bearings. Also fuel injectors, Exhaust valves, Turbocharger, and intercooler. While the engine layout might look the same, it's very easy to modify the above parts to handle the increased horsepower. And it's common with OEMs to spec these parts differently and use the same engine block.